Child and Family Welfare

Which pair correctly gives the year the Convention on the Rights of the Child (児童の権利に関する条約) was adopted by the UN General Assembly and the year Japan ratified it? Choose one.

1. Adopted 1959 – ratified 1979
2. Adopted 1989 – ratified 1994
3. Adopted 1989 – ratified 1990
4. Adopted 1979 – ratified 1994
5. Adopted 1924 – ratified 1989

Which pairing of a general principle of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (児童の権利に関する条約) with its article is correct? Choose one.

1. Non-discrimination – Article 12
2. Right to express views – Article 6
3. Right to life, survival and development – Article 2
4. Best interests of the child – Article 3
5. Best interests of the child – Article 31

Which TWO statements about the Convention on the Rights of the Child (児童の権利に関する条約) are correct? Choose two.

1. It defines a "child" as a person under 18.
2. It never allows a child to be separated from the parents under any circumstances.
3. It sets out the child's right to rest, leisure and play.
4. It places the primary responsibility for upbringing on the state.
5. It grants the right to express views only to children aged 12 and over.

Which option lists these international events on children's rights in the correct chronological order? Choose one.

1. Geneva Declaration → Declaration of the Rights of the Child → International Year of the Child → Convention on the Rights of the Child
2. Declaration of the Rights of the Child → Geneva Declaration → International Year of the Child → Convention on the Rights of the Child
3. Geneva Declaration → International Year of the Child → Declaration of the Rights of the Child → Convention on the Rights of the Child
4. International Year of the Child → Geneva Declaration → Convention on the Rights of the Child → Declaration of the Rights of the Child
5. Geneva Declaration → Convention on the Rights of the Child → International Year of the Child → Declaration of the Rights of the Child

Which statement about the Children's Charter (児童憲章) is correct? Choose one.

1. It is a law passed by the Diet in 1947 together with the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法).
2. It is an international document adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1959 and signed by Japan.
3. It was established on 5 May 1951 by the Children's Charter Conference and states "Children shall be respected as human beings."
4. It was established in 2023 when the Basic Act on Children (こども基本法) came into force.
5. Its general provisions state "Children shall be protected as the property of the family."

Which statement about the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (児童の権利に関する条約) is correct? Choose one.

1. The Optional Protocols were adopted together with the Convention in 1989.
2. Japan has not yet concluded any of the Optional Protocols.
3. The Optional Protocols raised the age of a "child" under the Convention to under 20.
4. The Optional Protocols are annexes to the Children's Charter (児童憲章).
5. There are two Optional Protocols, on children in armed conflict and on the sale of children etc., and Japan has concluded both.

Article 3(1) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (児童の権利に関する条約) says the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in actions concerning children. Which actions does this cover? Choose one.

1. Actions by social welfare institutions, courts, administrative authorities or legislative bodies alike.
2. Only decisions made by courts.
3. Only decisions made by parents inside the family.
4. Only actions by administrative authorities, excluding legislative bodies.
5. Only matters on which the child has expressed a view.

According to the Children and Families Agency (こども家庭庁), which TWO of the basic principles in Article 3 of the Basic Act on Children (こども基本法) correspond to general principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child? Choose two.

1. A social environment is created in which people can have hopes for family life and feel the joy of raising children.
2. Parents and other guardians bear primary responsibility for raising children.
3. Children have opportunities to express views on matters directly affecting them and to take part in social activities.
4. Children's views are respected and their best interests are given priority.
5. The General Principles for Children's Policy (こども大綱) are revised every year with the approval of the Diet.

Which response by a nursery teacher best fits the idea of Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (児童の権利に関する条約)? Choose one.

1. Children under 3 have no views, so there is no need to listen to them about childcare.
2. Whatever a child says must be carried out exactly as the child wants.
3. Listen to the child's feelings according to age and development, and give the views due weight when deciding activities.
4. Listen to a child's views only when the parents have agreed.
5. Accept a child's views only when they are submitted in writing.

Which is the definition of 幼児 (young child) in the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法)? Choose one.

1. A person under 1 year old
2. A person from age 1 until the start of elementary school
3. A person from age 3 until the start of elementary school
4. A person from age 1 until reaching age 6
5. A person from the start of elementary school until reaching 18

Which is the definition of 児童 (child) in the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法)? Choose one.

1. A person under 20 years old
2. A person under 15 years old
3. A person until completing lower secondary school
4. A person under 18 years old
5. A person until the first 31 March after turning 18

Which TWO are child welfare institutions listed in Article 7 of the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法)? Choose two.

1. Kindergarten (幼稚園)
2. Child and family support center (児童家庭支援センター)
3. Child guidance center (児童相談所)
4. Community child-rearing support hub (地域子育て支援拠点)
5. Foster care support center (里親支援センター)

Under Article 2 of the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法), who bears "primary responsibility" for raising children to be healthy in mind and body? Choose one.

1. The child's parents/guardians
2. The national government
3. Local governments
4. Child guidance centers
5. Nursery centers

Which statement about nursery teachers (保育士) under the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法) is correct? Choose one.

1. People without the qualification can never look after children in a nursery (a work-monopoly qualification).
2. Avoiding acts that damage trust in nursery teachers is only an obligation to make efforts.
3. The duty of confidentiality applies only while working at a nursery.
4. The work of a nursery teacher is limited to childcare and does not include guidance to parents.
5. The duty not to disclose secrets learned at work continues even after the person stops being a nursery teacher.

Which is the definition of こども (children) in the Basic Act on Children (こども基本法)? Choose one.

1. A person under 18 years old
2. A person under 20 years old
3. A person in the process of physical and mental development
4. A person until the start of elementary school
5. A person roughly under 30 years old

Which TWO statements about the Basic Act on Children (こども基本法) are correct? Choose two.

1. It came into force on 1 April 2023.
2. Every municipality is legally required to draw up a municipal children's plan.
3. The Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法) was abolished when the Basic Act came into force.
4. The Council for Promoting Children's Policy (こども政策推進会議) is placed in the Children and Families Agency and chaired by the Prime Minister.
5. Each prefectural governor sets the General Principles for Children's Policy (こども大綱).

Which statement about the General Principles for Children's Policy (こども大綱) is correct? Choose one.

1. It is set by the Minister of Education and decides the content of school education.
2. It combined the three previous outlines on the declining birthrate, support for children and young people, and child poverty into one.
3. It has no legal basis and is a guideline the Children and Families Agency writes freely.
4. It combined the Basic Plan for Persons with Disabilities and the outline on the ageing society into one.
5. It is set every five years after a vote by prefectural assemblies.

Which statement fits the idea of Article 3-2 of the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法)? Choose one.

1. When care at home is not appropriate, measures are taken so the child is raised continuously in a family-like environment.
2. When care at home is difficult, care in large institutions is given priority first.
3. When care at home is difficult, the child must immediately be placed in a children's home.
4. Care of a child by anyone other than relatives is not allowed.
5. When care at home is difficult, the national government raises the child directly.

Which statement about the Children and Families Agency (こども家庭庁) is correct? Choose one.

1. It is an internal bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
2. It is an external agency of the Ministry of Education.
3. It started on 1 April 2022.
4. It is an external agency of the Cabinet Office and started on 1 April 2023.
5. It is an external agency of the Ministry of Justice and investigates child abuse crimes.

Under Article 12 of the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法), who must establish child guidance centers (児童相談所)? Choose one.

1. Every municipality
2. The national government
3. Prefectures
4. Councils of social welfare
5. Public health centers

Which TWO statements about the work of child guidance centers (児童相談所) are correct? Choose two.

1. They decide admission to nursery centers.
2. Consultations about abuse fall under "child protection/care consultations" (養護相談).
3. They decide payment of Child Allowance (児童手当).
4. They place children in temporary protection when necessary.
5. They issue Maternal and Child Health Handbooks.

Which statement about temporary protection under Article 33 of the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法) is correct? Choose one.

1. It must not exceed one month and cannot be extended.
2. It lasts up to six months, and an extension needs a vote of the prefectural assembly.
3. There is no upper limit; the center director decides freely.
4. It lasts up to two months, and an extension needs the consent of the child's nursery.
5. It must not exceed two months from the start, and each extension against the wishes of the person with parental authority needs family court approval.

Which description of "judicial review at the time of temporary protection", introduced by the 2022 amendment and in force from 1 June 2025, is correct? Choose one.

1. A system where, e.g. when the person with parental authority does not consent, the child guidance center asks a judge to issue a temporary protection warrant.
2. A system where temporary protection cannot start without permission from a police chief.
3. A system where the prefectural assembly approves the start of temporary protection.
4. A system where temporary protection always requires the child's written consent.
5. A system where family court investigators carry out temporary protection instead of the center.

When placing a child in a children's home against the wishes of the person with parental authority because the child's welfare is seriously harmed (Article 28, Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法)), which is correct? Choose one.

1. No court approval is needed; the center director can place the child with no time limit.
2. The placement is made with family court approval and lasts up to two years (renewable with approval).
3. The placement is made with the mayor's approval and lasts up to one year.
4. A placement is impossible without the consent of the person with parental authority.
5. With family court approval, the child can be placed with no upper time limit.

Which statement about commissioned child welfare volunteers (児童委員) and chief commissioned child welfare volunteers (主任児童委員) is correct? Choose one.

1. 児童委員 are staff of child guidance centers and must be qualified child welfare officers.
2. 主任児童委員 are appointed by prefectural governors from among nursery teachers.
3. Only one 児童委員 is placed in each prefecture.
4. Commissioned welfare volunteers (民生委員) also serve as 児童委員, and the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare designates 主任児童委員 from among the 児童委員.
5. 児童委員 are chosen separately from 民生委員, and holding both roles is prohibited.

Which TWO statements about the Regional Council for Countermeasures for Children Requiring Aid (要保護児童対策地域協議会, Article 25-2, Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法)) are correct? Choose two.

1. Every municipality is legally required to set one up, with penalties for not doing so.
2. Its members are limited to child guidance center staff.
3. Its subjects are limited to young people aged 18 and over.
4. Its subjects include children requiring protection, children requiring support, and specified expectant mothers (特定妊婦).
5. The head of the local government that set up the council designates one coordinating body from its member organizations.

Which statement about Children and Family Centers (こども家庭センター) is correct? Choose one.

1. Prefectures are required to set them up, and they carry out temporary protection.
2. They are child guidance centers under a new name.
3. From April 2024 municipalities make efforts to set them up, and they provide maternal and child health and child welfare support together.
4. The 2016 amendment of the Child Welfare Act required every municipality to set one up.
5. The national government runs them directly, with only one in the whole country.

Which statement about the definition of "child abuse" in the Act on the Prevention of Child Abuse (児童虐待の防止等に関する法律) is correct? Choose one.

1. It is defined as acts by a guardian (a person exercising parental authority, a guardian of a minor or another person actually caring for the child) against the child in their care.
2. It is defined as acts by any adult involved with a child, not only guardians.
3. It covers only acts by nursery staff.
4. It covers acts against persons under 20.
5. Only two types are defined: physical abuse and sexual abuse.

In a home where a child lives, the father is violent toward the mother in front of the child. Under the Act on the Prevention of Child Abuse (児童虐待の防止等に関する法律), which type of abuse of the child is this? Choose one.

1. Physical abuse
2. Neglect
3. Sexual abuse
4. Not abuse, because the violence is not directed at the child
5. Psychological abuse

Which TWO are examples of neglect (seriously failing to care for a child) under the Act on the Prevention of Child Abuse (児童虐待の防止等に関する法律)? Choose two.

1. Severe reduction of food that hinders normal physical and mental development
2. Leaving a young child alone at home for a long time
3. Making a child perform obscene acts
4. Repeatedly using extremely abusive language toward a child
5. Violence that may cause injury to the child's body

Which statement about reporting under Article 6 of the Act on the Prevention of Child Abuse (児童虐待の防止等に関する法律) is correct? Choose one.

1. A report must be made only after obtaining proof of abuse.
2. Anyone who finds a child thought to have been abused must report promptly, even without proof of abuse.
3. A report must be made only after obtaining the guardian's consent.
4. Only professionals such as doctors and nursery teachers must report; ordinary residents need not.
5. Because nursery teachers have a duty of confidentiality, keeping secrets takes priority over reporting.

Which are the bodies to report to under Article 6 of the Act on the Prevention of Child Abuse (児童虐待の防止等に関する法律)? Choose one.

1. Only the police station
2. Only the family court
3. The municipality, a prefectural welfare office, or a child guidance center (a report may also go through a 児童委員)
4. The head of the child's nursery
5. Only the human rights volunteers of the Legal Affairs Bureau

Which pair correctly gives when the ban on corporal punishment by persons with parental authority and the deletion of the "right to discipline" from the Civil Code took effect? Choose one.

1. Ban November 2000 – deletion June 2016
2. Ban December 2022 – deletion April 2020
3. Ban April 2023 – deletion April 2023
4. Ban on corporal punishment (Child Abuse Prevention Act) April 2020 – deletion of the right to discipline (Civil Code) December 2022
5. Ban April 2020 – the right to discipline still remains in the Civil Code

Which TWO statements match the views of the MHLW study group report "Raising children without corporal punishment" (Feb 2020)? Choose two.

1. Not giving dinner as punishment for skipping homework is not corporal punishment because the body is not touched.
2. If a child does not listen after three verbal warnings, a light slap on the cheek is allowed.
3. Any punishment that intentionally causes physical pain or discomfort is corporal punishment, however light.
4. Only persons with parental authority are prohibited from corporal punishment; other adults are not.
5. Grabbing the hand of a child about to run into the road protects the child and is not corporal punishment.

Which statement about the number of child abuse consultations handled by child guidance centers in FY2024 (令和6年度), published by the Children and Families Agency, is correct? Choose one.

1. By type, psychological abuse was the largest at about 60%, and by referral source, the police etc. were the largest.
2. By type, physical abuse was the largest, at over half of the total.
3. By type, neglect was the largest and sexual abuse the second largest.
4. By referral source, schools were the largest, at over half of the total.
5. The total roughly doubled from the previous year.

Which statement about the child guidance center abuse hotline "189" is correct? Choose one.

1. It connects to the police emergency number 110.
2. The caller pays for the call.
3. It connects to a nearby child guidance center, calls are free, and reports can be made anonymously.
4. Callers must always give their name and address.
5. It is a special number only for staff of nurseries and other facilities.

Which statement about the Home Visit Program for All Families with Infants (乳児家庭全戸訪問事業) is correct according to its guidelines? Choose one.

1. It covers only families that have not had the 18-month check-up.
2. In principle it covers all families with an infant up to 4 months old.
3. It covers only families with children requiring protection.
4. It is carried out by child welfare officers of child guidance centers.
5. Only public health nurses may visit; nursery teachers and 児童委員 may not.

Which is the target of the Childcare Support Home Visit Program (養育支援訪問事業) under the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法)? Choose one.

1. All families with an infant up to 4 months old
2. Families with elementary school children whose parents are not home after school
3. Children whose care is temporarily difficult due to a parent's illness (short stays in a facility)
4. Nurseries attended by children with disabilities
5. Families especially in need of support, such as children requiring support and specified expectant mothers

Which describes the Child-Rearing Assistance Activity Support Program (子育て援助活動支援事業) under the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法)? Choose one.

1. It places children whose care is temporarily difficult due to a parent's illness in a children's home for a short time.
2. It opens places where young children and parents meet and gives advice on child-rearing.
3. It lets agencies share information on children requiring protection and discuss support.
4. It coordinates and trains people who want help and people who want to give help, leading to temporary care of children and help with getting around outside.
5. It cares temporarily for sick children at hospitals or nurseries.

A parent is going into hospital, so raising the child at home becomes temporarily difficult. Which program places the child in a children's home or similar facility for a short time to protect and support them? Choose one.

1. Short-term child-rearing support program (子育て短期支援事業)
2. Home visit program for all families with infants (乳児家庭全戸訪問事業)
3. Community child-rearing support hub program (地域子育て支援拠点事業)
4. After-school children's club program (放課後児童健全育成事業)
5. Parent-child relationship building program (親子関係形成支援事業)

Who is covered by the After-School Children's Club Program (放課後児童健全育成事業, Article 6-3(2), Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法))? Choose one.

1. Only lower secondary school students
2. Only schoolchildren with disabilities
3. Elementary school children whose guardians are away from home during the day because of work etc.
4. Preschool children not enrolled in a nursery
5. University students aged 18 or over

Which TWO are "day support services for children with disabilities" (障害児通所支援) under the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法)? Choose two.

1. Residential facilities for children with disabilities (障害児入所施設)
2. After-school day services (放課後等デイサービス)
3. Children's self-reliance support facilities (児童自立支援施設)
4. Temporary childcare program (一時預かり事業)
5. Nursery visit support (保育所等訪問支援)

Under Article 12 of the Maternal and Child Health Act (母子保健法), which young children must municipalities give health check-ups to? Choose one.

1. Infants under 1, and children over 5 but under 6
2. Children over 1 year 6 months but under 2, and children over 3 but under 4
3. Only children over 2 but under 3
4. Only children over 3 but under 4
5. All children who have reached school-entry age

Which statement about Child Allowance (児童手当), expanded from the October 2024 payment period, is correct? Choose one.

1. Eligibility stayed until the end of lower secondary school and the income limit remains.
2. Every child, from the first, receives a flat 30,000 yen a month.
3. Payments are now made once a year in a lump sum.
4. Eligibility was extended to high-school-age children, the income limit was removed, and the third and later children receive 30,000 yen a month.
5. High-school-age children became eligible, but children under 3 were excluded.

Which statement about the legal position of young carers is correct? Choose one.

1. They are defined in the Child Welfare Act (児童福祉法) and limited to those under 18.
2. They are defined in the Long-Term Care Insurance Act and supported through its services.
3. No law mentions them; it is only a term used by some local governments.
4. They are defined in Article 2 of the Basic Act on Children (こども基本法) as a type of "child".
5. A 2024 amendment wrote them into the Act on Promotion of Development and Support for Children and Young People (子ども・若者育成支援推進法) as "children and young people recognized as excessively providing care or other daily-life support for family members".