94.6% "Resolved Feeling of Isolation": Survey Report on the Effectiveness of Child-Rearing Support Home Start Program

Certified NPO Home Start Japan (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Keiko Morita) conducted a nationwide user questionnaire survey for the first time in 10 years as part of a Nippon Foundation grant project.
In addition, an interview survey with public health nurses collaborating with Home Start in seven municipalities revealed that Home Start plays a role in resolving "gaps in support" that cannot be covered by government services.

【Outline of the Survey】
・Target: Pregnant women and families with infants aged 18 and over who used Home Start between February 2024 and November 2025.
・Survey Period: December 2025 to January 2026
・Number of Responses: 426 (cooperation requested via postcards, email, LINE, etc., questionnaire via Google Forms)
【Survey Planning and Reporting】
"Report on the Needs and Effects of Home Visiting Support by Residents for Pregnant Women and Families with Infants"

Research Representative: Yoshitaka Nozawa (Associate Professor, Department of Child Psychology, Tokyo Future University)

"Guideline for Collaboration between Professionals and Non-Professionals in Accompanying Support for Pregnant Women and Families with Infants"

Supervised by: Tomoka Takagi (Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Doshisha Women's University)

Before and After Home Start Use - Specific Examples of "Difficulties" and "Effects"

In the questionnaire, when asked what difficulties they faced before using Home Start, "solo parenting" stood out, accounting for 187 out of 426 responses.
In addition, anxieties about not knowing how to raise children and difficulties in raising two or more children were prominent among the parents' difficulties in facing their children. These were not merely needs for single-service support like housework assistance, but characteristically appeared as complex burdens stemming from the "state of being overwhelmed with childcare alone."

And when asked about the effects of using Home Start, the most common item was "feeling of isolation resolved," with 94.6% giving affirmative answers.
Subsequently, more than 80% of respondents felt effects in areas such as reduced anxiety and irritability, feeling closer to the community, managing housework and childcare, having more relaxed interactions with children, and becoming able to ask for help from those around them.

FAQ

What was the primary goal of the Home Start Japan survey?

The primary goal was to assess the effectiveness of the Child-Rearing Support Home Start Program in resolving feelings of isolation among users and identify gaps in government support services.

Who participated in the user questionnaire survey conducted by Home Start Japan?

The user questionnaire survey targeted pregnant women and families with infants aged 18 and over who had utilized the Home Start program between February 2024 and November 2025.

What was the most frequently reported difficulty faced by users before using Home Start?

The most frequently reported difficulty was 'solo parenting,' with 187 out of 426 respondents indicating this challenge.

Besides solo parenting, what other difficulties were commonly reported by parents?

Other prominent difficulties included anxieties about not knowing how to raise children and challenges in raising two or more children, indicating complex burdens beyond simple service needs.

What role does Home Start play according to the interview survey with public health nurses?

The interview survey with public health nurses revealed that Home Start plays a crucial role in addressing 'gaps in support' that are not covered by existing government services.

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