By Lee Kyung-min
A 17-year old boy, whose identity is being withheld, receives 245,000 won ($223) in monthly state support for housing after a social service official in his district found him in a motel in Seoul, where he had been living with his father for months. Upon visiting the room smaller than 3.3 square meters, where no one could barely set foot due to heaps of putrid-smelling garbage and laundry, the official helped the two-member household apply for a basic welfare program, under which households earning less than 30 percent of the median income are given a monthly state subsidy for housing, medical and other expenses. The amount is calculated based on the number of family members and whether they are on other state support programs.
The official referred the boy to DreamStart _ a comprehensive social services center supervised by the Ministry of Health and Welfare _ to help him receive proper education to recover physical, psychological and emotional fitness. HIs case was referred to the ministry-affiliated National Child Protection Agency for a review over suspected child neglect.
This is one among many cases of “at-risk” children the government seeks to help through a program called “E-System for Children's Happiness,” launched last month. Under the closely coordinated system, the health ministry, education ministry, National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and the Korea Centers for Disease and Prevention (KCDC), share “big data” including days of absence in school attendance, hospital treatment history, vaccination history and children allowance filing history.
The official launch of the big data-based system followed a trial run conducted on 974 regions in 66 cities and counties nationwide between last September and February. Of the 13,000 suspected “at-risk” children, 620 were referred to relevant social services and six were referred to child protection agencies for suspected child abuse and possible police investigation.
Social workers and public servants at district or municipal governments receive data of suspected at-risk children at the end of each month, after which a two member-team _ comprised of a teacher at the child's school or daycare center and a public official _ must visit their home at least three times to determine whether the child requires welfare services or police investigation.
Flagged households include parents that failed to administer one out of seven regular checkups mandatory for children over four months old and under 71 months old. Also flagged are parents of children who have no hospital treatment records for over a year, or those who failed to administer one out of 16 KCDC-mandated vaccinations for children under 12.
The first visit should be complete within two weeks after the data is made available. Second and third visits should be made within a week of the previous visits. The officials conduct an interview of children and their parents to check for signs of physical or sexual abuse. Cuts and bruises to the body and a withdrawn attitude including avoiding eye contact and reluctance to speak about bodily harm with caregivers present are possible signs. Broken glass, alcohol bottles, furniture or excessive amounts of garbage, dirty laundry or dirty dishes are also signs of child neglect. The officials then seek ways to offer help in a manner that caregivers would not consider “overstepping the boundaries” or “hurting their pride.”
“We are aware the collected data is of extreme sensitivity to which only a few top ministry officials are allowed access. That is why we try not to force our services upon those in need, but rather approach them gently to open their hearts,” a ministry official said.