Living Guide Q & A "Welfare"

Hello everyone, this is the Shiga Prefecture Child and Youth Affairs Bureau. In Shiga, we aim to create a prefectural government for and with children, with “Children, children, children (Kodomo, kodomo, kodomo)” as our keyword.
Do you know what a Young Carer (Caregiving Youth) is? They are children who are responsible for the daily chores and family care that adults are supposed to take care of. For example, there are cases like this.

Case１

Doing household chores and taking care of young siblings

Case２

Have elderly family members to watch over and care for

Case３

Have a family member with a disability or illness to care for or nurse

Case４

Working after school to support the household

Case５

Interpreting, etc., to support family communication

For children, “helping out” is a wonderful experience that leads to personal growth. However, the continued heavy responsibilities and burdens that are not appropriate for their growth can affect their mental and physical health, and unable to spend time being a child, some children give up on their dreams and career paths for the future. Sometimes children think that supporting their family is normal, and because they love their family so much, they are unaware of their own SOS and unable to talk about it, even if they are suffering.
In Shiga, we provide support for young carer with the keyword of “whole family support” to these children and their families with various problems. Through a non-profit organization, we provide a consultation service and a place where people in similar situations can get together, and we have also placed a Young Carer Coordinator to provide support.

Some children of foreign nationality are unable to express their true feelings because of the language barrier, or they are unable to have time for themselves due to their family’s need for interpretation. Let’s all support each other to create a society that ensures all children to have time to play and learn in the community and at home. Children are the treasure of society. Children and families who are struggling, please consult with us.　　　　 (From the Young Carer Coordinator)

Kokoron Dial

Concerns of children/ youth and their parents/ guardians.
TEL　077-524-2030
9:00am～9:00pm（(Excluding Dec 29th - Jan 3rd）
After 9:00pm, you will be connected to 24h Child SOS Dial.

Information on consultation services in each municipality

Please inquire about the support and services you can receive. https://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/file/attachment/5355506.pdf

More smiles for children! ~ a different place to spend time

There are many organizations in Shiga that supports children. “Young Carer support group”(★) are organizations that help children when they are having a hard time at home, when they want to relax, or when they need consultation. “Kodomo Shokudo (Children’s cafeteria)” is a place where children can enjoy free or low-cost meals. (Some groups are open to adults in the community.)
「“Ibasho (a place where one belongs)” is a place where children can spend their time as they wish. Let’s go have some fun!

NPO Kodomo Social Work Center

• Content: ★Young Carer support, Ibasho, bento (meal delivery), Camp
• Venue: 9-8 Kannonji Otsu
• When: Everyday
• Contact: 077-575-4378
  　 https://liff.line.me/1645278921-kWRPP32q/?accountId=294hlbww

NPO Serikawa no Kappa

• Content: ★★Young Carer support, Ibasho, Online consultation
• Venue: 2-3-4 Kawahara Hikone
• When: Everyday
• Contact: 0749-20-9084
  https://cswc2016.jp/

Tabunka Kyosei Shien Center SHIPS

• Content: Multicultural Kodomo Shokudo
• Venue: 1-13-12 Kusatsu Kusatsu
• When: Sat
• Contact: 077-561-5110

Kanchan no Chisana Ie

• Content: Multicultural Community Exchange, Kodomo Shokudo
• Venue: 956-2 Jorakuji Azuchi-cho Omihachiman
• When: 10 times a year
• Contact: 090-3708-3315
  https://kancyan-house.com/contact/

NPO Yanchadera

• Content: Ibasho for the teens, Kodomo Shokudo
• Venue: Within Kusatsu-shi
• When: 1st, 3rd, 5th Sat
• Contact: https://yanchadera.wixsite.com/yanchadera

Paradeiro

• Content: Ibasho　Kodomo Shokudo
• Venue: 13-2 Echigawa Aisho-cho
• When: 3rd Fri, at dinner time
• Contact: 090-4030-1492
  https://twitter.com/paradeiro12123

Otsu Alternative School Triumph

• Content: Alternative school, Ibasho, Watercolor painting class
• Venue: 4-3-25 Hamaotsu Otsu
• When: Tue, Wed, Fri
• Contact: 050-5374-0311
  https://www.otsu-triumph.com/

Child Village

• Content: A third place for children and adults (Ibasho)
• Venue: 2-39-4 Hieidaira Otsu
• When: 4th Sat10am - 4pm
• Contact: email：chimihirano@gmail.com

・Please contact and confirm before you go.

♪ There are many more “ibasho,” “shokudo,” and play sites for children ♪

• Play and learn, Omi Kodomo Shokudo (Kodomo Shokudo in Shiga)
https://shiga-hug.jp/uploads/06ad710ef1b9daebf3cfac7d6f934dd6.pdf
• “Shiga Kodomo Taiken Gakkou” (Hands-on learning school)
  There are a variety of hands-on programs under the five themes of “ Interaction,” “Life/ Creativity,” “Nature,” “Satoyama/ Rice paddies,” and “Culture and art/ History."
https://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/ippan/kosodatekyouiku/kosodate/300072.html

There are various efforts to monitor the health and development of children in Japan.
In Shiga prefecture, newborns are screened for impaired hearing through the “newborn hearing test”. Upon request, newborns are also tested for “congenital metabolic disorder” to detect illnesses that delay development due to poor metabolism or secretions and provide treatment to prevent the occurrence of disabilities.
Infants and toddlers have municipal health checks, and young children are consulted before entering elementary school.
Other than monitoring vaccinations, checking documents, and consulting to concerns from guardians, health checks are conducted at specific stages of a child’s development for early diagnosis and treatment of disabilities by health care professionals. For example, traits of certain child developmental disabilities are only visible at certain developmental stages, so it is important to receive health checks at the specified age determined by each municipal government.

Organizations for those with developmental disabilities in Shiga

There are opportunities for learning and other facilities to suit the needs of each individual.

Age 0 - 6　Infant child health check

Hoikuen、Kodomoen、Youchien、Child development support office、Child development support center

Age 7 - 15　Consultation for schooling

Elementary school・junior high school（regular class, resource room, special needs class）、Special needs school（(elementary course, JHS course, SHS course）

Age 16 - 18　Consultation for schooling

Senior high school、Secondary special needs school、After school activity services (day service)

Age 19+　Higher education・employment consultations

university, etc.・vocational school、company etc.、services based on Comprehensive Support Law for Persons with Disabilities（support office for work transition, support office for maintaining employment, etc.）

Organizations available for consultations or concerns regarding child development.

• developmental support center, health center, disability welfare section in each city or town
• medical institution (pediatrician, psychiatrist)
• Shiga Prefectural Education Center　℡　０７７－５８８－２５０５

If you do not know where to contact, or if multiple disabilities coincide requiring more specialized care, contact “Shiga prefecture medical welfare one-stop consultation desk”

Shiga prefecture medical welfare one-stop consultation desk

℡ ０７７－５６９－５９５５
☆The National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities has information in foreign languages. Please use as a reference.

　 http://www.rehab.go.jp/ddis/world/brochure/

In Japan, there are various types of services and support based on the Act for Supporting the Independence of Persons with Disabilities (the Act on Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities from April, 2018) so that persons and children who for some reasons, became mentally and physically disabled, can live their daily and social life in the society. If you have worries about anything, consult your municipal office and other public offices.
Persons with disabilities are divided into those with intellectual disabilities, those with physical disabilities, and those with mental disorders (including those with developmental disorders). Those with mild disabilities are also included. They can avail of various support systems and services, according to the type and level of their disabilities. For this, application procedures regarding the Certification of a Person with Disability (shougaisha techou): physical disability certificate (shintai shougaisha techou); rehabilitation certificate, ex. rehabilitation of disabled children (ryouiku techou); and mental disability certificate (seishin shougaisha hoken fukushi techou), must be accomplished in the city/municipal office. (The certification for persons with disabilities must be determined by medical and specialized institutions.)

Medical care services to support self-reliance of persons with disabilities (jiritsu shien iryou)
　The burden of the expenditures for the medical services to eliminate and ease physical disabilities and mental disorders are reduced.

Welfare services for persons with disabilities (shougai fukushi service)
　There are services including in-home nursing care, visiting care for persons with severe disabilities, activity support, accompanying support, short stay, group home, medical care, assisted-living care, support facilities, etc.

Services to support and grant benefits to children with disabilities who regularly use different facilities (shougaiji tsuusho shien kyuufu service)
　　There are services like developmental support for children, medical type child development support, after school day services, etc.

As a general rule, the user of the above mentioned services will pay 10 % of the base amount of the services utilized, but the amount may be reduced based on the income of the household concerned.

Welfare Allowance (fukushi teate)
　　There are some cases where allowance and pension may be received according to the classification and level of the Certification of a Person with Disability (shougaisha techou). (There are restrictions on income, etc., Allowances that are overlapping may not be received.)

　

Special Disability Allowance (tokubetsu shougaisha teate), Children’s Disability Welfare Allowance (shougaiji fukushi teate), Progressive Welfare Allowance (keikateki fukushi teate), Severe Disability Allowance (zaitaku jyuudo shougaisha teate), Special Child Rearing Allowance (tokubetsu jidou fuyou teate), Child Rearing Allowance (jidou fuyou teate), Allowance for Orphans (iji teate), Disability Basic Pension (shougai kiso nenkin), Disability Employees’ Pension (shougai kousei nenkin), Special Disability Benefits (tokubetsu shougai kyuufukin), Disability Compensation Benefits (shougai hoshou kyuufu), Disability Benefits (shougai kyuufu).

Others
　Aside from income tax deduction, reduction of fees for the use of public facilities, transportation fare discounts, and priority in public housing settlement, employment support and considerations to suit different types of disabilities during job recruitment are preferentially provided.

• There are facilities providing care according to the type of disability such as welfare type and medical type facilities for children with disabilities, and medical type child development support center, etc.
facilities for children with disabilities
• There is a subsidiary enrollment system and branches of special support education in elementary and junior high schools, provision of guidance in specialized trainings in local communities, and vocational education in senior high schools.
• There are 16 distinct special support schools in each area in Shiga.
special support schools

Disability Welfare Section of each city or municipality

Shiga Prefectural Welfare Center - Consultations for persons with physical disabilities and mental disorders, and a sports center for the disabled (A pool and a training room is available.)
(8-5-130 Kasayama, Kusatsu City)　℡　077-564-7327

Shiga Prefectural Education Center - Consultations on special support education, consultations on children with developmental disorder, etc.
Please make an appointment prior to visit. Telephone consultation services:　9:00 am to 12:30 pm / 1:00 to 4:30 pm
(Kitazakura, Yasu City) 　℡　077-588-2505

Name of Group: SHIPS

Details:　Multicultural cafeteria for children

Venue:　Kusatsu City, SHIPS

Date / Time:　4th Saturday 11:00 - 14:00

Inquiries:　℡:077-561-5110

Name of Group: Kan-chan no chiisana ie

Details:　Multicultural coexistence, regional exchange events (children’s cafeteria)

Venue:　Omihachiman City, Kan-chan no chiisana ie

Date / Time:　Once every two months

Inquiries:　℡:090-3708-3315

Name of Group: Hikone-shi Kodomo Tabunka Club, Hikone City Children’s Multicultural Club

Details:　Cooking, experiencing diverse cultures, visiting facilities, etc.

Venue:　Hikone City

Date / Time:　summer vacation, winter vacation

Inquiries:　Human Rights Policy Division, Hikone City ℡:0749-30-6113