Gangnam-gu Strengthens Parent Education and Counseling for Vulnerable Children

126 Vulnerable Children in 126 Households Needing Case Management, 157 Individuals; Home Visits and Counseling Improve Parent-Child Relationships... Family-Friendly Programs Like Birthday Cake Making and Financial Education Facilitate Parent-Child Communication

Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) will strengthen parent education and parenting coaching for children from vulnerable groups in this year's Dream Start Center programs (165 Bamgogae-ro, hereinafter referred to as the Center).

The Gangnam Dream Start project, which supports the holistic growth of vulnerable children aged 0 to 12, was able to stabilize counseling and programs after opening a dedicated center in September last year, marking 10 years since the project began. The Center operates case management services that monitor the parenting environment through continuous home visits, while focusing on educating and supporting parents and families, the most important environment for children's growth and development, and plans to activate programs accordingly.

Since last year's parent education lecture on the theme of "Parent Anger Coaching" received a positive response, this year they plan to improve the quality of the parenting environment through professional programs. A professional counselor visits homes once a week for one hour, up to 15 times, to observe the parenting environment and assist parents and guardians facing difficulties. They provide tailored solutions for each family, such as understanding communication patterns with growing children and ways to manage emotions. In addition, expert lectures and counseling will be continuously conducted.

They plan to increase activity programs for children and families to have time for communication together. On January 26, through "Financial Education with Family," parents and children shared thoughts on economics and finance, which are usually difficult to discuss, and learned about investment through board games designed for children's perspectives. Also, under the guidance of a professional bakery instructor on the second week of every even month, they plan to offer a class where families make birthday cakes together, creating special memories.

Meanwhile, programs to boost children's confidence will be operated. Starting in March, mentoring by university students will be provided for 4th to 6th-grade elementary students with basic learning difficulties to increase their motivation to study. They will meet 1:1 for learning guidance once or twice a week on weekdays for 1 to 2 hours at the Center or the child's home. In the first half of the year, Gangnam-gu's specialized project, the customized Korean medicine growth and development treatment "Hanbang-e Ssuksuk!" will be operated. Through this, children who need treatment and counseling for pediatric obesity, underweight, short stature, rhinitis, etc., will receive 1:1 customized Korean medicine treatment, herbal prescriptions, and nutrition and exercise programs.

Jo Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, stated, "There are 157 children in 126 households under Gangnam-gu's case management, and as social polarization and family breakdown issues deepen, careful support for them is necessary," adding, "We will do our best to ensure that children grow up healthy and happy through proactive support such as parent education and improvement of the parenting environment."