The Study of Family Support for the Children in Urban Society

本研究以1997年《儿童福利法》修正案下设立的儿童与家庭扶助中心的实际情况为研究对象。家庭支持中心制度实施5年来，已建立36个家庭支持中心。在现代日本社会，抚养孩子是一件很辛苦的事情。抚养孩子的家庭是孤立的，面临着照顾孩子的焦虑和困难。然后这些现象导致社会问题，如虐待儿童。在这种情况下，儿童住宿照顾机构的角色并不局限于支援有需要照顾的儿童。应扩大其作为社区社会资源的作用，支持社区中的儿童和家庭。预计属于儿童寄宿照料机构的儿童和家庭支助中心将发挥这一作用。本研究的目的是分析该中心的功能、应用和未来的任务。

This study is based on the research on the actual conditions of the Child and Family Support Center which was established under the 1997 amendment of the Child Welfare Law. It has passed 5 years since the system of family support center started and 36 centers were established.It is a hard work to raise children in the contemporary Japanese society. Families raising children are isolated and facing anxiety and difficulties of childcare. Then these phenomena lead to social problems such as child abuse. Under the circumstances, the role of residential care institution for children is not limited to supporting children in needs of care. It should be expanded to function as social resources of the community and support children and families in the community.The child and family support centers which belong to residential care institutions for children are expected to take the role. The purpose of this study is to analyze the functions, applications and future assignments of the center.