Department of Social Welfare

Goals

1. To advocate and protect personal safety and basic living standards and necessities for all Children and youth.

2. To utilize a multi-disciplinary network of protective services to nurture the healthy development of Children and youth.

3. To provide a variety of assistance and welfare services to assist Children and youth and their family in dealing with life crises.

Services

A. Child and Youth Protection Services

DOSW Center for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault of DOSW has a 24-hour hotline that takes all reports and coordinates the provisions of protective services for homeless, abused, or neglected children. Services included placement programs, medical assistances, family counseling, psychotherapies, and judicial protections to provide necessary shelter and guardian services for these underprivileged young.

B. Adoption Services

DOSW provides adoption services through contracted agencies for residents who are unable to care for children and those who are interested in adopting and providing these children with a warm family. Services include registrations, counseling, evaluations, matching, and regular family investigation to ensure that the children adopted are given quality care.

C. Protection and Placement Services

DOSW provides services to Children 0-18 years of age who are disadvantaged due to death, divorce, abandonment, illness, imprisonment, disability of parents and other family trauma; those who are abused, sold, forced into prostitution or other illegal activities, and those whose lives and health are in danger, or the single and pregnant young women will also receive care to help them get back on track. Counseling, protection, and placement are provided through the following three systems:

1) Agency placement to youth homes, halfway houses and educational facilities

2) Foster Family Services

3) Adoption Services

D. Living Assistance to Children in Crisis Families

DOSW provides monthly living assistances to children under 18 who live with families in crises that are unable to support them. The maximum monthly subsidy is NT$3,000.

E. Self-paid national health insurance premium subsidies for children/teenagers from low-income households under 18

Self-paid national health insurance premium subsidies are provided to children/teenagers from low-income households under 18 in accordance with Children and Teenagers’ Welfare Regulations

F. Welfare Services for Children from Underprivileged Families

With a view to providing accessible service resources to replenish and improve familial functions for families who’ve suffered a setback due to economic issues and misfortunes, DOSW has set up Welfare Service Centers for Children from Underprivileged Families in Wanhua and Zhongzheng Districts, where underprivileged families are more highly concentrated. These centers offer community parent-children counseling and guidance and other service programs, so that children and parents of disadvantaged families could access to sufficient welfare services.

G. Youth Protective Services

With a view to ensuring the safety of youths and to prevent juvenile crimes, DOSW has enforced a curfew on youths. Policemen may spot-check places where youths frequent after midnight and advise them to go home. Businesses violating the law and allowing youths into the establishments after midnight will be fined.

H. Outreach Programs

As kids on the streets are at higher risk of juvenile delinquency, DOSW has contracts with private agencies to provide outreach services to youths. Social workers reach out to youths on the streets, in poolrooms, teashops, and internet cafes to provide counseling services needed to ensure their health.

I. Preventive and Counseling Services to Pregnant Minors Outside Wedlock

These services aimed at assisting unwed and pregnant teenage girls in learning about mutual respect and respectful conduct in an appropriate, healthy relationship, while teaching them how to take self-protective measures. Government and private resources are carefully integrated to establish a robust service network to guard against teenage pregnancy.

J. Report, Tracking and Counseling for Dropouts

Four publicly owned and privately run teenager’s service centers under DOSW aim at providing counseling services for individual dropouts; case studies, group seminars and case studies are implemented to encourage these dropouts in leading a stable lifestyle.

K. Child and Youth Prostitution Prevention Systems

DOSW provides rescue, placement, protection, counseling, follow-up services to youths under 18 who are engaged in or are prone to illegal prostitution (i.e. taking money or priced goods in exchange for sexual favors). Services included are:

1) Accompanying youth clients during investigation

2) Placement and counseling in emergency shelter, short-term placement agencies, and halfway schools are available to assist the troubled youths

3) Follow-up counseling

L. Youth Independent Living Program

DOSW helps youths without families to adapt to independent living as well as youths who are not ready to return home after leaving the shelters.

M. Youth Welfare Agency Network Development

DOSW has set up various youth welfare agencies to provide placement, education, counseling and care as well as outreach services to assist youths in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, social adaptation, and educational and emotional development.

N. Agency Supervision and Evaluation

To encourage participation of private groups and agencies in youth service provisions, DOSW provides partners from private sector with assistance in areas related to agency registration, task performances, organization and program development, and finance management to ensure personal betterment of the youths.

O. Children’s Safety Services

To ensure children’s safety in the daily surroundings – including home, school, entertainment and safety – so as to effectively minimize injuries and accidents, while ensuring their wellbeing in a safe environment, the City has designated May 15th as Children’s Safety Day. Support from private groups is integrated to conduct various trainings, seminars and activities on children’s safety.