The Family Welfare Service Center in the South District opened today (7th) to provide service for the residents in the South District and East District. The family centers in the West District, Xituan District, and Wuri District were established one by one after Mayor Lin Chia-Lung assumed office. With the opening of the center in the South District, there are 12 service centers in Taichung. The centers in Nantun and Daya will be opened soon to provide care for the families in these districts, said Mayor Lin.

The opening ceremony was held today with the sign hoisted. Mayor Lin Chia-Lung, Director Lu Chien-Deh of Social Welfare Bureau, Taichung City Councilors Chiu Su-Chen, Cheng Kung-Chin and Ho Min-Cheng, Mayor Chung Cheng-Kuang of South District, Mayor Chiang Huei-Wen of East District, Legislator Huang Kuo-Shu and representative of Taichung City Councilor Shen Yao-Lien and district representatives were present that made the occasion warm and vivid.

The Family Center in the South District is the 12th Family Welfare Service Center in Taichung that will provide service to a population of 200,000 in the district, said Mayor Lin. The East District and the South District are traditional zones and many families need the support from the family centers to make ends meet, including social welfare consultation, referral of resources, and family visits. These centers provide timely care for families of high risk, single parent families and misfortunate families.

In the wake of the declining birthrate and the outbound migration from the East District and South District, the risk of elderly living single is becoming higher. With the support of the representatives of the community, this small space is established with the stationing of social workers to provide hearty services including nursery care, elderly care, and guardian of the district to provide services in different settings for the people there. The Family Center in the South District will provide integrated, human-centered and full-range community care for the district as a family.

According to the Social Bureau, the purpose of the Family Welfare Service Center is helping families to revitalize their functions so that the members of the family can get appropriate assistance and care promptly, according to the Social Bureau. Taichung is a city covering vast territory that limits the delivery and intervention of social welfare. The family welfare centers in each district resembled the “Social Worker Detachments” that can provide timely and nearby service to high risk or misfortunate families. This will echo with the efforts and resources of the representatives of the district and local communities in guarding local communities of the district.

Taichung has family welfare centers established in Dajia District, Shalu District, Wufeng District, Taiping District, Fengyuan District, North District, Beitun District, West District, Shigang District, Xituan District, and Wuri District. They are responsible for providing services in their jurisdictions. The centers in Nantun District and Daya District will also be opened soon. By then, Taichung will have 14 family welfare service centers and can accomplish the objective of providing “timely” and “local” service.

The establishment of family welfare service centers is to provide care for each member of the family where “family” is the fundamental unit through family consultation service, management of isolated cases, group activities, parent education, community promotion, and activities to make the community a livable place, said Director Lu Chien-Deh of Social Bureau.