Hitotonari Selected as Operator Candidate for Child Development Support Facility in Fukuoka City's Higashi Area

Connecting childcare and therapeutic support, building a community-based development hub

Social Welfare Corporation Hitotonari has been selected as the candidate operator for the "Child Development Support Facility Opening in FY2026" in the Higashi area, following a public recruitment process conducted by Fukuoka City.

Hitotonari is a social welfare corporation operating childcare facilities in Fukuoka City, including Oi Childcare Center, Hara Central Childcare Center, Magokoro Childcare Center, and Airport-Mae Childcare Center. The newly selected Child Development Support Facility will be the corporation's second such facility, following the existing "Cocohug Fukuoka Central," and preparations are underway to open it on the premises of Magokoro Childcare Center.

Exterior of "Magokoro Childcare Center," the planned location

Moving forward, while coordinating with Fukuoka City and proceeding with designation applications, we aim to create a development support hub that connects childcare and therapeutic support, enabling not only children currently enrolled in our facilities but also children and families in the wider community to access the support they need.

About Child Development Support Services

Child Development Support is a welfare service primarily for preschool-aged children, providing support in play, daily living, social interaction, and participation in group activities based on each child's developmental characteristics and growth circumstances.

When parents or caregivers have concerns such as "I'm slightly worried about my child's speech development," "I'm unsure how to help with emotional regulation," or "I don't know where to turn for advice," this service enables children and their families to access professional support.

Exterior of the existing Child Development Support Facility "Cocohug Fukuoka Central" Interior of the existing Child Development Support Facility "Cocohug Fukuoka Central" We prioritize creating an environment where children feel safe and supported in their development through play and daily activities.

*Photos depict the existing Cocohug Fukuoka Central facility and do not represent the completed appearance of the new facility.

Background

Inquiries and support needs related to child development are becoming increasingly diverse. However, awareness of Child Development Support as a service and understanding of when and how to consult or utilize it remain insufficient within the community.

For example, when a Child Development Support staff member from our organization introduced the service to parents during a transition meeting from 2-year-old to 3-year-old classes at one of our group childcare centers, only about 20% of attendees reported having prior knowledge of Child Development Support.

Image illustrating the information session

Additionally, in our childcare settings, we have encountered cases where parents struggle to balance therapeutic program attendance with daily childcare routines, despite recognizing their child's need for developmental support. Accessing necessary support for a child and continuing regular childcare attendance should not be mutually exclusive choices.

Given these circumstances, Hitotonari believes it is essential to create environments where developmental support is seamlessly integrated with childcare, accessible within settings close to children's everyday lives.

Future Initiatives

The new Child Development Support Facility, currently in preparation, will aim to carefully observe each child's developmental stage and individual characteristics, providing developmental support through play and daily living activities in a safe and nurturing environment.

We will also strengthen family support by offering consultation and information to help parents positively understand their child's development and characteristics and apply this understanding in daily family interactions.

Furthermore, through collaboration with childcare centers, kindergartens, certified children's centers, and medical, welfare, and educational institutions, we will establish a system enabling not only enrolled children but all children and families in the community to consult with confidence and access necessary support.

Child development does not occur solely within specialized institutions. It grows through interactions within families, childcare centers, kindergartens, certified children's centers, and the broader community. Therefore, a Child Development Support Facility must serve not only as a place to attend but also as a hub connecting children and families, childcare and education, and the local community.

Hitotonari will continue to create accessible community entry points where parents can consult without bearing their anxieties alone, in addition to providing specialized support directly to children.

President Toru Arimatsu

President's Message

We are honored to have been selected as the candidate operator for a Child Development Support Facility in the Higashi area of Fukuoka City.

Child Development Support is a vital service that enables early access to professional assistance for concerns and challenges related to child development. However, awareness remains limited within the community, and many who need this information are not reaching it.

Additionally, some families face difficulties balancing daily childcare routines with accessing developmental support services. We believe it is essential to create a community where receiving necessary support for a child and continuing regular childcare attendance are not mutually exclusive choices.

Through this new facility, we will leverage our experience in childcare and family support, along with practical insights from Cocohug Fukuoka Central, to build a hub that integrates childcare and therapeutic support.

About Social Welfare Corporation Hitotonari

Based in Fukuoka City, Social Welfare Corporation Hitotonari operates childcare centers including Oi Childcare Center, Hara Central Childcare Center, Magokoro Childcare Center, and Airport-Mae Childcare Center, providing childcare and parenting support services. The organization also operates the Child Development Support Facility "Cocohug Fukuoka Central," supporting children and families from both childcare and therapeutic perspectives.

Guided by our organizational philosophy "Your Happiness = My Happiness," we value a welfare approach that walks alongside each child, parent, staff member, and community member, ensuring everyone can consult with confidence and access necessary support.

We aim to develop our childcare centers and Child Development Support Facilities not merely as places to leave children or receive services, but as community hubs located close to children and families. By connecting people with each other and with their communities, we will expand supportive environments for every child's growth.

[Organization Overview]

Name: Social Welfare Corporation Hitotonari

Address: KM Akasaka Building 302, 3-3-19 Maizuru, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture 810-0002

Established: 2011

Representative: President Toru Arimatsu

Activities: Childcare center operations, Child Development Support Services, parenting support programs, and more

Web: https://hitotonari.or.jp/

[Inquiries Regarding This Matter]

Hitotonari Headquarters

Email: info@hitotonari.or.jp

Phone: 092-753-9610 (main line)

080-8367-1399 (business line)

Official website: https://hitotonari.or.jp

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitotonari_hoiku/?hl=ja