The joint project of Leuphana University Lueneburg and TU Dortmund University, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), analyses the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on social participation and development as well as educational disadvantages of young people in out-of-home care. JuPa bridges the gap between (educational) disadvantages of minors in out-of-home care caused by the pandemic on the one hand and the promotion of social participation by means and measures in out-of-home care on the other.

The first step of the project includes a qualitative and quantitative survey. The qualitative part of the study (JuPa Quali) conducted by Leuphana University Lueneburg comprises 40 semi-structured interviews with adolescents who had experienced the Corona pandemic in out-of-home care (foster and residential care). The quantitative survey (JuPa Quanti) conducted by TU Dortmund University contains an online questionnaire for professionals. 

Based on the results of the survey evidence-based criteria will be developed by means of participatory methods. Care experienced people, care givers as well as social workers and teachers will develop criteria to promote social participation and compensate the disadvantages resulting from the pandemic in out-of-home care. The results of the survey build the foundation for all participants working on the criteria and measures to compensate for pandemic-related disadvantages in out-of-home care. The focus is on four relevant fields: School/training/vocational transition system, family, peers and welfare state systems (childcare and health care). In addition, results from the German Research Foundation (DFG)-funded project "Participation in Residential Childcare" (2019-2022), led by Claudia Equit, will be incorporated into the developing process of evidence-based criteria to consider organizational conditions as well as power dynamics.