Final answer:
A person no longer under parental care is known as an emancipated minor or an independent individual, depending on their age. This may occur for reasons such as parental incapacity or legal processes, leading to situations where the child lives with nonrelatives or extended family members like grandparents. Over time, as individuals mature, they naturally progress towards independence and self-identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person who is no longer under the care, custody, or supervision of a parent is called an emancipated minor if they are under the age of majority, or simply an independent individual if they have reached adulthood. This status can occur due to various reasons such as parental mental health issues, drug use, incarceration, or abandonment. Emancipation grants a minor the legal rights to make certain decisions in place of their parents or guardians.
Around 25 percent of children who do not live with an adoptive or biological parent reside with nonrelatives, which may include foster parents or temporary guardians. The involvement of extended family members like grandparents, who often take primary responsibility for the child, is reflected in the fact that 9 percent of children live with a grandparent. This family dynamic becomes necessary in situations where the parent is unable to provide adequate care due to substance abuse, incarceration, neglect, or other reasons. In the context of immigration, unaccompanied minors may seek asylum and potentially enter the foster care system or housing facilities.
As individuals progress through life from childhood to adulthood, their dependency levels change. Typically, reaching a stage of independence marks a significant developmental milestone, where they begin to assert their own identity, take responsibility for their lives, and may experience feelings of independence from their family.