2014 Volume 28.29 Pages B1-B15
The purpose of this study was to clarify the structure and elements of welfare accessibility for elderly Zainichi Koreans (Koreans with the status of special permanent residents of Japan) by analyzing welfare prevention and promotion factors in specified subject areas. This population is the first group of elderly foreign residents that Japan has ever experienced. The study focus was evening classes at a junior high school-a typical gathering place for elderly Zainichi Koreans, many of whom missed out on a full education in their youth. I focused on the outreach practice of the Community General Support Center to attendees at these night school. Interviews were conducted with staff members of the junior high school and the center. The responses were analyzed by coding based on a framework used to analyze welfare accessibility in earlier studies. Prevention factors and promotion factors were formulated by using eight categories : "presence of a key person," "belonging to a community," "access to information networks," "level of cooperation," "mental attitude," "ability to act," "literacy problem," and "role of government administration." The results suggest that, in community-based social work practice, we need to promote cooperation with the community gathering-places of local residents.
