KYOTO CITY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

Ⅱ Starting a New Life

5. Childbirth and Raising Children

5-1 Pregnancy

＊Take the Pregnancy Certificate issued by a doctor to the nearest Ward Office Health Department (Health Center) and obtain a Maternity Pass Book.

＊During pregnancy, you can have pregnancy progress check-ups at hospitals and clinics which have an outpatient maternity ward.

＊Health Centers offer free health check-ups as well as information and advice about prevention of illnesses and other health-related matters.

The Health Department (Health Center) of the Ward or Branch Office in your area

◆Maternity Pass Book

A Maternity Pass Book is very important in helping protect a mother and child’s health. In this book, an account of the health conditions of mother and child are recorded, and possession entitles the holder to various free public health services. Maternity Pass Books are available from the Ward or Branch Office Health Department (Health Center). Foreign language editions are also available. The purpose of this book is to record the state of health of both mother and child. Make sure to take the Maternity Pass Book with you when you go to the hospital. You can also keep a record of vaccinations.

See “Vaccinations”

5-2 Childbirth

In Japan, it is commonplace to give birth at hospitals, maternity clinics or clinics.

◆What to do after your baby is born

① Obtain a Birth Certificate issued by the hospital.

② Take the birth certificate to the Ward or Branch Office and hand it in together with the Birth Registration.

※If one or both parents are not Japanese, she/ he should also notify her/ his embassy or consulate in Japan.

③ Obtain a “Certificate of Birth Registration”, and complete the child’s Foreign Residents Registration. (Within 14 days of birth)

④ Apply for dependent status “Kazoku Taizai” at the Immigration Bureau by bringing the child’s birth certificate or certificate of birth registration. (The child must be registered within 30 days of birth if he or she is to stay in Japan60 days or longer.)

⑤ Once the Certificate of Eligibility has been issued by the Immigration Bureau, go to your Ward or Branch Office to get the dependent entered on your Certificate of Foreign Residents Registration.

＊In addition, there will be other necessary procedures, such as registering your child’s birth at the Embassy or Consulate of your home country in order to include the child on your passport, and adding the child to your public medical insurance policy.

＊Take the child for regular medical check-ups.

＊Check-ups and vaccinations are available free-of-charge at your Ward Office Health Department (Health Center).

◆Delivery Lump Sum Payment

Medical Insurance subscribers can receive a “Delivery Lump Sum Payment” (shussan-ichiji-kin) when they give birth. Once a woman becomes 84 days pregnant she is entitled to receive the payment (\350,000) even if she has a miscarriage or a stillbirth.

5-3 Assistance for Households with Young Children

◆Discounted medical treatment for children

For Residents of Kyoto City: Hospitalization fee for infants and children up to Grade 6 in elementary school is \200/ month per medical institution. Outpatient fees are the same as hospitalization for children under 2 years. If, however, the outpatient payment exceeds \3,000 per month for children over 3 years until the age before entrance to elementary school, medical expenses can be reimbursed and are calculated as total cost minus \3,000. However, these services are only available to medical insurance subscribers. Please take insurance certification and stamp/ signature and apply at the ward or branch office where you live.

◆Child allowance

A parent or parents not receiving a regular monthly income and having children under 6 years of age are eligible to receive a child allowance from the Ward or Branch Office.

◆Assistance for single mothers

＊In case of emergency or financial difficulty, it is possible to receive a small loan.

＊You can learn necessary skills for work, such as computers, free of charge.

＊You are given priority for public housing.

＊You are able to receive financial support for medical expenses. (Single mothers medical expense supplement)

＊Child-rearing allowance

There are various other forms of assistance available.

◆Counseling on child rearing

Child Welfare Center: (Monday through Friday, 8:30-17:00) (801-2929

Child Support Center: Ward or Branch Office, Welfare Department

5-4 Child-Care Services (hoikusho)

A child-care or day-care center is a facility where children are looked after until they are able to attend elementary school. The fee is determined according to family income. There are public and private child-care centers

◆Eligibility for child-care services

To be eligible for child-care services, parents must be working or sick or there must be a special reason why they cannot look after their child.

◆How to enroll in child-care services

Apply at the Ward or Branch Welfare Office in your district. What to take: documentation to certify why child-care is necessary (Work/ Student I.D etc.) and your taxation payment receipt.

The Welfare Department (Fukushi Jimusho) of the Ward or Branch Office in your area.

5-5 Play Centers for Children

◆Kids Center (Jidokan, gakudo-hoikusho)

open10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed on Sundays, public holidays and during New Year holidays

Children up to 18 years old can play games and sports here with a parent or supervisor. The facilities are free to use and are located in each ward office.

◆Kids Club

Parents who are not home during the day can bring their child here. The program is available at kids centers and child-care centers in each ward. It is possible for children to attend after school, in which case an application is necessary in order to join the club.

For more information about Kids Center and Kids Club, contact;

Child Family Section (Jido Katei-ka) (251-2380

◆Kids Club of the Kyoto International Community House

There is a Kids Club which takes place at the Volunteer Room of the Kyoto International Community House. It serves as a “Gathering Place” for children (5 -12 years of age) of various backgrounds, as a place for children to meet others who live in similar situations, and as a place for children to experience different cultures.

Activity Day: Every Saturday, 3:30 – 5:00 PM

Location: KyotoInternational Community House

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