Evaluation of Support Services for Children and Young Adults Transitioning to Independence

Published on August 5, 2025
Published by Budget Analysis Office, Social Administration and Program Evaluation Division

   Young people who have grown up in child welfare facilities without parental protection or support are aged out of the system at 18 to prepare for independence. Each year, about 2,000 such young people transition out of the system. The government provides policy support to help these youths or those in vulnerable conditions with independent living and asset-building, which are vital for their successful integration into society.
   This report analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of these support services, focusing on their mid- to long-term fiscal management, outcomes, implementation, and legal frameworks, with the aim of proposing improvements. The main findings are as follows:
   First, on a general level, 1) Since independent living support services for eligible children and youth are part of both the Child and Youth Basic Policy Plans, close coordination between these plans is crucial; 2) Because economic and social difficulties can continue even after support ends, a follow-up survey is needed for a set period.
   Second, regarding the independent living support program: 1) The early payment of independent living allowances should be reviewed for children who extend their protection status for academic reasons; 2) It is necessary to improve regional equity in independent living settlement funds, which are currently based on the facility's location rather than the young person's choice; 3) Regional differences in public rental housing support need to be reduced; 4) Providing more career exploration programs for children while they are still in care is essential to improve employment outcomes; and 5) The medical expense budget requires a detailed review of recipients, a precise calculation of medical service unit costs, and enhanced performance through increased awareness campaigns.
   Third, regarding the independent living support system: 1) Ordinances for youth independent living support should be designed as a life-cycle-based system to ensure continuous policy support; 2) Given the overlap in services provided by organizations that prepare youth for independence and those that support youth in crisis, it is crucial to establish stronger connections between them for a more seamless continuum of care; and 3) When assigning staff to these support roles, it's essential to consider a reasonable workload and staffing rate to ensure quality assistance.
   Fourth, with regards development support for children in care: 1) The legal foundation for providing continuous, structured support to individuals with borderline intelligence after they age out of care should be reviewed and formalized; 2) The extended protection system needs to be improved to provide the necessary assistance to young people with borderline intelligence who are deemed challenged in achieving social self-reliance.
   Fifth, with regards Child Development Account: 1) For children in households receiving basic livelihood support, operational methods must be improved, including promoting account opening, making institutional enhancements from the perspective of parents who manage the accounts, and relaxing long-term withdrawal restrictions; 2) Incentives must be created to encourage young people to continue using their accounts for asset-building into adulthood; 3) Efforts are needed to increase donations to these accounts and to find ways to reduce regional disparities in funding rates.
   Additionally, an analysis by the National Center for the Rights of the Child has identified a need to improve the performance of its sponsorship program, which has been trending downwards.
   Support for young people transitioning to independent living must be comprehensive, including both economic assistance and non-economic support such as psychological and emotional support. This is crucial to provide vulnerable youth with a stable foundation and a fair start in society, ensuring they are not discriminated against based on their background or origin.