Japan foster care outreach faces rethink after stark awareness survey

Japan's foster care system rescues children who cannot remain with their parents due to financial struggles, abuse, or other issues. A recent survey revealed a concerning lack of public awareness about this system, prompting necessary changes in outreach efforts. According to the Children and Families Agency, approximately 42,000 children across the nation are unable to live with their parents.

Most of these children are placed in child welfare institutions, but foster care offers them the chance to live in a loving family environment. Despite government efforts, only 26.3% of children are placed with foster parents as of the end of fiscal 2024. A survey conducted in Osaka by Osaka Metropolitan University professor Kayoko Ito and the Japan Children Support Association found that only 2.8% of respondents understood the foster care system in detail.

Even when respondents who knew its general outline were included, the percentage remained low at 14.6%. The most common obstacles to becoming a foster parent cited by respondents were financial burdens, compatibility, and anxiety about the child's relationship with their biological parents. To address these issues, the association has shifted its focus to emphasize the financial support and personal fulfillment that foster parents receive.

The organization's director, Shinobu Iwasa, herself a foster parent, shared her own positive experiences and the happiness she found in helping her foster child. The association plans to continue advocating for foster parents and increasing public understanding of the system, emphasizing that financial assistance is available to help cover the costs of raising foster children.