Pregnancy

Registration of pregnancy

Bring your certificate of alien registration to the Mother and Child Health Section counter at the Shibuya Public Health Center as soon as possible after learning of your pregnancy and, upon registering the pregnancy, you will be given a Mother and Child Health Kit containing the Mother and Child Health Handbook and health checkup vouchers. Registration of pregnancy affords access to a variety of services for the health of you and your child.

• Mother and Child Health Handbook
  Required for your child’s health exams and vaccinations.
• Health checkup vouchers
  These vouchers enable you to receive two physical examinations, including urinalysis, tests for anemia, and measurement of blood pressure, and one test for hepatitis B and syphilis, free of charge at approved facilities.
• Ultrasound checkup
  Those who will be 35 years of age or older on their due date may receive a free ultrasound checkup in or after the 28th week of pregnancy.
• Subsidies for hospitalization costs
  Provided to subsidize the cost of hospitalization and medical care for women who suffer from gestational hypertension or other illnesses. There are income restrictions.
• Maternity classes
  These courses for pregnant women include discussions of pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing, as well as instruction on how to bathe infants.

Regional Health Division, Mother and Child Health Section
Phone 3463-2409

Infant and toddler health

Medical checkups

The city provides free medical checkups for the maintenance of infants’ health.
Checkups for infants aged 3 to 4 months, dental checkups for 18-month-olds, and medical exams for 3-year-olds (internal and dental) are held at the Shibuya Public Health Center and public health consultation centers during designated times of the year. Health checkups for infants aged 6, 9, and 18 months are conducted at approved medical facilities.

Vaccinations

Shibuya provides vaccinations to prevent infectious diseases. Of the periodic immunizations offered, those for DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus), DT, MR (measles, rubella) and Japanese encephalitis are available on an individual basis, and usually a notice is sent out for children in the eligible age groups. Immunizations are available at participating medical institutions free of charge. BCG is administered at Shibuya Public Health Center and at the public health consultation centers when infants undergo their baby checkup. The polio vaccine (against infantile paralysis) is administered in groups twice a year, in the spring and autumn, at designated locations.

Regional Health Division, Mother and Child Health Section
Phone 3463-2409

Medical expense subsidies

Medical expense subsidies for children

Subsidies are provided for medical expenses (individual costs incurred for health insurance-covered medical treatment) for children who live in Shibuya and are enrolled in a Japanese health insurance plan. These subsidies apply to: hospitalization or regular outpatient treatment for infants and toddlers (i.e., children not yet in school); and hospitalization for elementary and junior high school children. (In addition, subsidies for regular outpatient treatment for elementary and junior high school students are scheduled to become available starting in October 2007.)

Youth and Children Division, Children’s Welfare Section
Phone 3463-2558

Subsidies for children with chronic illnesses

Subsidies are provided for individuals under 18 years of age who suffer from designated chronic diseases or mental disabilities (only those who are hospitalized) for the individual costs incurred for health insurance-covered medical treatment. Partial payment of individual costs may be required, according to the recipient’s income level.

Medical expense subsidies for infant care services

If the newborn is premature and the physician recommends hospitalization, or if the newborn weighs 2,000 grams or under, then the individual costs incurred for health insurance-covered medical treatment will be subsidized if hospitalized in one of the designated hospitals. Partial payment of individual costs may be required, according to the recipient’s income level.

Medical assistance for children with disabilities or debilitating illnesses

If the child is under 18 years of age and has a physical disability, or if he/she currently has an illness that, if left alone, may lead to a physical disability but has a chance of improvement if operated on, then the individual costs incurred for health insurance-covered medical treatment will be subsidized if treated at one of the designated medical institutions. Partial payment of individual costs may be required, according to the recipient’s income level.

Regional Health Division, Mother and Child Health Section
Phone 3463-2409

Child allowances

Various allowances are provided to the parents and legal guardians of children domiciled in Shibuya.

Youth and Children Division, Children’s Welfare Section
Phone 3463-2558

Child allowance

This allowance is provided to the person raising a child up to the first March 31st after the child reaches 12 years of age. There are income restrictions.

Subsidy

• \10,000 per month per child under 3 years of age reqardless of the birth order
• For child of 3 years of age and over
  • First child　\5,000
  • Second child　\5,000
  • Third child〜　\10,000

Child-rearing allowances

This allowance is provided to the person raising a child (up to the March 31st after the child reaches 18 years of age) who does not have a mother or a father, or whose mother or father has a severe disability. Income restrictions apply.

Child support allowances

This allowance is provided to the person raising a child (up to the March 31st after the child reaches 18 years of age; under 20 years of age if the child has a mid-level or greater disability) who does not have a father, or whose father has a severe disability. There are income restrictions. This program does not apply to single-father households.

Medical subsidies for single-parent families

This subsidy is provided to the person raising a child (up to the March 31st after the child reaches 18 years of age; under 20 years of age if the child has a mid-level or greater disability) who does not have a mother or a father, or whose mother or father has a severe disability, for a portion of the medical expenses for the child and person raising the child. Enrollment in a health insurance plan of Japan is required. There are income restrictions.

Child-rearing (disability) allowances and special child support allowances

These allowances are provided to the person raising a child under 20 years of age who has a mid-level mental or physical disability. There are income restrictions.

Child-raising

Day nurseries

There are 24 city (refer to page 177) and five private day nurseries in Shibuya for the care of children whose parents both work or who, due to illness, are unable to look after their children. Please contact the Nursery Division for enrollment details.

Temporary nursing for emergencies
Shibuya City day nurseries take care of infants and children on a temporary basis in times of emergency, such as parents’ sudden sickness or childbirth.

Nursery Division, Nursery Section
Phone 3463-2492

Child and Family Support Center

Provides comprehensive support in matters concerning children under 18 years of age and their families.
Address: 5-1 Udagawacho, Phone 0120-135-415

Childcare Counseling Centers

General consultation on daily child-raising issues as well as emergency short-term nursing care services are available for parents/guardians who are raising children.

• Honmachi Childcare Counseling Center(Address: 4-9-7 Honmachi, Phone 0120-03-1152)
• Hatomori Childcare Counseling Center(Address: 5-9-1 Sendagaya, Phone 0120-05-1152)
• Higashi Health Plaza Childcare Counseling Center(Address: 3-14-13 Higashi, Phone 0120-87-1152)
• Tomigaya Childcare Counseling Center(Address: 1-46-4 Uehara, Phone 0120-26-1157)
• Nakahata Childcare Counseling Center(Address: 3-49-1 Hatagaya, Phone 0120-25-7044)

Family Support Center

Address: 5-9-1 Sendagaya Phone 3351-6464
Those who would like to receive assistance in child-raising and those who are able to offer child-raising assistance register as members, and the center serves as a liaison to refer people as necessary.