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As child abuse continues to run rampant in today’s society, Child First is a philosophy that prioritizes the safety of children, aiming to create a society where children are at the forefront.
Child protective services in Japan receive around 100,000 consultation requests concerning child abuse annually. In some cases help comes too late, with around 100 children dying at the hands of their caregivers each year. This number does not take into account uncertain cases, and some specialists argue that the actual situation is even more gruesome. In 2016, Japan Pediatric Society estimated that the death toll from child abuse or neglect is about three to five times higher than government data.
■ Aiming to prevent child abuse from a pediatrician’s standpoint
Having come face to face with child abuse as a health care professional, pediatrician Kosuke Kohashi founded Child First Project in 2015.
The private laboratory calculated that the social cost associated with child abuse is 1.6 trillion yen. While most of the Japanese government’s annual budget for issues relating to child abuse are allocated to reactive care, Dr. Kohashi wants to put an emphasis on the prevention of child abuse.
As a pediatrician Dr. Kohashi has met with hundreds of children and their parents. His experience has taught him that most people regard child abusers as entirely different from themselves.
However, the stress of child rearing and feelings of helplessness can, to a certain degree, cause anyone to maltreat their child. Dr. Kohashi realized that creating a stress-free society for child rearing parents is essential to prevent and stop child abuse.
■ Child abuse prevention movie produced with communication professionals
In 2015 Dr. Kohashi took the first step by joining forces with creators and non-profit organizations to launch a movie about the prevention of child abuse.
The animated movie painted an easy-to-understand picture of a child first society for the general public with the story of Mikan-chan who uses magic to turn an incomplete society where child abuse runs rampant into a society that cares for its children. This illustrates the ideal society we should strive for.
Not only was the movie distributed in social media, but it was also distributed to non-profit organizations and municipalities, medical institutions, parental classes, schools and academic associations free of charge, and it is now used in activities promoting the values of Child First.
■ New challenges! Creating an educational portal for child rearing parents
Child First Project is currently working on building a network that allows child rearing parents to access direct living information any time.
“What is needed now is providing parents and future parents accurate information on child care, helping them maintain a positive outlook on child rearing even in the face of stress,” Dr. Kohashi reckons.
The online portal will feature child rearing guide articles and a platform for parents to interactively share information, fears and know-how concerning child rearing. The developers hope that the platform will bring together specialists and organizations committed to the prevention of child abuse and the furthering of joyful child rearing.
■Become a member of the child abuse prevention team
Dr. Kohashi hopes that many people sympathize with the project, share it and become members of the Child First Team.
Let’s come together to build and protect a Japan where every child can have a safe, healthy childhood.
