July 1999 Basic Structural Reform of Social Welfare(Proposal)
Basic Structural Reform of Social Welfare
Organizations associated with persons with disabilities, etc.
General Budget of the Central, Prefectural and Municipal Governments
Undetermined
The 1945-55 concept of relief measures for the poor still remains in the basic framework of present-day social welfare.
However, with today's social welfare targeting all Japanese people, there comes a growing need to respond accurately to the diverse welfare needs of the Japanese and to provide them with high quality services.
With the background of recent scandals involving social welfare bodies, structural problems can be seen in the existing social welfare system.
In order to effectively ensure high quality welfare services which accurately respond to the expanding and diversifying demands for welfare and gain the trust and understanding of users, it is essential to review the basic structure of social welfare from its very foundations upward, and to alter the structure to bring it into line with the expectations of Japanese people for social welfare in the 21st century.
Long-term care of elderly is covered under the Long-term Care Insurance System described in section 1.3. Other needs of the elderly is covered in this section.
Persons with disabilities
Children
Low income earners
Elderly persons
To make the necessary legislative reforms to respect the choices of welfare service users and enhance regional welfare in consideration of the expansion and diversification of demand related to welfare.
The reform aims to establish a system which respects the choices of the individual. Under the new system, an individual selects his/her own services and uses them according to a contract with the party which supplies them. In order to change social welfare services into a system based on the standpoint of the user, the reform will transfer the current system to a system in which user and supplier are on an equal footing and the user is able to select services. Since the user may not be in a position to make a judgment on his/her own, in order to protect the user, assessments are being made toward the early introduction of a system of guardianship for adults, the introduction and strengthening of a system which provides assistance for the appropriate use, etc., of all services by the elderly, persons with disabilities and children.
In order to expand high quality welfare services, the reform intends to form basic guidelines for a review of educational courses in welfare specialist to cultivate and secure human resources. The consulting services to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, and assistance in information transmission to persons with disabilities will be added to the scope of the social welfare business.
The reform will enhance regional welfare to provide comprehensive support in order to promote independence of individuals. It will also form regional welfare programs at the prefectural and municipal level. It will also activate councils of social welfare, commissioned welfare and child welfare volunteers. and community chest.