[MHLW] Release of Report of the Expert Committee for Children's Social Care under the Children's Affairs Division of the Social Security Council

On February 10, 2022, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) released the "FY2021 Report of the Expert Committee for Children's Social Care under the Children's Affairs Division of the Social Security Council."

This report is prepared in light of the five-year review period since the Child Welfare Act and related Acts were revised in 2016.  In addition, the "Basic Policy for Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2021" approved by the Cabinet in June 2021 states that the Government will take necessary measures to promote the sound upbringing of children and prevent child abuse.

In response to these, the committee has held 15 discussions since April 2021 on the child welfare system, maternal and child health care system, and children and childrearing support system, and has prepared this report.

The main contents of the report's  recommendations to the MHLW are as follows:

1.   Strengthening support for families and childcare environments in municipalities

1.1 Strengthening assessment and management functions

1.1.1 Develop a nearby assessment/consultation function in municipalities through familiar childcare support, such as daycare centers.

1.1.2 Establish one-stop comprehensive consultation institutions for all pregnant and nurturing mothers, child-raising families, and children.

*Review the function of general support center for families with small children (Maternal and Child Health Act) and the comprehensive support center for children and families (Child Welfare Act).

1.1.3 Make support plans to systematically and effectively support families with high support needs while promoting existing assessment initiatives in maternal and child health.

2.1. Enhancement of support

2.1.1 Create projects that support families and childcare environments so that support needs are not heightened.

*Lifestyle support through home visits, support for children who feel out of place at school or home, etc.

2.1.2 Authorize to recommend the use of and take measures related to family and childcare support and foster care environment in order to link support from the municipality to those in need of such assistance.

2. Strengthening support functions of Child Guidance Centers, etc.

2.1 Ramp up the support functions of Child Guidance Centers.

*Ensure implementation of parental support such as parent-child reunification in cooperation with the private sector and foster care support with the conversion of foster care support agencies into child welfare facilities.

2.2 Introduce judicial review on determining the commencement of temporary custody

2.3 Establish standards for staffing in temporary shelters and undergo third-party assessments.

3.   Improving the quality of child-centered social care

3.1 In making decisions on the administrative measures affecting the child, the Child Guidance Center should hear the views and intentions of the child, understand them, consider the best interests of the child, and reflect these in the measures to be taken.

3.2 Prefectures should establish a system of supporting children to express their views and intentions freely in all matters affecting the child and improve the environment for children's advocacy through the engagement of rights protection organizations, such as the Child Welfare Council, etc.

3.3 Enhance self-reliance support for those who have experienced social foster care

*Review the common factors behind the departures from institutions based on the age of admission, etc., and establish bases to support self-reliance of children at home, such as commuting to the institutions.

4. Human resource development, etc.

4.1 Improve the expertise of practitioners working for the well-being of children and family

*Introduce certified qualifications for those with experience in child and family welfare (Child and Family Welfare Social Worker (tentative name)).

4.2 Stricter management of qualifications for child care workers who commit indecent acts toward children. Babysitters are also informed of administrative penalties for indecent acts, etc.

The contents of the report were submitted to the 2022 Ordinary Session of Diet on 4 March 2022 as a bill to amend the Child Welfare Act.

For more information, please visit the website below (Japanese only):
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/shingi/shingi-hosho_126712.html

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