Dobong-gu, Survey on the Needs of Youth Preparing for Independence

Dobong-gu Conducts Needs Survey to Establish a Stable Independence System and Support Measures for Youth Preparing for Independence

Survey Targeting 41 Youth Preparing for Independence, Conducted Through Individual Visits by Surveyors and Online Questionnaires

Focus on Checking Independence Status Including Health Condition, Housing Situation, and Career Plans

Survey Results to Be Actively Reflected in Next Year’s ‘Dobong-gu Youth Preparing for Independence Support Project’

Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) announced that it will conduct the 'Dobong-gu Youth Preparing for Independence Needs Survey' targeting 41 youth preparing for independence from June 7 to the end of August, a three-month period.

Youth preparing for independence refers to young people who have lived in child care facilities, group homes, foster care facilities, etc., and who must leave the facility and stand on their own upon reaching the age of 18 (extendable up to 24 if desired). Currently, 41 youth in Dobong-gu are preparing for independence.

This needs survey will check the independence status of 41 youth preparing for independence who are receiving independence allowance for care-leavers, through individual home visit consultations by surveyors or online questionnaires, focusing on ▲health condition ▲housing situation ▲career plans and social networks.

Based on the survey results, the district plans to identify practical needs such as necessary educational courses, willingness to participate in education, and preferred education formats, and use the data to develop next year’s independence capacity-building education programs and support systems.

Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, “Youth preparing for independence who leave facilities and must stand on their own relatively early still face difficulties adapting to society due to a weak social support base despite various support policies and services,” adding, “Through this needs survey, we will establish Dobong-gu’s own support system and make continuous efforts to create a warm and safe home in Dobong where youth preparing for independence can live with peace of mind.”

Dobong-gu enacted the ‘Ordinance on Support for Youth Preparing for Independence’ in April 2023 and plans to provide mentoring activity expenses to strengthen tailored independence capacity-building education and social support systems for youth preparing for independence starting this September.