INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH ON SUPPORTING FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN BY NPO AND COOP NETWORK

2004 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 15601010
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 非営利・共同組織
• Research Institution: KOMAZAWA WOMEN'S JUNIOR COLLEGE
• Principal Investigator: FUKUKAWA Sumi KOMAZAWA WOMEN'S JUNIOR COLLEGE, PRESCHOOL EDUCATION, PROFESSOR, 保育科, 教授 (10111064)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): CHIKAMOTO Satoko COMSUMER CO-OPERATIVE INSTITUTE OF JAPAN, RESEARCHER, 研究員
• Project Period (FY): 2003 – 2004
• Keywords: supporting families with young children in Canada and Japan / FRP / supporting fathers / non profit sector / drop in operated by coops / hub model / community network in Okinawa, Niiza, Yamagata, Kita-ku / First Duty Project

Research Abstract

First of all, we focus on comparing family support system and main concept in Canada and Japan. In Canada, family support is constructed from aspects of children's development, while in Japan social movement for family support is promoted as a countermeasure against shrinking birth rate. This difference affects the system of family support itself.
Secondly, we describe how Canadian society has been building family support system. We can see many programs are introduced for parents, children, families and communities, and are practiced by nonprofit organizations (NPOs). We visited Ottawa, Toronto, County of Grey and observed different kinds of programs and practices ; broad networking by the FRP, (National Association of Family Support Programs) in Ottawa ; many programs run by Parent Resources, First Duty, and Early Years East Toronto in Toronto ; attractive Hub model of integrated system for that large community in the County of Grey located in rural area north of Toronto.
Thirdly, we introduce new initiatives on these issues in Japan. We notice many small nonprofits and consumer co-ops are networking in each community. In Japan the consumer co-op's membership accounts for one third of households. We also notice that Okinawa prefecture has unique culture and history. We think that Japanese movement is on the stage of emerging and can learn from Canadian comprehensive system based on various social works.
At last, we present the issue of fathers. In Canada, father's involvement is one of the most important topics. We collected many kinds of information about concept, strategy, and tools for father's involvement from Canadian government and partners. These are useful to make Japanese society family-friendly.