The Significance of Home Care Allowance for Infants and Young Children : Case of 6 Small Municipalities in Tottori Prefecture

Abstract

Some small municipalities in Japan have recently started supplying a cash allowance to parents rearing their infants or young children at home without using childcare services. These new policies can be expected to provide support to all parents who want to care for their infants and young children by themselves, whereas previous home care allowance policies were available to only a limited number of parents, mainly those working as regular employees.

For the introduction of a truly universal childrearing scheme, the importance of supporting all parents must be formally accepted. In addition, we must ensure that we avoid the assumptions of the male-breadwinner model.

This article examines the context of the policies for the introduction of a cash allowance for infants and childcare in 6 small municipalities in Tottori Prefecture. In the local policy context, the policy was successfully implemented in part because it emphasized the importance of providing universal support to parents and avoided the introduction of a male-breadwinner model. These policies complement the original childcare support policy that was available to only a limited number of workers. Furthermore, the policies provide valuable job and childcare support to residents, and help to maintain the families’ local communities.