Introduction of Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Welfare Commissioners

Commissioned Welfare Volunteer, Child Committee Member, and Chief Child Committee Member

Commissioned Welfare Volunteers are part-time local public servants appointed by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare based on the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer Act.
Each Commissioned Welfare Volunteer is assigned a specific area and engages in activities in the local community.
Additionally, Commissioned Welfare Volunteers also serve as Child Welfare Commissioners as defined by the Child Welfare Act.
The Chief Child Welfare Commissioner is appointed from among the Child Welfare Commissioners who possess specialized knowledge and experience related to children.
There is no salary paid, and they operate as volunteers with a term of 3 years.

Recommendation and Appointment of Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Welfare Commissioners

Individuals with high moral character, a broad understanding of social conditions, and a strong enthusiasm for promoting social welfare, who meet the requirements stipulated by the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer Act, are recommended to the prefectural governor by the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer Recommendation Committee established in the municipality. After hearing opinions from the Local Social Welfare Council established in the prefecture, the prefectural governor recommends them to the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, who then appoints them.

Progress of the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer and Child Committee System

The Commissioned Welfare Volunteer system is said to have originated from the "Poor Relief Committee System" that was implemented in the city of Elberfeld, Germany. In May 1917, the Governor of Okayama Prefecture, Shinichi Kasai, promulgated the "Regulations for the Establishment of Welfare Advisors," leading to the birth of the Welfare Advisor system. In 2017, the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer system celebrated its 100th anniversary.
In Tokyo, under the guidance of Tomoichi Inoue, who was the Governor of Tokyo Prefecture at the time, the "Tokyo Prefectural Charity Association" was established in February 1917. This Charity Association established the "Relief Committee System" in June of the following year, 1918, dividing Tokyo Prefecture into 14 areas to investigate local conditions and provide consultations for impoverished families.
The "Relief Committee" of the Tokyo Prefectural Charity Association is considered the ancestor of the Commissioned Welfare Volunteers in Tokyo, and in 2018, the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer system (Relief Committee System) in Tokyo celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Commissioned Welfare Volunteer and Child Committee 100th Anniversary Symbol Mark

The National Commissioned Welfare Volunteer and Child Committee Association has created the symbol mark for the "100th Anniversary of Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Committee Members" as shown in the figure below.
The green circle surrounding the heart, which is the symbol mark of the Commissioned Welfare Volunteers, represents the lives and growth of people and communities, while the orange color of the number "100" signifies kindness and connection, reflecting 100 years of history.
The catchphrase "Together with the Community from Now On" embodies the commitment of the Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Committee Members to continue walking alongside the community, backed by the achievements of the past 100 years spent together with the community.

• Commissioned Welfare Volunteer, Child Committee Member, Chief Child Committee Member, List of Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Committee Members (as of October 1, 2024) (PDF 207.9KB)

About the Activities of Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Committee Members

In Tokyo, Commissioned Welfare Volunteers are established. They conduct surveys related to the monitoring of Older Adults in cooperation with Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Welfare Commissioners, and they carry out morning greeting activities at Elementary and Junior High Schools. They also identify citizens in need of support and provide information to Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Welfare Commissioners.
Currently, there are two Commissioned Welfare Volunteers active in Inagi City.