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We invited the Aikeikai Infant Home, a fostering agency of the Hachioji Child Guidance Center, to learn about social care and the foster care systemHachioji Campus

On Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Teikyo University's Hachioji Campus, Assistant Professor Sawako Sasaki Faculty of Education Department of Elementary Education Education, gave a lecture on social care and the foster care system as part of her "Childcare Support Theory" course. Ms. Ai Kawaguchi and Ms. Yuriko Ishizuka from the Aikai Infant Home, a fostering organization of the Hachioji Child Guidance Center, were invited as guest speakers.

This course is open to second-year and above students in the Department Department of Education and Culture and Department of Elementary Education (Elementary Education Course and Preschool Education Course) of the Faculty Faculty of Education, and over 300 students attended the lecture. The lecture explained the role of child guidance centers, the current state of social care, and the foster care system. Social care is a system in which society as a whole supports children who cannot live with their guardians due to family circumstances. In the lecture, students learned about the current situation in Tokyo and throughout Japan where many children need social care, and deepened their understanding of the background and the actual circumstances of children receiving support. The foster care system was introduced as a system that supports children who have difficulty living at home so that they can live in an environment as close to a family as possible. Specific examples from the field were also discussed, such as the worries and conflicts faced by foster parents and children, and the changes observed in children living in foster families. Furthermore, learning volunteers targeting foster families were introduced, and students studying education were encouraged to participate.

For students aiming for careers in education and childcare, there is a significant possibility of interacting with children in need of social care, and after graduation, they may pursue a career as a child welfare worker in a social care facility. This lecture provided a valuable learning opportunity to deepen their understanding of the perspectives and knowledge necessary for those involved in education.

Click here for information about Assistant Professor Sawako Sasaki.
Click here for information about Faculty of Education
Open campus information is available here.
Click here for details about the Hachioji Child Guidance Center Fostering Agency Aikeikai Infant Home.

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