The article discusses apartments for the youth with emotional
and behavioral problems and their lives after leaving residential
treatment – the independent living program. The discussion
is based on their experiences and the experiences of the care
workers working with them. Such apartments are appropriated
to youngsters who leave care and do not have the possibilities
for independent living or returning to their parents' home.
Thus the youngsters are enabled to live relatively independent
lives with the help and support of pedagogues or mentors. On
the one hand, this means a continuation of the past successful
work at the residential house and, on the other hand, it is a
chance for the youngsters to gain greater independency and
abilities for independent living. Such apartments and aftercare
monitoring are intended to be used by youngsters under their
age of majority. In the present research, we have analyzed the
stories of two girls living in such apartments and the stories
of their mentors. We have tried to find out what are their
experiences and opinions of this type of work and living are.
The basic findings of the research are that apartments for
youth are an effective and necessary form of work, which still
needs further research and development.
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