During 2025, the Specialized Youth Care Services (SAEJ), managed by Suara Cooperativa, supported 110 care leavers in their transition to independent living. The data highlights the model’s impact: 90% have acquired key skills for residential, financial, and personal autonomy.
These results, along with the support model itself, have drawn significant media interest. TV3 (Catalan public television) recently visited one of the SAEJ centers to see firsthand how this guidance influences the life trajectories of care leavers—young people who were under the protection of the foster care system and must leave it upon turning 18.
This transition marks a vital turning point: while the average age for leaving home in Catalonia is 29.5 years, care leavers must start their independent life projects at 18, often without a family network or stable financial support.
A model focused on real autonomy
The SAEJ is a comprehensive support resource that addresses all dimensions of a young person's life: housing, education, job placement, financial management, health, and personal skills.
The 2025 data shows that:
- 80% of the youth successfully completed their educational path or continued their studies.
- 21 young people (19%) enrolled in Higher Vocational Training or university studies.
- 90% consolidated autonomy skills, enabling them to manage income, take responsibility for self-care, and maintain shared living arrangements.
Work plans are reviewed every six months and adapted to each individual's evolution, with the goal of building a stable life project with real future opportunities.
Support that transforms trajectories
"The system demands much earlier autonomy from these young people than from the rest of the population," explains Joan Carles Martín, director of two SAEJ services at Suara Cooperativa. "Success isn't just about them becoming independent; it's about them building a life project that inspires them and opens doors. That’s why education is key, and they take it very seriously."
Suara Cooperativa currently operates three SAEJ services in Girona, providing emotional support, educational and professional guidance, and access to housing for youth aged 16 to 21. Each professional supports between 7 and 9 young people, often becoming their last stable reference point after leaving the protection system.
The 2025 balance confirms that, with specialized and continuous support, it is possible to break cycles of exclusion and generate real opportunities for autonomy for care leavers.
Summary of the SAEJ 2025 Model Impact:
- Academic Success: 80% of young people maintain educational success.
- Autonomy: 90% achieve skills for independent living.
- Personalized Care: Ratios of approximately 1 professional for every 8 young people.
Joan Carles Martín is the Director of the Support Area for Youth in Care and Care Leavers in Girona, a benchmark service managed by Suara Cooperativa. With an extensive career in the social support sector, Martín specializes in designing and implementing early emancipation models for youth exiting the protection system. His strategic vision promotes comprehensive support that goes beyond basic assistance, focusing on the acquisition of real autonomy skills and success in post-compulsory educational pathways.
