Residential Training Programs in the Process of Empowering Adult Foster Care Guards in Poland

Abstract

This article analyzes a new form of housing assistance within the social welfare system: training apartments. A specific group of beneficiaries for whom these apartments are intended includes adult residents leaving foster care in families and institutions. Without the support of their biological family, they are often left to fend for themselves, and this support gives them a chance to lead a fulfilling life. Training apartments ensure the fundamental rights to their own living space, privacy, and security, and serve as a starting point for former residents to take steps towards achieving stability in their lives. Training housing programs are designed for a fixed term, depending on the needs of the individual and the local government's housing resources. They continue the work with former residents designed in an individualized independence plan, which can be modified. Previous experience with residential training programs leads us to conclude that the process of independence for students in Polish foster care should begin much earlier, at the time of choosing a secondary school and a future profession. Furthermore, support efforts should be expanded and intensified to help students who have become independent find employment and housing. To increase the availability of training apartments, it is worthwhile to introduce provincial registers that would not only provide an overview of their performance but also serve as an ongoing evaluation of their functioning. Therefore, training housing programs should be considered an essential instrument for improving the quality of life of young adults leaving foster care, as they not only prevent social exclusion but also enable full participation in community life.