Shaping Futures

The time taken to reach adult status has lengthened in all industrialized countries of the world. At the same time, the risks for young people trying to make their way and achieve their personal goals have increased. In this context the provision of resources and support to assist young people in making the transition has become increasingly important. Yet little is known of what young people need in the way of personal, social and financial support to become full citizens, and what roles education, training, work and the community should have in providing it. This book considers the experiences of young adults in the status of passage to adulthood, focusing on the four domains of work, education, family and community. It explores patterns of experience and transition behaviour and offers an analysis and discussion of the structures and policies which are needed to support successful transition. Drawing on comparative studies, models are considered and criteria are proposed which may be applied in different cultural contexts.