On Air: Fukuoka City Information/2011.11.07(Mon)/19:50～ 

                         Daycare facilities offering places for 2012

The application period for entering children into daycare facilities for the 2012 school year is now open. Daycare facilities are places where children can receive proper care and grow up healthy and strong both physically and emotionally. These centers are a type of children’s welfare service, and are meant to help family’s struggling with child rearing due to work circumstances or sickness. In total, there are 177 public and private facilities officially recognized by the city government of Fukuoka. These facilities are staffed by trained childcare workers and are open, basically, year-round and do not close for any long periods, such as summer vacation.

Children born to families living in Fukuoka City who are older than 3 months of age and are not yet eligible to enter elementary school may apply. If households have other members living with them who are available to take care of the children, those households are not eligible to apply.

If you would like to apply, you may do so using the application forms available at the Child Rearing Support Section of local ward offices and daycare facilities throughout the city. Fill in the forms with all of the necessary information and submit them to the facility to which you wish to apply no later than January 20, 2012.

If you feel there are extenuating circumstances that may affect your eligibility to apply, you should consult with local daycare facilities or at the Child Rearing Support Section of your local ward office. In addition, please be aware that Fukuoka Parenting Information Guides are available at local ward offices as well and that relevant information is printed on pages 19 through 25.

                       Change in financial childcare subsidies
This is an announcement about a change that took place in financial childcare subsidies effective from October this year.

Application forms for next year’s services were sent to those eligible to receive childcare subsidies at the end of September, and should have arrived at such households in mid to late October. Those who have received the forms should fill them out, attach any necessary supplemental information and return everything by mail using the provided envelope. Foreign residents are also eligible to receive these services. However, those in Japan only temporarily or on limited residency status or not in proper residency status, are not eligible for these services and have not been mailed.

Even if you have received services in the past, it is necessary for all those desiring to receive services to fill out and submit an application this year.

Under the new system, in general, those with children living overseas are no longer able to receive subsidies. However, children living overseas due to training and study may be able to continue to receive subsidization in qualifying situations.

For further information, please inquire to the Fukuoka City Childcare Subsidy Call Center or at the Child Rearing Support Section of your local ward office. The number for the Call Center is 092-711-5029.

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