[TOKYO, JAPAN, 14 June 2013]
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| © The Japan Committee for UNICEF | Papa and Family Stations: A Support File for Fathers and their Families in Fukushima Prefecture [3.55MB] » |
The Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) implements the Single-Father Household and Fathering Assistance Project as part of its child protection assistance programme following the Great East Japan Earthquake. The project is implemented in partnership with the Niiza Childcare Support Network and local governments.
As the Tohoku region continues on its path to reconstruction, tough work conditions and the burden of childrearing have together become a protracted source of stress for parents. While much assistance has been provided to improve the situation of children, focus has not been put on the burden borne by fathers.
Under the Single-Father Household and Fathering Assistance Project, training is provided to individuals actively supporting fathers in the affected areas. These fathers are either single fathers and have lost loved ones or are working tirelessly to support their households. Training recipients include nursery staff, health nurses, child instructors, local government staff and social workers. Through this assistance, JCU aims to prevent domestic violence and other forms of child abuse.
In preparation for the upcoming training scheduled for 19 June 2013 at the Fukushima Gender Equality Center in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, two key documents were published: "Papa and Family Stations: A Support File for Fathers and their Families in Fukushima Prefecture", a compilation of information regarding assistance for fathers in Fukushima Prefecture, and "Father Assistance Providers: A Handbook for Fathers and their Families in Fukushima Prefecture", a training materials catering to assistance providers.
This booklet compiles information on various regional support frameworks for fathers and families struggling to overcome daily challenges in Fukushima. The bullets below provide an overview of the contents.
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| © The Japan Committee for UNICEF | Father Assistance Providers: A Handbook for Fathers and their Families in Fukushima Prefecture [3.99MB] » |
This booklet caters to fathers in Fukushima Prefecture who face various difficulties due to the earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear disaster. The bullets below provide an overview of the contents.
At the training on 19 June, JCU plans to distribute the fathering guidebook, a compact guide that is shorter than the support file and contains useful basic information as well as a special message for fathers. These materials can be viewed on this website or at the various government agencies, NPOs, preschools and children's clubs where program trainees work.
JCU launched the Single-Father Household and Fathering Assistance Project in October 2011 by commissioning the project to the Niiza Childcare Support Network. Under this project, individuals involved in children's assistance in the affected areas—including nursery staff, health nurses, child instructors, local government officials and social workers—are imparted with techniques, knowledge, information and concepts relating to assistance for single-father households and fathering.
At present, a total of 315 people (208 from Iwate, 107 from Miyagi) have completed this training. Today, these individuals are a source of information for fathers, hold networking events for fathers and their children, and implement assistance for single-father households with the cooperation of orphan assistance specialists. In Iwate Prefecture there are also 33 "Papa Stations" that serve as regional assistance centres.
The "Papa and Family Stations: A Support File for Fathers and their Families" and the "Father Assistance Providers: A Handbook for Fathers and their Families" have now been produced for Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures.
Click here for more information about JCU's child protection assistance in 2013 (Japanese only) »
