"Not a Single Child Will Be Abandoned"... Nowon-gu Establishes Customized Support System for Youth Preparing for Independence

[Seoul District News] Nowon-gu Holds Meeting with Childcare Facility and Group Home Managers, Prepares Socioeconomic and Psychological Measures & Expands Self-Reliance Settlement Funds, Supports Early Certification Acquisition, Strengthens Protection System and Workforce & Promotes Enactment of Ordinance Supporting Independent Living for Protected Children and Youth Preparing for Independence in Nowon-gu

Support Meeting for Youth Preparing for Independence

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will establish and support a customized protection system to help youth preparing for independence (youth aging out of care) become self-reliant.

Recently, as young people who have left child care facilities have repeatedly made extreme choices, social indifference toward them and the lack of a comprehensive support system have been pointed out as social problems. Although the law was amended to extend the protection termination age from 18 to 25, practical support for independence remains severely insufficient.

Accordingly, the district has taken measures to support children under protection and youth preparing for independence within the region. Over the past five years, 55 youth in Nowon-gu have prepared for independence, and there are currently 298 children under protection. The district held meetings with heads of child care facilities and group homes and prepared five support measures to become a reliable partner for them.

First, the amount and eligibility for the self-reliance settlement fund supported by the district budget will be expanded. The support payment given at the end of protection will be increased by 100% from 1 million won to 2 million won, and the support target will be expanded to include not only children in institutional care but also those in foster care who were previously excluded.

Second, support for qualification acquisition fees will begin from middle school. Due to criticism that the current system, which allows vocational training only after becoming a high school student, makes timely and sufficient support difficult, the age for qualification acquisition fee support will be lowered. This will enable children under protection to earn additional points needed for admission to specialized high schools and find their desired career paths early to prepare for independence from an early stage.

Third, professional mentors will be connected to children under protection and youth preparing for independence to alleviate feelings of isolation and psychological burdens. Volunteers from various fields such as social workers, teachers, and public officials will be recruited as mentors, and the “Adults You Can Always Lean On” program will be operated to provide connections.

Fourth, customized case management through dedicated child protection officers will be activated. In cooperation with the Nowon-gu Mental Health Welfare Center and Youth Counseling Welfare Center, specialized outreach counseling will care for the psychology and emotions of children under protection and youth preparing for independence, supporting psychological testing and therapy. To this end, three additional dedicated child protection officers will be hired, and an organization will be formed and operated.

Finally, the “Knock Anytime, Nowon” program will be implemented to support emotional development such as travel, cultural experiences, and self-management for children under protection and youth preparing for independence. When needed, they can directly write and submit an implementation plan, and after review, receive support funds, providing opportunities to gain vitality in daily life and diverse experiences.

The district is promoting the enactment of the “Ordinance on Support for the Independence of Children under Protection and Youth Preparing for Independence in Nowon-gu, Seoul” to ensure that this support is not a one-time project but becomes a continuous protection system. The ordinance is scheduled to be formally submitted as an agenda item at the regular meeting in September.

In addition, the district operates six child protection facilities. Notably, it has established a social safety net to protect local children and youth by operating the nation’s first infant-exclusive abuse victim child shelter directly managed by the district office.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “It is society’s responsibility to create an environment where all children and youth can grow up happily and safely regardless of their circumstances,” adding, “We will do our best to improve the rights and interests of children under protection and youth preparing for independence in the region with the attitude of not giving up on a single child.”