Osan City's 'All-Day Care' Policy Led by Citizens Brings Consecutive Awards

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Osan City announced on the 22nd that it received the "Grand Prize" in the installation and operation category at the Ministry of Health and Welfare-hosted '2020 Together Care Project Excellence Case Competition' and a commendation from the Minister of Education as a '2020 All-Day Care Policy Promotion Meritorious Organization.'

The city was selected as a leading city for all-day care in 2018 and has made efforts over the past two years to advance all-day care policies and establish a care system.

In particular, the city is promoting elementary care projects under the name 'Growing Together,' which represents children, parents, and communities growing together.

The city operates seven Growing Together Centers that provide continuous care and four Growing Together Classrooms, which are gap-filling care services available during early mornings, vacation mornings, and after-school hours when care gaps occur.

What is distinctive about Osan is that citizens are the core of the care community.

The city utilizes vacant spaces in the community to establish safe care spaces in locations children prefer, and in collaboration with the Osan Social Economy Council, provides healthy meals and snacks to children using community resources. In addition, cooperation and efforts throughout the community—including maximizing human and material resources from the Osan Education Foundation, Osan Sports Association, and the Health Promotion Division—are providing significant momentum for all-day policy implementation.

Kwak Sang-wook, Mayor of Osan City, said, "We are pleased to achieve good results by viewing care policy as a responsibility that must be shared by both the local community and citizens, and by working to establish a strong care safety net in the region. Going forward, we will ensure that our children, who will be the owners of this region, grow up safely and healthily within a comprehensive care system," he added.