Focusing on so-called group home that has been rapidly boosted up on the basis of three mottos such as deinstitutionalization, environment with minimized restrictions and normalization, this study identified how much the youths' residing in group home...
Focusing on so-called group home that has been rapidly boosted up on the basis of three mottos such as deinstitutionalization, environment with minimized restrictions and normalization, this study identified how much the youths' residing in group home are ready to be independent through interactions with their adjacent social surroundings in their own living sphere including facility, family, school and local community, and also determined how much group home's physical and Psychosocial living environment might have impacts on their own preparation for independent living. Here, this study aimed to build up a living environment helpful for their independent living, and suggest various measures for better service such as development of a practical guideline for directing their daily life, assessment of their readiness for independent living and preliminary programs for such independent living as well.
To meet these goals, this study adopted literature-based research and questionnaire survey. Out of total 242 group homes nationwide, there are 125 group homes that accommodate youths' at age 13 to 18, and out of those homes, 20 group homes were sampled at random quota. Then total 124 youths' residing in these 20 group homes were asked to join a survey hereof dating from Apr. 11 to 25, 2005. The collected data were analyzed via frequency analysis, t-test, ANOVA and χ2(Chi-square) test respectively using a proven statistical program called SPSS.
The results of analysis can be outlined as follows:
First, as the result of identifying the readiness of respondents residing in group home for their independent living by acquiring social and living skills, it was found that their readiness for independent living reached 3.07 points out of 5 on the average, which indicates moderate level(3 points). And their extent of acquired living skills(including education, occupation, household management, financial management, consumption skill and daily life skill) essential for socioeconomic independence averaged 3.14 points, which was a little higher than the average level(2.97) of social skills as psychologic independent living abilities(such as responsibility, initiative, mutual cooperation, trouble-shooting ability and interpersonal relationships). Hence, for the better living skills and social skills, it is required that a series of social skill training programs should be carried on so that the youths' at group home can adapt well to social or school life under balanced interpersonal relationships in harmony by learning various useful skills like anger control, self-assertion and collaboration with others.
Secondly, as the result of determining the impact of group home youths' individual characteristics on their own preparation for independent living, it was noted that the reasons of their accommodation at group home and the availability of their parents or contact with family members were not in any association with their preparation for independent living, while their sex distinction, age, academic achievement, acclimation to school and employment experiences were more or less significantly associated with their independent living. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a series of customized independent living plans as differentiated by sex or age in parallel with efforts to collaborate with schools concerned for their better acclimation, while providing practical programs like part-time job offer as well.
Third, as the result of surveying the impact of group home's physical living environment factors on youths' preparation for independent living, it was found that residential form(as a physical living environment factor) and the number of youths' per child carer were not in any association with their extent of preparation for independent living. But there were more or less differences depending on the number of dwellers, i.e. the youths' living in a group of 11~15 persons showed higher extent of readiness to be independent than anyone else.
Therefore, it is advisable that a moderate number of personnel should be set up(not exceeding 15 persons) to build up good living environment for group home, so that group home youths' can prepare for their own independent living by learning required social skills like interpersonal relationship, conflict resolution and cooperation through peer relationships within group home, while acquiring living skills such as preparation for daily meals of group home families and homemaking.
Fourth, the result of identifying the impact of psychosocial factors of living environment in group home on their readiness for independence showed that the number of child carer alternation cycle was not in any association with their readiness for independent living, while relationships with child carer and education or training programs related to independent living was associated with their readiness for independent living.
Thus, in order to realize more close relationships between child carers and youths', it is recommended that educational opportunities including parental education should be offered to child carers playing as alternative parent role in group home, while the independent living education and training programs for youths' in group home should be implemented in such a way that they can join and feel the practical aspects of program, rather than theoretical education, and can also learn the skills helpful to prepare for their own independent living based on living experiences through a course of trials and errors.