Promoting a Sense of Belonging Among Care-Experienced Young People: Insights From a Scoping Review

Care-experienced young people (CEYP)'s sense of belonging is challenged by systemic instability of frequent placement and support networks changes. Belonging is critical for well-being and identity development, however, there are no known reviews scoping the available information on CEYP's belonging development. This scoping review aimed to identify what features aid the development of CEYP's sense of belonging. JBI scoping review methodology guided the search for English qualitative studies on CEYP's belonging experiences. A framework analysis using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems model (1979) organised findings. Results showed a global increase in interest in belonging for CEYP, particularly from Western countries over the last five years. Direct relations (microsystems) with caregivers and peers were most frequently considered important for CEYP's belonging. This was alongside cooperation between care and birth families and an accepting culture for their identity characteristics, including their care status. Belonging was nurtured by services providing opportunities for connections and links formed between CEYP's microsystems over time. This review provides a synthesised definition of belonging for CEYP and raises awareness of ways to form belonging. Implications require society to provide opportunities for experiences that promote belonging for CEYP across ecological systems, focussing on community, ethnic, cultural and religious spaces.