The Current State and Improvement Directions of Aftercare for Youth in Transition to Independent Living

Abstract

In recent years, there has been increasing social interest in young adults in preparation for independent living, for whom support from the government and the private sector has been steadily expanding. The system of aftercare for youth in transition to independent living has undergone a substantial transformation as a result of the recent establishment of agencies dedicated to providing support for those youth and staffing them with professional officers. These changes have brought both expectations and bewilderment to the field. In this article, we examine the current status of the aftercare of young adults preparing for independence, focusing on whether they are kept in contact after they are aged out of foster care, and discuss ways to achieve effective support.