취약계층 영유아 통합적 육아지원 모형개발 및 시범적용

Abstract

At present, the Korean government is implementing policies that ensure an equal start point for infants and young children from disadvantaged groups, in recognition of its responsibility to narrow the education gap caused by differences in socio-economic backgrounds. This study examined the current status and concerns of existing support systems serving disadvantaged young children as well as attempted to develop an integrated support model in order to enrich the substance of support systems. It did this by investigating parental child-rearing and parental needs for child-rearing support, and to apply the model as appropriate. The investigation on child-rearing practices in families from disadvantaged groups showed that infants and/or young children from families that accept government aid to maintain a minimum standard of living are not well taken care of, and that the number of parent-child activities - including visiting gyms and libraries as well as shared cultural experiences such as going to puppet shows, musicals, and museums - decreased directly according to income. Thus, it was found that an education program to promote the cognitive, emotional, and social development of infants and young children from low income families is urgently required. In particular, it was also discovered that a factor directly influencing problematic behavior in infants and young children from low income families is negative the child-rearing behavior of the mother, the primary care-giver, and that the most influential factors upon the mother's child-rearing behavior are maternal child-rearing stress and depression. Therefore, these results confirmed that a parent support program is required for the sound development of infants and young children from low income families. This study developed an integrated support model, including a parent support program, training professional resources in use of said program, and the utilization of local networks, as well as developing a program for infants and young children from disadvantaged groups. In the pilot program, the study used government branches as the delivery system and sought to establish joint support networks among different projects. Based on the results of the study conducted in 2009, an additional parent support program for infants and young children will be developed, the integrated support model will be applied nationwide and its effects examined, and the program and its manual will be finalized and disseminated in 2011.