Announcement of Changes in Child Welfare Systems and Policies This Year
Supporting Vulnerable Children’s Independence and Strengthening Income Safety Nets
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Support policies for child welfare will be significantly strengthened in Ulsan starting this year.
The foster care child-rearing subsidy, self-reliant settlement funds and self-reliance allowance for youth preparing for independence will be increased, and the child meal unit price for vulnerable children will also be raised.
Ulsan City announced the changes in child welfare systems and policies for next year on the 2nd.
Based on this, the city plans to strengthen the income safety net, including basic living guarantees, so that vulnerable children can prepare for stable independence.
First, the child-rearing subsidy provided to foster care children under the age of 18 will be increased.
To help children without guardians or those whose guardians find it difficult to raise them grow into healthy members of society, the existing subsidy of 300,000 KRW per person per month will be raised to 420,000 KRW per month starting next year.
In addition, the learning assistance allowance for children in child welfare facilities and foster care will also be increased.
The monthly learning assistance allowance will be raised by 20,000 KRW each to 120,000 KRW for elementary students, 140,000 KRW for middle school students, and 170,000 KRW for high school students.
Ulsan City is also strengthening support for youth preparing for independence.
The self-reliance allowance paid to children who have aged out of child welfare facilities and foster care after turning 18 will be increased from 350,000 KRW to 400,000 KRW per month starting next year. The case management fee for learning assistance for youth preparing for independence has also been raised from 300,000 KRW to 400,000 KRW per month.
The self-reliance settlement fund, which was previously paid as a one-time 8 million KRW per person, will be increased to 10 million KRW starting next year to provide economic support so that children leaving facilities can settle stably in society.
In September, Ulsan City opened one dedicated self-reliance support institution to practically support youth preparing for independence and is operating a self-reliant living center for children whose protection has ended in facilities.
The meal support unit price for children at risk of missing meals will also be increased.
The child meal unit price for children under 18 from low-income families who are at risk of missing meals has been raised from 7,000 KRW per meal to 8,000 KRW per meal starting next year. The meal unit price was set reflecting the recent inflation rate to improve the quality of child meals.
Child welfare facilities for establishing an all-day care system will also be expanded.
Next year, one regional children's center and three Dahamkke Care Centers will be additionally established to eliminate blind spots in care.
Kim Yeon-ok, Director of the Welfare and Women’s Bureau, said, “Along with the changing child welfare policies, we will do our best to create a dense and robust welfare safety net that raises and cares for children together.”
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