1. Study Objectives and Methods

￮ The central and local governments are expanding the quantifier number of similar childcare institutions and services to overcome the low birth rate. In this regard, it is necessary to establish the identity of local children's centers, which have been the mainstay of local community childcare institutions for about 20 years, and to devise measures to firmly establish their position within the commonality of childcare support institutions.

￮ This study aims to first analyze recent policy trends of local children's centers and cases of other local governments. Second, to analyzes the overall status of local children’s centers’ operation and utilization in Jeonbuk. Third, it identifies specific circumstances and improvement tasks (such as securing identity and publicness and improving service quality) and necessary policy demands through surveys and interviews with children, guardians, and practitioners in the field through FGI.

￮ The study aims to establish the identity of local children's centers at the Jeonbuk level, secure their publicness, and develop plans for their advancement.

￮ The research methodology involved a review of related policy research reports, academic papers, and prior studies as well as a comprehensive analysis of the local children’s centers’ overall status of operation and utilization using statistical reports and the national statistics portal. In addition, the Jeonbuk Regional Child Center’s usage status, a survey was conducted targeting children and guardians who use the center (365 children and 195 guardians). Interviews were also conducted with seven child users and eight guardians. Furthermore, an FGI was conducted with practitioners on-site at the regional child center and related organizations.

2. Conclusion and Policy Suggestion

￮ This study suggests several measures to establish the identity of local childcare centers, solidify their central role in child welfare support, and reposition their roles and functions.

￮ First, there is a need to ease legal and institutional standards for inclusive care and comprehensive child welfare support. Second, it is necessary to expand customized program support that reflects the increasing trend of middle and high school students and special needs children (multicultural children, children with disabilities, children with borderline intellectual functioning, etc.). Third, to establish the identity and functions unique to local childcare centers different from various childcare institutions run by different ministries expansion plans public local childcare centers are needed. Next, to enhance the quality of childcare support services at local child centers, it is necessary to improve employee’s workload, working conditions, and compensation and to expand additional support for facility reinforcement projects due to the stabilization of the center’s space and aging facilities. Efforts to secure and strengthen the center’s public nature as well as efforts to expand the role, function, and scale of the Jeonbuk support team for local child centers are also necessary.