This article aims to identify the life situations of street children and adolescents after leaving care institutions; note how they evaluate their current life; and understand how they perceive the institution in which they stayed and the treatment they received there. Nine male adolescents participated (18-20 years old). A semi-structured interview script, evaluated through content analysis, was used. The results revealed a variety of life situations. The participants tended to describe their current life situation as satisfactory and they also positively evaluated the institution in which they stayed. The results are discussed in the context of Institutional Tie Trajectory (ITT); the modalities for leaving the streets as described in the literature; and the importance of the relationship between educator and child/adolescent. The implications for public policies treating this population are discussed.
street situation; adolescents; institution; evaluation
