Dongjak-gu, 2021 Idol Care Support Project Promotion

Care services divided into hourly, full-day infant, and support for children with infectious diseases until December... Idolbomi recruited year-round... Any physically and mentally healthy resident can apply regardless of age

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Changwoo Lee) is promoting the "Childcare Support Project" until December for families having difficulty raising children, such as dual-income and single-parent families.

This project was prepared in response to the increasing demand for childcare services and the rise in families needing short-term caregivers due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

The Childcare Support Project is operated in three categories: ▲Hourly Service ▲Full-day Infant Service ▲Support Service for Children with Infectious Diseases.

First, the Hourly Service targets families with children aged from 3 months to under 12 years old, providing services for a minimum of 2 hours per session, including ▲assistance with school drop-off and pick-up ▲temporary childcare ▲play activities ▲meal and snack preparation.

The Full-day Infant Service is for families with infants aged from 3 months to under 36 months, offering services such as ▲feeding baby food ▲sterilizing bottles ▲diaper changing ▲bathing, which can be requested for sessions of 3 hours or more.

The Support Service for Children with Infectious Diseases assists with hospital visits and home care, targeting children under 12 years old infected with legally contagious or epidemic diseases who attend social welfare facilities, childcare centers, or schools.

Families wishing to use the services can contact the Dongjak-gu Healthy Family and Multicultural Family Support Center.

Additionally, the district continuously recruits caregivers throughout the year. Working hours are weekdays from 4 PM to 8 PM, and any physically and mentally healthy resident, regardless of age, can apply.

Applications can be made through the Childcare website.

For more details, inquiries can be made to the Childcare Team at the Dongjak-gu Healthy Family and Multicultural Family Support Center.

Selected caregivers complete training including theoretical education and field practice, then are matched with families to provide childcare services.

Jooil Park, Director of the Child and Youth Division, said, "We hope this project will ease the concerns of caregivers struggling with childcare," and added, "We will continue to make Dongjak-gu a place where parents can raise children with peace of mind."

Meanwhile, in 2019, the district launched and actively operates 'I-Won,' a childcare call center providing Korea's first nationwide one-stop consultation and guidance service related to infant and toddler care.