Child Guidance Centres in Japan: Alternative Care, Social Work, and the Family

85% of children in alternative care in Japan are housed in large welfare institutions, unlike family-based foster care. This publication examines Japan's isolation from global discourse on alternative care and urges a shift in social work and policies. It provides an ethnographic account from inside child guidance centres, outlining regional variation in policy implementation and discussing organisational cultures. The book challenges the construction of the family-bond in alternative care and highlights new practices. It is a valuable resource for students, scholars, practitioners, and lobbyists involved in alternative care.

Format: Hardback
Length: 262 pages
Publication date: 26 October 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In contemporary Japan, a staggering 85% of children in alternative care continue to reside in large welfare institutions, in stark contrast to family-based foster care. This publication aims to shed light on Japan's isolation from global discourse on alternative care, advocating for a necessary shift in social work and alternative care policies. As the first ethnographic account from within child guidance centers, it offers a unique perspective into the closed world of Japan's social services, delving into the decision-making processes that lead to a child's removal from their family and placement into care. Moreover, the book explores regional variations in policy implementation for alternative care, drawing from detailed case studies and a discussion of organizational cultures within child guidance centers. It highlights the prevailing notion that foster care, when viewed as anything other than a professional endeavor, poses a threat to the child's familial bond with their natal parent, often leading to its limited use.

Child Guidance Centres in Japan: Alternative Care and the Family disrupts this singular and discrete construction of the family bond, unveiling new practices in alternative care. This book will serve as a crucial resource for students, scholars of social work and Japanese studies, practitioners, and lobbyists engaged in alternative care. It provides valuable insights into the complexities of child welfare in Japan and offers valuable recommendations for improving the lives of children and families in need.

Weight: 568g
Dimension: 162 x 240 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138365940