취약계층 아동·청소년을 위한 대표적 돌봄기관인 지역아동센터가 2004년에 법제화된 이후 20년 동안 운영되어 왔다. 지역아동센터를 이용했던 다수의 이용자들이 현재는 청년으로서의 삶을 살아가고 있다. 그간 지역아동센터에 대한 연구가 많이 이루어져왔으나 청년이 된 과거 이용자들에 대한 연구는 제한적이다. 이에 과거에 지역아동센터를 이용했던 20-30대 초반의 청년 10명에 대한 질적 연구를 통해 청년기 관점에서 바라본 지역아동센터 이용 경험의 의미를 탐색하며 새로운 이해를 마련해 보고자 했다. 분석결과, 첫째, 지역아동센터에서의 경험은 ‘가족을 보완하는 친밀한 돌봄 제공처이자 성장의 동반자’, ‘다양한 체험과 배움의 장’, ‘사회에 대한 선경험의 장’의 의미를 갖는 것으로 파악되었다. 둘째, 지역아동센터 이용 경험이 현재의 삶에 미치는 영향은 ‘리질리언스를 돕는 관계 자원’, ‘임파워먼트의 근간: 자아존중감과 자신감’, ‘사회공동체 구성원으로의 적응 기반’, ‘타인을 돌보는 시민으로의 성장 기반’으로 인식하는 것으로 나타났다. 이런 연구결과를 토대로 이론적·실천적 함의를 제시한다.
This study investigates the self-reflection of young adults who were former users of community childcare centers, shedding light on their experiences and their impact. Community childcare centers, established in 2004, play a pivotal role in providing care for children and teenagers from vulnerable social backgrounds. In 2023, nearly two decades after their inception, a significant portion of their previous users have transitioned into young adulthood. Despite extensive research on current users of these centers, limited attention has been given to those who utilized them in the past and have since entered their twenties and thirties. To address this gap, we conducted qualitative research involving ten young adults in their twenties and early thirties who were former users of community childcare centers. Our primary objective was to analyze the essence of their past experiences within the context of young adulthood and establish a foundational understanding of these experiences. By exploring the medium and long-term effects of their time in community childcare centers, this research serves as a valuable source of baseline knowledge for future investigations. This study focused on two central research questions. First, “What is the significance of experiences at community childcare centers from the perspective of young adults?” Second, “What influence do experiences at community childcare centers have on the lives of young adults?” The analysis of the first research question revealed that experiences at community childcare centers held multiple meanings for the users. They saw these centers as “a place providing intimate care supporting growth and development,” “a setting for diverse and formative experiences and learning,” and “a space for early social interactions.” Meanwhile, the analysis of the second research question highlighted that research participants perceived the influence of their community childcare center experiences as “a source of resilient relationships,” “a foundation for empowerment, fostering self-esteem and self-confidence,” “a basis for integration into the wider social community,” and “a cornerstone for personal growth as a compassionate and caring citizen.” Drawing from these research findings, we offer theoretical and practical implications that contribute to a better understanding of the impacts of community childcare centers in shaping the lives and perspectives of young adults.