2024-05-07
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Mayor Lu noted that Taichung has been hearing good news lately. Just a few days ago, she oversaw the commencement of construction for the Shengang Elementary School Activity Center and parking lot. And today marks the official opening of the Shengang Children and Family Welfare Center. Mayor Lu expressed gratitude to Yang Chiung-ying, a member of the Legislative Yuan, for helping secure a budget of NT$18 million from the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Social and Family Affairs Administration. She also extended gratitude to local council members and the backing of local dignitaries.
She also noted that in the past, there were only 5 public childcare centers and 4 parent-child centers across 29 districts in Taichung, which was insufficient. Upon taking office, she has been promoting initiatives like building more parent-child centers and providing more public childcare services to ease the burden of child-rearing on parents. Moreover, the city government introduced subsidy programs, reducing parents' monthly expenses for public childcare to only NT$1,500. The slots were quickly filled upon release. The city government expressed gratitude for the citizens' support and pledged to construct more establishments like this.
The Social Affairs Bureau noted that the bureau itself was responsible for the construction project of the Shengang Children and Family Welfare Center, with a total project cost of NT$42,964,968. Over the past five years, the number of parent-child centers in Taichung has increased from 4 to 17, marking more than a fourfold increase. In addition, the number of public childcare centers has risen from 5 to 43, marking a nearly ninefold increase. Plans are underway to introduce public childcare services in Shigang and Nantun, aiming to make Taichung a more welcoming and livable city.
The design inspiration behind the Shengang Children and Family Welfare Center revolves around the idea of “a starting point for a home,” featuring an array of colorful small houses on the exterior adorned with whimsical painted patterns. This represents the notion of “happy homes start from Shengang, Taichung.” Moreover, the parent-child center incorporates the elements of local agricultural specialties from Shengang District by creating a potato mascot. Additionally, there's a small agricultural plot of land behind the center where children can engage in hands-on experiences of planting, harvesting, and exploring the wonders of life.
The Social Affairs Bureau outlined that the Shengang Children and Family Welfare Center's ground floor operates as a parent-child center, offering various welfare services catering to infants and toddlers aged 0-6 and their parents. These services include childcare consultation, parenting education, parent-child activities, toy lending, and early intervention. Operating hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday to Sunday. On the second and third floors, public childcare services are provided during daytime hours. Trained caregivers look after up to 50 infants and toddlers aged 0-2. The childcare services run from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday, with a monthly fee of NT$8,500. The center also aids parents in applying for childcare subsidies. Parents or guardians who have registered residence in Taichung with infants and toddlers aged 0-2 are eligible to apply.
