[Special Feature] Suwon City Provides Customized Child Care and Support Services for Future Generations

[News S=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Special City is more than just a good city to raise children; it is a city where the community collectively nurtures children. To respond to low birth rates, the city is implementing diverse policies aimed at having communities support the entire process of childbirth, child-rearing, and care. Particularly, customized services and support are comprehensive for each situation families face while raising children. Below is a guide to Suwon's services available whenever care is needed.

◇Reducing Care Blind Spots, Suwon Raises Children Together

Suwon City is expanding its care infrastructure to reduce child care blind spots in the region.

A total of 87 care providers across Suwon safely oversee elementary students' after-school hours and reduce child care burdens on families.

First, the 'Together Care Center' resolves blind spots in elementary care and helps dual-income families with early elementary school children, when after-school care needs are highest.

Children can receive stable care in one place without shuttling between academies until guardians return home late in the evening.

From after school until 8 p.m., the care center becomes a safe haven, with care teachers serving as guardians.

By providing meals and snacks, offering individual homework assistance, and operating various special activities, these centers achieve high parent satisfaction with quality services.

Suwon City has made continuous efforts to reduce elementary care blind spots.

Since the first Together Care Center opened in Homae-sil-dong in 2019, the centers have expanded to 23 locations, benefiting approximately 660 early elementary students.

The city has also continuously expanded care spaces in unused areas within apartment complexes, libraries, and schools.

Additionally, since 2023, four centers have stationed dedicated teachers for children with disabilities, creating an inclusive care system without discrimination.

Sixty-four 'Community Child Care Centers,' which combine child care with welfare services, are currently operating.

These centers provide care and academic guidance to children from dual-income and other families needing child care after school, including snacks.

Instead of being home alone, children can comfortably stay under care teachers' guidance while interacting with peers.

With special activities, enrichment education, and diverse cultural experiences, Suwon even has an orchestra composed of community child care center users, demonstrating how established the program has become.

◇Unexpected Care Gaps, Suwon Fills Them Carefully

Even as care blind spots diminish, unexpected care gaps inevitably arise.

Suwon City has systems in place to respond to sudden temporary care needs, creating a city that is good for raising children.

'Elementary Facility-Based Emergency Care Service' is useful when child care suddenly becomes necessary.

It is available for unexpected situations such as sudden business trips or late work departures.

Services are provided not only on weekends, holidays, and late-night hours until midnight, but also from 7 a.m. before school starts.

Five care institutions in total—two in Jangan-gu (Yeonmu-dong, Pajang-dong), one in Gwonseon-gu (Homae-sil-dong), one in Paldal-gu (Maegyo-dong), and one in Yeongtong-gu (Maetan-dong)—provide care for up to 8 hours.

Applications can be made online through the Gyeonggi Province Anytime Child Care website or by calling the Gyeonggi Province Child Care Suwon Center. The usage fee is 5,000 won per hour.

Starting this year, 'Extended Night Care Service' is also available at six community child care centers in Suwon.

They provide emergency care for children whose parents are ill or absent and need care late into the night.

By paying 5,000 won per hour, anyone can use the service regardless of residential area.

A total of five community child care centers—one in Jangan-gu (Suwon Somang), two in Gwonseon-gu (New Suwon, Daon), and two in Yeongtong-gu (Grouter-gi, Cheong-ahan)—operate extended care until 10 p.m.

Notably, Gwanggyo Community Child Care Center in Jangan-gu provides care until midnight, which is helpful to remember in case of emergencies.

◇A Solid Child-Rearing Community, Built Together by Suwon

Care for families with infants and toddlers before school age is equally comprehensive.

Suwon City alleviates family child-rearing burdens through child care services and hourly child care, and operates a comprehensive child-rearing support center to provide practical help to infants and their guardians.

'Hourly Child Care' is a care support system for families preferring home-based child-rearing, part-time workers, or primary caregivers who need to go out.

Care services can be used on an hourly basis, with costs paid proportionally.

Suwon City designates the largest-scale hourly child care service facilities among basic local governments, realizing comprehensive child care services.

With 63 child care centers and 81 classes within comprehensive child-rearing support centers in Suwon offering hourly care services, these facilities serve as a lifeline for families with intermittent care needs.

'Child Care Support Project' is a service that caregivers preferring individual care can use for in-home care.

Families with children aged three months or older can receive care at home instead of at facilities during business trips, late work, or when children are ill.

Full-day care for infants 36 months or younger and hourly care for children 12 years or younger are supported.

When children contract infectious or contagious diseases, hospital visits are also assisted. Services can be requested through the Child Care Support Project website.

Two 'Comprehensive Child-Rearing Support Centers' (Suwon Comprehensive Child-Rearing Support Center and Suwon East District Comprehensive Child-Rearing Support Center) serve as hubs providing guidance on various support beneficial to child care institutions and guardians.

Nine toy libraries lend toys and teaching materials, and nine 'Children's Love Playgrounds' offer diverse play and experiences as alternatives to commercial play cafes.

These services reduce economic burdens and provide parenting information.

Suwon City plans to add one toy library and one children's playground in the second half of this year to further ease child-rearing burdens for families.

◇Don't Miss Support to Ease Household Expenses!

Beyond child-rearing and care support, families can significantly reduce initial burdens by properly utilizing various support measures provided by Suwon City after childbirth.

It is helpful to know about vouchers and similar aid for maintaining mother and infant health and purchasing necessary items.

'Mother and Newborn Health Management Support Project' allows families with newborns to receive home management visits from health care workers.

Families receive service vouchers usable within 90 days of delivery for 5 to 15 days of service.

Services are offered in conversion and additional types based on 150% of the median household income standard, so families should check detailed usage methods through local health centers.

Suwon City also supports 'Postpartum Care Costs.' Families applying within one year of childbirth receive 500,000 won in local currency per birth regardless of income for postpartum care center expenses or for purchasing products and ingredients for mother and newborn care.

'First Meeting Voucher' is provided to children who have completed birth reporting and received resident registration numbers.

Children born within one year of their date of birth receive a lump sum of 2 million won as a voucher on a National Happiness Card, to be used within two years.

Adding parental allowance and child allowance on top of this, families in Suwon receive a total of 17.5 million won (based on first child) in support during the first year of raising a child.

Beyond these programs, various policies supporting each life stage are well-organized on the Suwon City website.

By checking support policies in categories such as pregnancy and childbirth, infants and toddlers, and children and adolescents, families can ensure they receive necessary assistance, which benefits child-raising households.

A Suwon City official stated, "Suwon City is continuously expanding care services to ease child-rearing burdens and strengthening foundations," and expressed hopes that "we will continue efforts through diverse childbirth and child-rearing support projects to create a city environment that is good for raising children."