Independent living program – from the point of view of youngsters and their care workers

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