Published in 1999. Preparation for leaving care and aftercare support, are increasingly important concerns for child care practitioners, policy makers and researchers in the UK. There are now practice imperatives and a clear legal mandate for work in both areas. This Northern Ireland study represents an important contribution to the theoretical debate surrounding these issues and offers a much-needed large-scale empirical study. Key concepts relating to adolescence, childcare careers and youth transition underpin this investigation of a broad range of young people leaving state care.