Introduction of Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Welfare Commissioners

Commissioned Welfare Volunteer, Child Committee Member, and Chief Child Committee Member

Commissioned Welfare Volunteers are part-time local public servants appointed by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare based on the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer Act.
Each Commissioned Welfare Volunteer is assigned a specific area and works in close proximity to the citizens in the community.
In addition, the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer also serves as a Child Commissioner as stipulated by the Child Welfare Act.
The chief child committee member is appointed from among the child committee members who have specialized knowledge and experience regarding children.
There is no salary payment, and I am working as a volunteer with a term of 3 years.

Recommendation and Appointment of Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Welfare Commissioners

Individuals with high moral character, a broad understanding of social conditions, and a strong enthusiasm for promoting social welfare, who meet the requirements stipulated by the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer Act, are recommended to the prefectural governor by the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer Recommendation Committee established in the municipality. After hearing opinions from the Local Social Welfare Council established in the prefecture, the prefectural governor recommends them to the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, who then appoints them.

Progress of the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer and Child Committee System

The Commissioned Welfare Volunteer system is said to have originated from the "Poor Relief Committee System" that was implemented in the city of Elberfeld, Germany. In May 1917, Okayama Prefecture Governor Shinichi Kasai promulgated the "Regulations for the Establishment of Welfare Advisors," leading to the birth of the Welfare Advisor system. In 2017, the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer system celebrated its 100th anniversary.
In February of the 6th year of Taisho (1917), the "Tokyo Prefectural Charity Association" was established under the leadership of Tomoichi Inoue, who was the governor of Tokyo at the time. In June of the following year, the 7th year of Taisho (1918), this Tokyo Prefectural Charity Association created the "Relief Committee System," dividing Tokyo Prefecture into 14 areas to investigate local conditions and provide consultations for impoverished families.
This "Tokyo Prefectural Charity Association Relief Committee" is the origin of the Commissioned Welfare Volunteers in Tokyo, and in 2018, it marked the 100th anniversary of the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer system (Relief Committee system) in Tokyo.

Commissioned Welfare Volunteer and Child Committee 100th Anniversary Symbol Mark

The National Association of Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Welfare Volunteers has created the symbol mark for the "100th Anniversary of Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Welfare Volunteers" as shown in the figure below.
The green circle surrounding the four-leaf clover made of hearts, which is the symbol mark of the Commissioned Welfare Volunteer, represents the lives and growth of people and the community, while the orange color of the number "100" signifies kindness and connection, representing a 100-year history.
The catchphrase "Together with the community from now on" reflects the commitment of the Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Welfare Volunteers to continue walking alongside the community, backed by a 100-year history of working together with the local area.

• List of Commissioned Welfare Volunteers, Child Committee Members, Chief Child Committee Members, and Cooperative Members of the Welfare and Child Committee (as of April 1, 2025) (PDF 247.2KB)

About the Activities of Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Committee Members

Tokyo Metropolitan Government has established Commissioned Welfare Volunteer and Child Welfare Volunteer Collaborators. They conduct surveys related to the monitoring of Older Adults in cooperation with Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Welfare Volunteers, and carry out morning greeting activities at Elementary and Junior High Schools. They also identify citizens in need of support and provide information to Commissioned Welfare Volunteers and Child Welfare Volunteers.
Inagi City currently has two Commissioned Welfare Volunteers for welfare and child support activities.