With the move to reality, young adults can help half-way homes that offer practitioners and psycho-social help to those interested. However, this type of equipment is in short supply in the Czech Republic.
In the Czech Republic, there are currently almost 150 children's homes that can accommodate up to 5,000 children. In the school year 2016/2017, according to data of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, 1134 children left these facilities, of which more than 900 were permanently dismissed. "Children's homes, of course, will not throw children out of the street when they reach the age of majority. They support teenagers, for example, during follow-up studies. Services for those who are about to leave home are not very complex, " says Jana Pěchová from SOS Children's Villages. Young adults, according to her, need not only practical help but also psychological and social assistance. "Most children who grew up in children's homes suffer from the syndrome of a despised child. Often they are very distrustful, in relationships they tend to be submissive, have low self-confidence. Helping them to deal with biological parents, siblings, but also with relationships at school or at work, " he adds.
The Ipsos research for the Out-of-home organization shows that children preparing to leave the children's home are relatively clear about future needs. 93% of respondents consider the search for housing important, 89% of them looking for work. Among the important topics, young adults are also dealing with authorities or managing finances. But in these respects, according to experts, young adults have little experience. Nearly half of children, for example, said they did not know where to live. Only 13% of respondents had saved money before leaving.
Young adults want to rely on friends and acquaintances after leaving. The survey shows, however, that only a third of cases later used the services of nonprofit organizations or home half way. Halfway Houses can be a suitable form of preparation for young adults. "Half-way houses are a unique facility in the complexity of services. They offer youth accommodation, practical support and psychological help, " says Jana Pěchová from the SOS Children's Village, a non-profit organization that runs the Halfway House. A half-way house is a so-called high-threshold facility that many services offer, but at the same time requires a lot of clients. "As part of my half-way home, I have an individual plan that I have to fulfill. I have all the necessary facilities and enough leisure activities available, " says Jakub, who has been a client for a year. "But I have to adhere to the rules of the organization, for example alcohol or other addictive substances. On the other hand, I was able to get a free license last year, and I have a better job since March, " Jakub said.
The juveniles come to the Home for half-way at their own request . The facility should accommodate any adult who left the children's home or foster family. The only condition is his criminal integrity. The problem, however, is the fatal shortage of such facilities in the Czech Republic. The waiting lists The half-way home is, for the time being, full for the long term. Similar devices have great results. The half-way house in Brno, which runs SOS Children's Villages, for example, registers 100% success rate for all clients - young adults who have left the service have always had permanent employment and independent living. During the three-year half-way home operation, only three people had left him at his own request.
Social Service SOS Kotva
Half-way house SOS Kotva provides background and support for young people aged 18 to 26 who can not grow up in their biological family and leave a foster family or a children's home. The goal of SOS Kotva is to increase the autonomy of these young people and maximize their chances of integration into social and economic life. In addition to accommodation, young people will also find active and versatile support for taking full responsibility for their lives.
Source: tz, SOS Children's Villages