Abstract
This study aims to discuss the conditions of child-rearing support at community-based child-rearing support centers, focusing on the relationship between the intended functions of community-based social work (CBSW) and actual practices. The author performed a factor analysis of 27 items of CBSW and 112 items of actual practices. The sample was classified into 4 groups according to the score of each factor, and the relationships among the 4 groups and each factor of actual practice were discussed. As a result, individual characteristics were discovered in the practices of the 4 groups. The high CBSW group engages productively in community-based support activities while adhering to the principles of CBSW. The community-based support-conscious group is aware of CBSW, but does not reflect it in practice. The preventive support group is highly aware of preventive support and engages in such activities at facilities. The low CBSW group is imperfectly aware of CBSW and does not engage in actual activities. Thus, the results necessitate deliberation on whether to accept this situation as the inevitable diversity of practices at centers or to actively improve conditions at these centers so as to realize a more ideal situations.
