What’s ShiseiGakuen ?
1. Brief History of the Agency
We began serving children in 1912. Mr. Kyuichiro Inenaga, the founder of Shisei-Gakusha took care of several juveniles from an emergency shelter run by Salvation Army. He incorporated the agency as the Zaidan Hojin Shisei Gakusha in 1925. He accepted juveniles from the juvenile courts, probation, and parole services. This essential program was carried out for thirty-seven years until the Juvenile Law was amended and the Child Welfare Law was newly enacted in 1947.
After the World War II, there were many orphans resulting from the bombing in Tokyo. Due to the necessity of foster care services for these children, Shisei Gakuen Children’s Home was converted to a home for them. For forty-five years, the objective of Shisei Gakuen Children’ s Home keeps the original mission.
Today, children’s homes have faced the question, which is whether we are adequately able to meet the needs of the society, because we have experienced social problems with the evolution of changes in the Japanese society. Staffs at Shisei Gakuen Children’s Home have been actively engaged in developing various programs and services in order to become a family-centered model for residential care.
2. Mission of Shisei Gakuen Children’s Home
The purpose of Children’s Home is, as started in the Child Welfare Law, to provide residential care services to dependent children such as orphans, who are abandoned, abused, and those who were deprived of parental care.
We also provide services to prevent parents and their children who are at risk of family dysfunction in the community from being separated. Under this mission, we have endeavored to achieve the following goals under our original mission, `Be Bright, Honest, and Healthy`;
- Provide nurtured residential care for the children and youth at the home under conditions best suited to their complete readjustment to normal social lives in community.
- Provide counseling and other therapeutic services to children as well as families in necessary.
- Assist children in developing self-esteem both individually and in group to encourage their self-effort and better skill by performing living skills.
3. Facilities and staffs (Jido Yogo Shisetsu)
We care 3 facilieies; Shisei Gakuen Children’s Home, Shisei Daichi Children’s Home, and Shisei Ozora Children’s Home.
(1) Shisei Gakuen Children’s home; is 32 children at main-campus and 30 children at 5 group homes in community. At main-campus, children live in four units. At each unit, 8 children live together. Five workers; one male and four female workers including cooking staff are working in a unit. At group homes, four full-time workers and several part-time workers are taking care of children.Some of older children have their own rooms, and staffs cook three meals. At group homes, most children have their own rooms. Children go to school in community.
(2)Shisei Daichi Children’s home ; is 24 children at main-campus and 18 children at 3 group homes in community. At main-campus, children live in four units. At each unit, 6 children live together. Five workers; one male and four female workers including cooking staff are working in a unit. At group homes, four full-time workers and several part-time workers are taking care of children.Some of older children have their own rooms, and staffs cook three meals. At group homes, most children have their own rooms. . Children go to school in community.
(3)Shisei Ozora Children’s home ; is 24 children at main-campus and 12 children at 2 group homes in community. Junior and high school age youth are mostly living and encouraged to aim for high-education and independently living. At main-campus, children live in four units. At each unit, 6 children live together. Also their Five workers; one male and four female workers including cooking staff are working in a unit. At group homes, four full-time workers and several part-time workers are taking care of children. Some of older children have their own rooms, and staffs cook three meals. At group homes, most children have their own rooms. . Children go to school in community.
Also, every facilities have counseling rooms, work center for mentally retarded youths and social work research center at main campus.
Main campus is surrounded by fruitful nature. There is a river behind of the campus. We have playground at main-campus, and we hold owls and dogs. Children at school age go to school in the community. We have Day Care Center on-campus and children younger than six go to Day Care Center five days a week.
4. Admission procedure
Almost all cases relating to child maltreatment, parents’ inability to care their children, and other families dysfunctional problems are referred to Child Guidance Center, a public agency located in each city and prefecture. Child Guidance Center has a right to make decision weather the child need to be institutionalized or to be provided optional care. If we receive the referral from Child Guidance Center, staffs at Children’s Home meet the child and then coordinate to accept the child.
Reason of placement varies. Major reasons are mother’s death, mother’s running away, parents’ divorce, mental illness and alcoholism of parents. Recently, maltreatment by parents became one of the major reasons. It is thought that various changes in family values and living styles contributed to the increase of the number of child maltreatment.
5. Programs
(1) Residential services
Our policy is to provide nurtured care to the children who have experienced various hardships in their families. We support children obtain basic living skills according to their developmental stages. We assist them in leaning rules of living in a group as well as interpersonal skills. We help them get socialized with sound mind and body.
Children play various games throughout the year, including baseball, soccer, bicycle, and rope skipping, playing outside by sand, and so on. Children also enjoy playing card, TV game, watching video, and reading books.
Since we value self-determination, children are supposed to involve in the management of Children’s Home by organizing student committee. Children older than 10 years old participate in this group every second week. They discuss about rules, cleaning campus, and other events.
There are various groups that children are involved in in addition to clubs at school. We have baseball team, volleyball team, and dogdeball team. Children also learn Japanese dance, modern dance, and art from volunteer instructors. In the weekly basis, children participate in these classes.
(2) Health care
Children’s health is primarily managed by directing children’s living style and providing balanced meal. We try to support them have a sound life style and that way we help children promote their physical health and emotions. In order to maintain their good health, we first understand children’s health conditions by the following ways;
- Fill out details of each child’s history in health check sheet.
- Check children’s health at morning and bedtime.
- Make sure that children are taking care of themselves appropriately, such as washing faces, cutting nails, and cleaning ears.
- Maintain safe and clean environment.
- Educate staffs about weight-control
- Learn about nutrition of food
Periodical physical Examination and medical care
School-age children take periodical health examinations and immunizations at their schools. We cooperate with school to keep children’s health. Preschoolers take physical examinations twice a year, and also take immunization that are required according to their ages. When a child needs medical care, childcare workers take the child to hospital in the community. The Tokyo government subsidizes all cost for those medical cares. If the child is required hospitalization, we inform the child’s parents.
(3) Educational services
In order for children at Children’s Home to acquire age-appropriate academic skills and knowledge, we guide children by tutoring. There are following facilities and services we have on-campus;
[a] Computer – study program.
This computer system leads children learn math and Japanese according to their academic levels. This facility is at the library.
[b] Tutoring services for elementary school age children.
Children are scheduled study time to do their homework after coming back from school. Children who need/want individual tutoring services are assigned college student volunteers. They are big help for children to catch up with study at school. Those volunteer students are valuable also as good advisors and friends of children. High school age children need extra study in order to get admission for college.
6. Independent living programs
We have vocational training program for children who are going to leave Children’s Home for them to have sufficient living skills. The goals of this program are for them to obtain the skills to live independently, to find job and keep it, and to master the skills to control their emotions.
7. Aftercare services
When children complete high school, children need to leave Children’s Home. This is challenge for children who have not have experience of living by themselves. We provide after-care service for these children. Services include the followings;
#Visit their workplaces.
#Support their interpersonal relationships by consultation,
#Build good relationships with employers by sending information about Children’s Home, inviting events at children’s home, and sending newsletter.
For children who go to college, we support them get scholarships. For children who go back to their families, we refer other services including health care service agencies and counseling services.
8. Foster care services
Most children who were maltreated by their parents or need support of welfare usually institutionalized. Using foster care service is not a primary option for children, because of strong value on blood connection in families, which is one of Japanese cultural value. The center for foster care services in Shisei Gakuen Children’s Home was established in 1973. There are two fulltime staffs who are in charge of doing all procedure of foster care services. They select prospective foster/adoptive families, run educational sessions for becoming foster families, and decide foster families after completing registration. We also provide follow-up services for foster families. In Tokyo, we have ten foster care service centers, and one of them is in our agency. Each center is allocated a certain district in Tokyo, and centers are supporting children who are institutionalized and families who are willing to take care of them. Recently, the number of families who are willing to become foster families is decreasing although the number of children who are institutionalized. We are trying to increase the number of families by advocacy.
9. Emergency foster care/Day foster care services
We accept children of single parents for few weeks when they are unable to take care of their children by various reasons. We also accept children of single parents only after school. This service is called ‘twilight stay.’
10. Day care service
Children ages from two to five go to Day Care Center located in Children’s Home. This center accepts children in the community, and they build relationships with children who live in Children’s Home. This Day Care Center adopts Montessori educational system. Under this educational system, children experience various activities and thus learn communication skills and mobile skills. Children also develop language, art, and craft skills through activities.
11. Community-based Services
(1) After-school program
We have a center called ‘Jidoukan’, Children’s Center. This center is opened afternoon. Any children can visit there and enjoy craft and drawing.
(2) Counseling services/hotline service
We have full-time and part-time clinical professionals. Children who need counseling service are able to receive counseling. We also have hotline service to support families in the community. This is a 24 hours service with free of charge. Staffs at Children’s Home and other professionals are providing counseling service for families.
(3) Training
We provide not only training for staffs at Children’s Home, but also for parents in the community.Topic of session include psychological issue, child development, health care, and so on. We invite professionals of from various fields as we need.
(4) Boy Scout/Girl Scout
We have Boy Scout and Girl Scout program for children both for children at Children’s Home and children in the community. Boy Scout program at our Children’s Home began in 1967, and Girl Scout began in 1986.
12. Events
Throughout a year, children are involved in various events. One of the main events is a Garden Party hold in May. At garden Party, We have food court, music, stunts, and flee market. This event is important not only for people to enjoy, but also for the community to open the facilities, and fund development.
In addition to this event, we have seasonal events such as celebration of New Year’s Day, Children’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Christmas.
Children participate in sport games for children who are placed in residential facilities in Tokyo.
13. Cost
Children’s parents are required to pay the cost when their children are admitted to the institution. We apply sliding scale. In addition, we receive support from the Japanese government and Tokyo government. In terms of the cost for building maintenance cost, we receive support both from Japanese government and Tokyo government. Since this agency is non-profit private agency, we need to expand the agencies that are willing to support us. In addition to the support from them, we are receiving donation in both in-kind and money from various companies. Our program is supported by major grocery stores, media-related companies, and U.S. Base located near Children’s Home.
In 1999, Tokyo government cut the support for child welfare institutions by 10%, and this made more difficult for child welfare agencies to keep the high quality of service. To keep high quality, we are trying to develop fund management program.
14. Volunteers
We have many volunteers in various fields. Daily programs that volunteer staffs are involved in include art, dance, playing outside, and camps. Especially, older children get helpful support in their study by college student volunteers. In events, we also get support from the volunteer staffs.
Recent questions and answers
Q1 What is the history and background of the organization?
A1 Shisei Gakusha was founded in 1912 by Kuichiro Inanaga, who began by taking in vagrant boys at his own home to help them rehabilitate and become self-reliant. It was later officially recognized as a juvenile protection organization during the Taisho era, and after WWII transitioned into a comprehensive social welfare provider covering children, elderly, and people with disabilities.
Q2 What are the key factors that have enabled the organization to operate for over 100 years?
A2 Consistent commitment to its founding philosophy of “Makoto no Kokoro” (the heart of sincerity), adaptability to social changes, and long-standing trust-based relationships with the community and public sector.
Q3 What is the primary mission or objective of the organization today, and how has it evolved over time?
A3 Rooted in “Makoto no Kokoro,” the organization now provides integrated services for a broad range of people—from infants to the elderly and those with disabilities. Its mission has shifted from charity-based to professional social welfare, while preserving its original values.
Q4 How are the services structured according to different target groups?
A4 The organization operates under three major divisions: Children (including both child’s homes and disability support), Day Care for young children, and Elderly homes and services. It has over 1,500 staff members and an annual operational scale exceeding 7 billion yen.
Q5 Does the organization engage with the community and volunteers? If so, what kind of activities are conducted (e.g., markets, youth education programs)?
A5 Yes. Activities include managing municipal nursery services, organizing intergenerational programs (e.g., children and elderly events), and hosting open seminars and research forums. We get the cooperation of many volunteers for festivals and other events. There are also many volunteers who work on a daily basis. At the child welfare facility, there are volunteers who help with learning and events, and at the elderly care facility, there are volunteers who help with chorus, pottery, and painting.
Q6 Does the organization apply innovations or artificial intelligence (AI) in its operations?
A6 Through QC activities, practice research institutes, and training seminars, we are working to improve the quality and expertise of welfare practices. New initiatives in child welfare and elderly welfare have stimulated each other, and have been proposed to the government and become a system. We plan to formulate guidelines for the use of AI.
Q7 Where does the organization receive its budgetary support from, and how does it manage its funding?
A7 In Japan, subsidies vary from system to system. This is because the funding source is different. For example, a facility for the elderly is covered by nursing care insurance. Nursing care insurance is an insurance that all citizens over the age of 40 must pay. People over 65 years old can apply to the regional comprehensive support center in their area and use the service after completing the necessary procedures for long-term care. Our foundation operate the community comprehensive support center in this area. Since children’s homes are facilities for measures, they are subsidized monthly by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for a fixed amount depending on the capacity of the facility. The reason for admission is often abuse or other reasons. Guardians are charged according to their income, but since most of the children are from low-income single-mother families, some families are charged and some are exempted.
Nursery schools are subsidized by the local government. It is said that the local government subsidizes daycare fees for parents of children aged 3 to 5 as a countermeasure against the declining birthrate, making daycare practically free of charge. Furthermore, municipalities with financial resources are developing strategies to encourage the younger generation to move in by subsidizing daycare fees for children aged 0 to 2. This is called the “municipal disparity.
Q8 What challenges does the organization face regarding funding sources, and how are they addressed?
A8 Institutional differences have a downside. There are restrictions on how it can be used, and it cannot be used for other programs. For example, money from children’s homes cannot be used for disabilities, and money from the elderly cannot be used for childcare. The measures system for children’s homes is the strictest and can only be used for certain purposes.
In our corporation, each facility contributes a little each year to build up what we call a business adjustment reserve fund. This reserve is used to cover operating expenses when buildings are rebuilt or facilities are opened, and as an asset in the event of a disaster.
Q9 Are the organization’s current plans or operations aligned with Japanese government policies or strategies? If so, how?
A9 In the daycare for childlen field, there are initiatives such as 24-hour childcare, inclusive childcare, and care for sick and injured children.
In the foster care field, there is aftercare for children who have left the children’s home to go on to college or find employment, and family support for returning home. Many of these activities have become institutionalized through our efforts. Unit-type facilities for the elderly, group homes and short-stay facilities for children are some examples of our efforts that have become institutionalized.
Q10 What challenges does the organization currently face in terms of management, finance, human resources, or legal constraints?
A10 The biggest challenge is securing and training human resources. Japan’s population is shrinking, so all industries are experiencing a shortage of human resources. In the aging field, the number of foreign employees has increased. We have an increasing number of staff from Indonesia and Vietnam, and we have an affiliated staff training school in Indonesia. The number of students in the childcare and welfare departments of universities and vocational schools is also decreasing, and some universities are closing their doors every year.
SHISEI GAKUEN Children’s Home
6-26-15 Nishiki-cho
Tachikawa-shi Tokyo
190-0022, JAPAN
Phone +81 -42-524-2601
Fax +81 -42-524-2367
URL http://shiseigakuen.org/