이 연구는 사회보장, 사회서비스, 평생사회안전망의 맥락에서 현행 아동·청소년·가족보호체계를 진단하고 정책개선을 위한 과제를 도출하는데 목적이 있다. 연구목적에 따른 주요 연구내용은 첫째, 아동·청소년․가족 보호체계 현황 및 여건 분석, 둘째, 공공복지 전달체계 현황 및 여건 분석, 셋째, 보호체계 관련 국내·외 사례 및 현황 고찰, 넷째, 아동·청소년․가족 보호체계 개선을 위한 정책과제 도출 등이다. 이를 위해 국내·외선행연구와 행정자료를 분석하고, 자치구 단위 아동·청소년·가족 보호업무 추진여건을 파악하기 위하여 2차 자료분석과 시·군·구 희망복지지원단 대상 실태조사, 전문가 의견조사(AHP), 포커스그룹인터뷰(FGI), 전문가자문, 정책연구실무협의회, 콜로키움 등의 연구방법을 활용하였다. 주요 연구결과는 다음과 같다. 각각의 보호체계가 분절적으로 구성·운영되어 있어 보호대상 아동·청소년․가족의 진입관문(gate-way)이 어디인지에 따라 지원내용과 서비스에 차별이 발생하고 있어 개선이 요구된다. 18세 미만 아동·청소년 가운데 보호지원이 필요한 아동은 10명 중 2명에 달하는 것으로 추정되나 보호체계에 진입하더라도 보호조치를 담당하는 아동복지전담공무원의 배치기준이 부재하여 보호조치 시 전문성이 담보되지 않고, 아동복지시설 이외의 시설에서 대안돌봄 중인 아동·청소년은 보호조치를 위한 심의대상에서도 제외되는 등 누수가 발생하고 있다. 이에 시·군·구 단위 아동·청소년·가족 보호·복지 통합게이트웨이를 단계적으로 구축하고, 현행 사회보장정보시스템의 이용범위 확대와 취약계층 발굴을 위한 공통사정도구 개발·활용, 사례관리 전담인력을 확충할 필요가 있다. 특히 자치구 단위의 통합사례관리업무를 포함한 공공, 민간의 다종 다양한 사회서비스를 조정하고 총괄하는 컨트롤타워 기능을 강화하는 전략이 필요하다. 이와 함께 보호사무와 관련하여 지방정부의 사업설계 자율권을 보장하고 기존 운영방식을 전면 개편하는 방안으로, 중앙정부 사회보장사업 중 아동·청소년·가족 보호사업목적과 기능을 고려하여 포괄보조(block grants)가 가능한 사업군을 도출하고 성과관리체계와 연동하여 시행가능성을 면밀하게 검토해 볼 필요가 있다. 연구결과를 토대로 법률 개정, 아동·청소년·가족 보호기반 강화, 제도 및 서비스 개선을 위한 세부추진과제를 제안하였다.
The purpose of this research is to investigate the current status and system of the protection of children, youths and families and to identify the tasks for policy and practice improvement in the context of Social Security, Social Service and Social Safety Net. In order to accomplish this purpose, the current project involves the following these components: 1. Analyzing the current state and condition of the system for the protection of children, youths and families; 2. Examining the present state and situation of the public welfare service delivery system; 3. Evaluating domestic and international status and cases of protection system; 4. Identifying policy and practice tasks to improve the current system for protection of children, youths and families. A variety of methods including comprehensive review of literature and the government reports from domestic and international resources were utilized to address these four components. In addition, several data collection and analysis methods such as the administrative data, a survey with participants of Hope Welfare Support Teams, Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP), Focus Group Interview (FGI), Expert Advice, Policy Researchers Conference and Colloquium were employed to better understand the current challenges and needs of the local government agencies. The research identified the several major challenges and areas of improvement to reform the protection system and to promote the well-being for children, youths and families. The first major finding is that based on the current structure, each protection system for children, youths and families is separated and operated independently. As a result, discrepancy exists in the level of support and services depending on where the children, youths and families“Gate-Way”are. This may be one of the most significant and urgent improvement areas in the current protection system to provide comprehensive and streamlined services. The second major finding is when children in need, enter the protection system, receiving adequate professional support is not guaranteed. This is a serious concern since it is estimated that two out of ten children under 18 years are subject to need for the protection support. The lack of professional support in the system can be attributed to the following two reasons. First, there is no systematic national standard for a Child Welfare Dedicated Public Official who is in charge of protection support. In addition, children and youths who receive the alternative care from the institution are not considered as a target for protection support under the current system. Therefore, to address the current challenge, each local government needs to work toward establishing the Integrated Gate-Way for children, youths and families. Also, expanding the range of current Social Security Information System, developing common assessment instrument to detect risk of harm to vulnerable children, youths and families, and increasing the number of case management professionals are critical to improve the protection system. Especially, a strategy to reinforce functions of Control Tower that operate and adjust various public and private social service including tasks for integrated case management is essential. The third finding is the necessity of making changes to the operation of the system. For instance, it is important for the government to reorganize the existing operation method and to ensure autonomy for local government to have a business plan for the development of a protection system relevant to them. Also, based on the purpose and function of the protection system, certain programs and services within Central Government-Controlled Social Security Services can be identified as potential programs for Block Grants. Thus, in conjunction with Performance Management System, it is critical to evaluate the possibility of creating Block Grants programs for local government to develop locally relevant social services. Based on the findings, this research recommends to revise the current protection related laws and registrations, to strengthen foundation of protection for children, adolescents and families and to implement specific tasks for improve policy and services.