Donation of Disposable Diapers to an Infant Home

Community Service Committee Chair 和田佳久

On April 27, 2021, we donated disposable diapers to Futaba Infant Home as part of the Shinjuku 5 Clubs Joint Project. Secretary 佐々木, 高橋, and 河西 (a close friend of 高橋) accompanied me that day.

Once again, Director 都留 received us. Because a state of emergency was in effect, we were unable to tour the facility, but the director shared very informative insights into the current situation of infant homes, child guidance centers, and related institutions. Of particular interest was the “non-adoptive foster care system.”

When children leaving the infant home still need institutional care, they often go on to live in a children's home, but some children live with foster parents. “Non-adoptive foster parents” take in and raise children without the aim of adoption, and in some cases continue caring for them until they reach adulthood.

To become non-adoptive foster parents, prospective parents must meet certain requirements, such as completing training, but no special qualifications appear to be needed. The national government plans to increase the number of non-adoptive foster parents, but in reality the number has been slow to grow. Futaba Infant Home also conducts outreach to companies and others to increase the number of foster parents.

　Considering that, compared with Western countries, child care in Japan centers on institutions and the foster care system has not taken root, I understood that promoting the foster care system is extremely important.

　Our committee hopes to continue deepening its understanding of the situation of children in need of protection through our visits to Futaba Infant Home.