Reflecting staff input, discussing child-care services — the 'Always Care' program supports children's healthy development
On March 23, Gunpo City in Gyeonggi Province convened the first practical-network meeting of the Gunpo Child Care Center in the city hall electronic conference room to discuss strengthening cooperation among child-care providers and setting the program’s implementation direction.
Representatives from local agencies and elementary after-school care programs attended the meeting, explored practical, field-centered cooperation measures, and reviewed the current operations of the ‘Always Care’ program (elementary-facility emergency care).
Currently, the city has six institutions—three local children’s centers and three All-Together Care centers—that together employ 17 ‘Always Care’ caregivers.
Sixty children have pre-registered, signaling gradual growth of the service’s user base. With rising demand for emergency care, officials also outlined plans to launch hub projects in the first and second halves of 2026.
The city is also rolling out character and children’s-rights education for participants, while operating a practitioner network and offering capacity-building training for staff to support healthy child development and strengthen professional expertise.
Officials plan to promote the ‘Always Care’ program at community events such as Children’s Day to raise awareness and boost use of the school-based emergency care service.
Mayor Ha Eun-ho said, “Elementary school years are when after-school care gaps are largest,” and added, “The school-based emergency care service will provide a reliable social-care safety net so guardians can confidently leave their children in emergency situations.”
Gunpo City expects to incorporate the range of opinions raised at this meeting as an important step toward implementing field-centered child-care policies.
Gunpo = Reporter Seung-sik Lee thankslee57@viva100.com
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