Increase by 2 More Locations This Year and Significantly Improve Care Services
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 27th that it will upgrade the operation of the ‘Hub-type Our Neighborhood Care Centers’ from the perspective of children and caregivers.
Currently, four hub centers (Nowon, Dongjak, Jongno, Seongbuk) are in operation, and the number will expand to five with the opening of the ‘Guro Hub Center’ in March. In the second half of the year, the ‘Yangcheon Hub Center’ will be additionally opened.
The main services of the ‘Hub Centers’ changing with the new semester include ▲doubling the weekend (Saturday) temporary care capacity ▲full expansion of sick child care services (from 1 center to 5 centers) ▲extension of operating hours to cover evening care gaps (from 7 PM to 8 PM) ▲and expansion of the scope of linked care projects.
First, the weekend (Saturday) capacity for the ‘temporary care’ service, which has high satisfaction among mothers and fathers, will be doubled. Starting with the pilot operation at Jongno Hub Center in March (about 20 people → about 40 people), it will be expanded to all centers within the first half of the year.
As part of the ‘Mom and Dad Happiness Project,’ the ‘sick child care service,’ which began pilot operation last year at the Seongbuk Hub Center, will be fully expanded to all centers in the first half of the year (from 1 center to 5 centers), reflecting high satisfaction and demand.
In line with the Education Office’s ‘extension plan for elementary after-school care classroom operating hours,’ the operating hours during the semester will be gradually extended from 1 PM?7 PM to 1 PM?8 PM starting in March. This aims to fill the evening care gap and strengthen Seoul’s public care system.
Centered on the hub centers, the scope of the ‘linked care’ project, which provides diverse arts and cultural experience programs in cooperation with neighboring small and medium-sized care institutions such as general and integrated care centers and local children’s centers, will be actively expanded to offer quality care opportunities to more children in various regions.
The ‘Dongjak Hub Center’ will expand its range to include Yeongdeungpo District in addition to Dongjak District, the ‘Seongbuk Hub Center’ will extend to Dongdaemun District, and the ‘Guro Hub Center’ (opening in March) will cover Geumcheon District, planning various linked programs. This is expected to significantly alleviate the concentration of hub care services.
Detailed information and application methods for the care services of the ‘Hub-type Our Neighborhood Care Centers’ can be found on the Our Neighborhood Care Portal, and consultation is available at each center.
Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Women and Family Policy Office, said, “With the new semester, we have greatly improved the operation of the hub-type Our Neighborhood Care Centers centered on children and caregivers by actively reflecting the voices of mothers and fathers. We especially hope that the hub centers, including Guro and Yangcheon opening this year, will ease parenting concerns and provide practical help.” She added, “We will continue to listen carefully to parents’ opinions and develop services that are truly needed.”
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