Busan Social Service Agency to Operate "Connecting Hearts" Program for Parents of Isolated and Reclusive Youth

The First Step Toward Recovery:
Parents and Children Supporting Each Other's Lives

Busan Social Service Agency (Director Yoo Gyuwon) will operate the "Isolated and Reclusive Youth Parent Education" program three times from October 31 to November 14, as part of the pilot project "Youth Care Connection," a social service initiative supporting isolated and reclusive youth.

The theme of this program is "Connecting the Hearts of Children and Parents: A Strong Link Supporting Each Other's Lives." It aims to help parents understand and communicate with children in isolated or reclusive states, and to support the restoration of family relationships.

The program will be conducted by expert instructors in the relevant field, in collaboration with PIE and Nadawn Youth, organizations supporting isolated and reclusive youth.

The program targets parents and guardians residing in Busan who are struggling due to their children being isolated or reclusive. A total of 90 participants will be recruited, with 30 people per session.

Since this year, Busan Social Service Agency has been focusing on the "Youth Care Connection" project, which supports isolated and reclusive youth and young family caregivers, who have emerged as a new group vulnerable to welfare blind spots.

So far, the agency has identified 187 young people and provided them with social service connections and information services through partner organizations. It has also strengthened the local care safety net by building a public-private partnership system with 23 organizations, continuing various collaborations such as identifying cases, resource sharing, and project linkage.

Yoo Gyuwon, Director of Busan Social Service Agency, stated, "This program will help relieve the loneliness of parents with isolated children and serve as the first step toward recovery, where parents and children support each other's lives." He added, "Busan Social Service Agency will take the lead in providing practical and sustainable support so that young people can overcome their periods of despair and get back on the path to hope and growth."

Poster for Isolated and Reclusive Parent Education.