Alternative Care for Children

About the Presentation

Child welfare for children who do not have biological parents or appropriate caregivers has been out of the public spotlight for a long time in Japan. As such, alternatives such as foster care and adoption rates remain unduly low, with over 80% of children placed in government-run institutions. In regards to this situation, the Committee on the Rights of the Child in UN recommended that the Japanese Government provide care for those children in family-like settings.

On the other hand, child abuse consultations handled by the child guidance center has been increasing year by year and finally exceeded over 130,000 cases in fiscal year 2017. In addition to a succession of latest high-profile abuse cases, people are getting more concerned about the matter and the Government cope with promoting foster care or adoption drastically by revising civil law.

Mr. Takayuki Obata will introduce current situation and discuss issues of alternative care for children in Japan, including foster care and adoption as well as compare to those in the U.S.

About the Speaker

Takayuki Obata is a practicing attorney who specializes in juvenile delinquency, criminal defense, family and labor law. Having worked eight years as a Tokyo attorney, Takayuki has won administrative lawsuits which have been reported on throughout the country. During his time at USALI, Takayuki will study foster care and family reintegration in the United States, which is an extension of his work as a member of the Committee on Children’s Rights at the Saitama Bar Association. In preparation for his time abroad, he has been deepening his understanding of social services through research, attending sessions at institutions and organizations, participating in symposia, and interviewing specialists.