Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
About Requests
Q.
When should I request new support? (Requesting Member)
A.
Please contact us at least 7 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) prior to the date you wish to request support.
We will find and refer you to someone who can provide support, and you can make your request only after you have completed a prior meeting with a supporting member. By making your request well in advance, we can carefully match you with a supporting member and have a prior meeting (face to face meeting) so that you can conduct your support activities with peace of mind.
Q.
Why is a prior meeting necessary before a support activity? Also, what do we do in the meeting? (All members)
A.
The pre-meeting is a time for the support client, the child, and the support member to meet and build a relationship of trust before the actual support activity. It is also an important time to confirm and share important commitments regarding support activities, such as the child's situation, emergency contact information, and payment method for gratuities. Please fill out the "Preliminary Meeting List" and bring it with you. The prior meeting will be held at the actual support site (including confirmation of the pick-up and drop-off routes) with the child(ren) you would like to support.
Q.
Can I decline after the prior meeting? (All members)
A.
Having a sufficient prior meeting will lead to smooth support activities. If you have any concerns at that time, please feel free to contact the secretariat. If you have to decline the offer, please contact the secretariat in advance to that effect. We will make new arrangements.
Q.
We have already had a prior meeting, but have not yet requested any support.
Is it OK? (Requesting Member)
A.
Even if no date has been set for the support request, it is still a good idea to have a prior meeting in case of an emergency. If you never hear from us after that, the support member may be concerned. Even if there is nothing to ask for immediately, you can say, "We are now able to do this within the family. I will contact you when I need your support." or some other recent news will reassure the member. This is important to establish a relationship of trust.
Q.
I became a support member, but I have not received many requests for support from the office.
Why is that? (Support member)
A.
Support activities start when a request is received. Also, requests are unevenly distributed by region. We apologize to those who have never been active, but we are trying to coordinate our activities with as many people as possible, so we ask for your understanding.
About Support
Q.
I would like to request daily custodial support from Monday through Friday, is this possible? (Requesting Member)
A.
The support provided by the Family Support Center is only a short-term, supplementary activity. We do not recommend using the center for consecutive days or for long periods of time as a substitute for a daycare facility, as it places a heavy burden on the supporting members. Since these are mutual support activities among members, we ask for your cooperation in making requests that are easy for supporting members to carry out.
Q.
I would like to request child care tomorrow, is it possible to request urgent support? (Requesting Member)
A.
If support is needed due to sudden circumstances, etc., it is possible to contact and consult with the supporting member if a prior meeting has already been held. However, please note that there may be cases in which the supporting member is inconvenient.
Q.
I am not currently working. I would like to leave my child with you occasionally to take a break. Can I still make a request in such a case? (Requesting Member)
A.
Yes, you can. You can refresh your childcare, as well as for beauty salons, hospital visits, lessons, etc.
Q.
Can I request that my sick child be taken care of or picked up? (Requesting Member)
A.
Support activities such as taking care of sick children and picking them up are not available. Supporting members are not allowed to pick up sick children from schools, daycare facilities, etc., even if they receive a call from the school or daycare facility to pick up the child due to fever, etc. Also, medical services such as hospital visits and giving medication are not available.
Q.
Is it possible to request support that involves early morning, late night or overnight stay? (Requesting Member)
A.
Since supporting members are members of the general public, please use common sense in your hours of support. It is difficult to find support members who can provide support before 7:00 am or after 9:00 pm. In addition, we do not provide support such as custody with overnight stay.
Q.
Can I use a supporting member's bicycle for transportation? (Requesting Member)
A.
Kamakura City prohibits the use of bicycles for pick-up and drop-off support due to the high risk of accidents.
Q.
What should I do if I cannot do the support activity on the appointed day due to (support member's) urgent business, illness, etc.? (All members)
A.
As soon as you know, please contact the requesting member from the supporting member. After that, the requesting member should contact the secretariat. We will find a new support member who can provide support. (Please note that it may be difficult to match a new support member if the request date is close. Please understand.)
Q.
My parents live far away and it is difficult to ask for help after the birth. Can I ask for help after the birth? (Requesting Member)
A.
Yes, you may. Postnatal housekeeping support can be requested for approximately 3 months to help with housekeeping (simple cleaning, laundry, shopping, meal preparation) and bathing of the baby.
Q.
Can you take care of my one-month-old baby? (Requesting Member)
A.
For the safety of your child, childcare support is available from around 3 months of age (when the child's head is sitting up). Supporting members can visit and help with bathing and diaper changing as part of the postpartum housework support.
Q.
I am pregnant. Can I ask you to clean light fixtures, coolers and other high places as I am unable to do so? (Requesting Member)
A.
We are unable to do so. What we can ask you to do is simple daily cleaning.
Q.
I am not good at housekeeping, can I register as a supporting member? (Support member).
A.
It is also possible for you to be active only in childcare support. We ask that you start your support activities from where you can, to the extent that it is comfortable for you.
About gratuity
Q.
My support activity lasted about 15 minutes; is it okay if I receive an hour's gratuity? (Support member)
A.
For the first hour, an hour's gratuity is required, even if the support activity is completed in 15 minutes.
Q.
I provide support for morning drop-off and evening pick-up. The support takes about 15 minutes each. How should I calculate the gratuity? (All members)
A.
We consider each morning and evening support as a separate support; even if the support activities are completed in 15 minutes each, each requires an hour's gratuity.
Q.
What is the fee for providing a snack/meal for a child? (Support member)
A.
When repuested to provide snacks and meals, the average cost is approximately 200 yen for snacks, 300 yen for infants, 400 yen for lower elementary school students, and 500 yen for upper elementary school students, but since there are individual differences, please discuss and decide on the cost at the prior meeting. Transportation and other expenses should also be charged to the requesting member.
Basically, if a child has an allergy, the requesting member will prepare meals for the child. Please do not provide snacks or meals based on your own judgment.
Q.
How will gratuity be paid if I ask for support in taking care of siblings? (Requesting Member)
A.
For siblings, the price is half from the second person. For example, if two children are kept for one hour(during the daytime on weekdays), the first hour is 1,200 yen (800 yen + 400 yen).
Q.
Are there any subsidies available? (Requesting Member)
A.
Yes, Kamakura City subsidies to a portion of the Family Support fee for families who are pregnant or raising their children at home. For more information, please contact the Kamakura City Child & Family Center. 【Kamakura City HP】
Others
Q.
A warning has been issued due to inclement weather. What should I do about support activities? (All members)
A.
For those who are already engaged in support activities, please pay attention to the weather information. For those who are planning to provide support, please discuss with other members whether to cancel the event or to pick up the children earlier, and put safety first.
If a warning is issued, no cancellation fee will be charged for cancellations made on the day of the event.
Q.
What if I would like to attend a support member registration training session, but cannot attend all of them this time?
A.
If you are unable to attend all the program dates, please contact the secretariat.
Q.
Do I need to do something if my address (or phone number) changes? (All members)
A.
Please inform the secretariat of your new address (phone number) so that we can make changes to your registration. If you move out of the city, your membership will be cancelled.
Please also contact the secretariat if there are any changes to your registration information, such as when you enter kindergarten or enroll in a new school.
Q.
I would like to withdraw from membership. What should I do? (All members)
A.
If you wish to withdraw from membership due to no longer needing support, no longer being able to provide support, or moving out of the city, please submit a withdrawal form to the office. (Click here to see the withdrawal form.) For requesting members, membership will be automatically terminated at the end of March when the child graduates from elementary school. In that case, there is no need to contact us.