KIHASA has published the Global Social Security Review, No. 31, the Autumn Volume. The feature articles in this volume review "Child Protection and Independence Support Services in Selected Countries."

FEATURE ARTICLES: Child Protection and Independence Support Services in Selected Countries

"System Support for Care Leavers in England," Lee Sang Jung, KIHASA

This article examines England’s support policies for children and youth transitioning out of out-of-home care and draws policy implications for Korea’s independent-living support system. The research particularly explores the target population and key components of England’s care leaver support, service delivery, and the workforce responsible for providing these services. Several lessons from England’s system offer policy insights for Korea. First, there is a need to establish a unified system of protection and service delivery for at-risk children and adolescents. Second, the workforce, including personnel responsible for child protection and those delivering independent-living support services, needs to be expanded. Third, it is essential to design and implement measures that clearly assign the responsibility of maintaining contact with individuals aging out of out-of-home care.

"Child Protection and Self-Reliance Services in Germany: Policies and Issues," Hong Moonki, Wanju County Office

Germany aims, through its universal social policies, to achieve an adequate quality of life―not merely a minimum standard of living―for children, adolescents, youth, and their families. These policies have established a system of support measures to address the various needs of children and their families, reducing the burden of child care on families and helping families restore their functions. For children and youth of an age range that requires protection but whose families are unable to give them sufficient support, federal youth welfare offices step in to offer strong assistance until these individuals can live independently. Germany’s youth independent living support system, designed to help children and young people in its care develop into healthy, contributing members of society, places special emphasis on education and job preparation.

"Current Status of Independence Support Policies for Children in Care in Japan: Recent Changes and Issues," Cho Jeongwoo, Changwon Child Protection Agency

I review the current state of Japan’s independence support policies for children in out-of-home care and consider their implications for Korea. Japan’s child protection system, once centered on facility-based residential care, has become more comprehensive in recent years, following changes in independent-living support policies and supplemented by enhanced family-based care. Through the 2016 amendment to the Child Welfare Act, independence support services, which had previously been delivered in a fragmented manner, were incorporated into an integrated system. The 2022 amendment eased age restrictions and introduced the support-hub project, making it possible to support young people transitioning out of out-of-home care more effectively and for a longer duration. One key implication of Japan’s system is that Korea should seek further integration of its independent-living support system and enhance the public aspects, such as administration and oversight.

ISSUE ANALYSIS

"US Medicare's Dementia Support Program for Patient and Caregivers," Kim Sujin, KIHASA

As the number of dementia patients continues to rise, the absence of a long-term care system and support scheme has long added considerably to the physical, mental, and financial burdens not only on patients themselves but also on their families and caregivers. Medicare, a public health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, as well as people with disabilities, launched its Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model in July 2024, aiming to reduce the care burden on families and help people with dementia continue living in their communities. The GUIDE model offers coordinated care, care management services, and ad-hoc nursing care for patients, along with support and education for family caregivers. Participating entities must have physicians and care navigators capable of managing dementia patients. Whether the GUIDE model will continue will be determined based on assessments following its 8-year pilot phase.

"On the US Presidential Election and Potential Social Security Reform," Kim Tae Kuen, Adelphi University

Amid unprecedented political turbulence, the Harris and Trump camps continue to put forth their policy promises through various channels. A key agenda issue that both camps have elaborated on is Social Security reform. To fully understand a country’s pension reform, it’s essential not to lose sight of the pension system’s role within the national socioeconomic context. This article, therefore, explores the current state and significance of US Social Security, as well as the implications and issues it presents in the US socioeconomic context. It also reviews each candidate’s social security reform proposals and assesses their potential effects and likely public perception in the US political landscape.

"Recent Trends and Issues in Universal Health Coverage in the US," Jeong Soyun, University at Albany, State University of New York

The US Medicare program, managed by the federal government, was introduced in 1965 for older adults. Medicare is considered a general program, as it is available to anyone aged 65 or older, regardless of income level, employment status, or health status. However, Medicare has a rather complicated structure, with private insurers involved and coverage divided into Parts A, B, C, and D. Recently, as health service use has grown with the aging population, leading to a rise in health care spending, concerns have arisen about the financial sustainability of Medicare. Adding to these concerns, Medicare enrollees are facing growing difficulties in accessing health services due to rising claim denials and increasing pre-authorization requirements. The current situation warrants an examination of Medicare’s status and the options underway to improve its sustainability and expand its benefit coverage. “Medicare for All” is one of the reform directions aimed at transforming the health insurance program from the current multi-insurer system to a single-insurer model, with a view to providing a more comprehensive range of health services to all. Numerous attempts to make Medicare a single-insurer scheme have been unsuccessful. Achieving this goal requires, above all, financial sustainability and political consensus. Such a shift seems unlikely to occur any time soon at the federal level, though state-based reforms may be more feasible. The US government is likely to pursue gradual reforms, instead of enacting drastic changes, to expand Medicare benefits.

"Recent Family Policy Responses in France and Their Implications," Im Bakne, University Paris 7

France’s natalist family policies have a remarkable track record, having for many years kept the total fertility rate (TFR) near replacement level by focusing on improving the quality of care services for young children and supporting women in balancing work and family. Currently at 1.68, France’s TFR, though still the highest among European countries, has continuously declined since 2011. In response, French President Macron announced in early 2024 the launch of a new childbirth leave policy to replace the existing parental leave, along with other measures to address the falling birthrates. This article explores the background of France’s introduction of the new childbirth leave policy and public service reforms for young children and draws policy implications for Korea.

"Japan's Policy Responses to Municipalities at Risk of Extinction," Cho Sungho, KIHASA

Japan’s policy efforts to prevent local depopulation date back to the 1960s, when, as migration to the capital region intensified, other parts of the country became increasingly under-inhabited. Later, with the emergence of ‘marginal villages,’ policy priorities shifted to instilling vitality into local communities, reanimating and renovating them, and helping them secure skilled human resources. Initially implemented by municipalities, these policies were later, following the publication of the “Masuda Report” in 2014, taken over by the national government. In this article, I trace the origins of Japan’s policies on local population decline and examine the current state of these policies, with a particular focus on the policy of dispatching human resources to local areas.

Global Social Security Trends

• ■"Integrating Policies for Older Adults and People with Disabilities in the United States," Kang Sara Sung Hye, University of California, Los Angeles

• ■"Germany's System for Pregnancy Conflict Counseling," Chong Da-Eun, Universtat Regensburg

• ■"Finnish Housing First and Homelessness Policy," Park Youngsun, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki