KIHASA has added two new research reports to its publications, including: “A Study on Integrated Policy Support for the Independent Living of Out-of-Home Care Leavers” and “Social Security Field Monitoring: Forum for Field Experts and Practitioners.”

1. A Study on Integrated Policy Support for the Indpendent Living of Out-of-Home Care Leavers by Lee Sang Jung, et al.

This study examines the status of out-of-home care leavers discharged under the age of 18 and the policy support available for their independent living. It analyzes policy gaps and support measures for early-discharged youth, referencing cases from the UK, Germany, and the United States. A survey of child protection staff and qualitative interviews with young people preparing for independent living and professionals were conducted to assess needs among the early leavers. Based on the analysis, the study proposes an integrated support policy for early-discharged care leavers.

2.  Social Security Field Monitoring: Forum for Field Experts and Practitioners by Cheong Sejeong & Jun Jihyun

Since 2008, KIHASA has been organizing the Social Security Field Monitoring Forum, bringing together local government social welfare officials and frontline experts from both the public and private social welfare sectors, whom it appointed as expert members of the forum. The forum aims to examine key issues and challenges within the social security system and explore ways to improve it, with a focus on topics of growing societal interest.

The year 2024 marks the 16th year of the Social Security Field Monitoring Project, with a total of three meetings held. The first forum focused on local government responses to the pilot project on the prevention and management of solitary deaths. Discussions covered the identification and management of lonely deaths, project operations, and support measures. The second forum focused on the current state and improvement measures of local emergency welfare support programs, including an overview of emergency welfare support, similar self-run emergency welfare programs by local governments, and cooperation between cities/counties, townships, and the private sector. The third and final forum examined the financial difficulties and debt issues faced by low-income people, exploring relevant cases, key issues, and future trends.