Independent living Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Independent living - Essay Example Courtney et al. found that these young adults are not engaged in real life activities in foster care because of which they are not prepared for issues like personal health care, finding a means of livelihood and appropriate shelter for themselves after leaving the care(as cited in Freundlich et al., 2006, p.65). A study by Youth Advocacy Center found that the focus of training is mainly on the issues pertaining to substance misuse, sexually transmitted diseases than on more important ones like education, social interaction and so on (as cited in Freundlich et al., 2006, p.65). As expressed by Stein, some writers feel that this training is an early burden on the minds of youth, parents and professionals involved in foster care (as cited in Freundlich et al., 2006, p.65). As discussed by Cashmore, various observations have revealed that youth are not allowed to actively participate in the planning processes about their future (as cited in Freundlich et al., 2006, p.66). Authors of the article planned a study with the help of various other professionals to know the viewpoint of youth and various key members of the society that can be associated with this issue like lawyers, social workers, family court judges, congregate care representatives, young adults and youth advocacy organizations’ representatives. The study was based on a set of questions to explore the thoughts of youngsters and others towards the foster care. Out of all the members only congregate care agency representatives expressed their faith in the independent living training provided in the foster care and held the responsibility of the failure on the lack of enthusiasm in youth. On the other hand, lawyers, social workers and everyone else held the limitations in the foster care system responsible for the collapse of youth once discharged from the care. They concluded that instead of giving