Mi sugerencia.

Sin contexto esto puede ser cualquier cosa, pero ésta es una posibilidad.
Se refiere a un menor bajo la tutela del estado a quien se le otorga la emancipación. Existe un período de prueba que se denomina "trial discharge". La emancipación, o autonomía, se hace efectiva al finalizar el período de prueba.

http://fostercaretoadulthood.wikispaces.com/New York
"Trial discharge
New York recently passed a law that mandates a minimum of six months of "trial discharge" for all youth exiting foster care. During the trial discharge period, the youth is no longer considered to be a "foster child," and the child is able to elect what (if any) services he wants to receive. The court, however, maintains jurisdiction over the youth's "case." If certain triggering conditions occur (homelessness, for example,) or if the youth desires to return to a foster care, the court has jurisdiction to redesignate them a foster youth and place them in a state-authorized foster care placement.

During this period of trial discharge, the state is required to make aftercare services available to the youth. Further, the child's foster care caseworker must maintain "supervision" of the youth, which in this context means regular phone contact and availability for meetings at the youth's request..."