Velasco教授訪守護者 探討台灣家庭挑戰

　　2025 年 1 月 11 日，普林斯頓大學社會學系助理教授 Kristopher Velasco 參訪守護者協會，深入了解台灣在家庭與兒童福祉政策上的現況。他特別關注資源分配不均、生育率下降、家庭支持不足，以及預防性家庭支持（Pre-family）的議題。透過這次訪談，他希望通過此行了解守護者協會如何在這些挑戰中提供創新服務與政策倡導，與帶來的啟發意義

　　On January 11, 2025, Dr. Kristopher Velasco, an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Princeton University, visited the Guardian Association to gain deeper insights into the current state of family and child welfare policies in Taiwan. His focus included key issues such as unequal resource distribution, declining birth rates, insufficient family support, and the concept of preventive family support (Pre-family). Through this visit, he aimed to understand how the Guardian Association addresses these challenges with innovative services and policy advocacy, as well as the broader implications of their work.

　　守護者協會執行長 Louis 表示，台灣家庭目前正面臨顯著的結構性困難。經濟壓力與高昂的育兒成本，讓許多年輕人選擇延後結婚與生育，甚至放棄成家。此外，傳統家庭價值觀與現代社會個人主義的衝突，也降低了年輕人對婚姻與家庭的認同感。這些因素共同導致台灣生育率持續下降，進一步削弱了家庭的穩定性。

　　Louis, the Executive Director of the Guardian Association, highlighted that families in Taiwan are currently facing significant structural challenges. Economic pressures and the high cost of raising children have led many young people to delay marriage and parenthood, or even abandon the idea of starting a family altogether. Additionally, the clash between traditional family values and the modern emphasis on individualism has further diminished young people's confidence in marriage and family life. These factors have collectively contributed to Taiwan's declining birth rate, further weakening the stability of family structures.

　　Louis 特別指出，城鄉之間資源分配的不均，是另一項重大挑戰。在偏遠地區，托育與教育資源的不足讓弱勢家庭面臨更大的困難，不僅影響家庭穩定，也限制了兒童的成長機會。守護者協會曾在花蓮地區與原住民社群合作，推動文化保存與家庭教育計劃，這些努力不僅提升了當地家庭的生活韌性，也促進了社區文化的傳承，充分展現了協會支持多元文化與回應地方需求的承諾。

　　Louis also emphasized that the unequal distribution of resources between urban and rural areas is another major challenge. In remote regions, the lack of childcare and educational resources poses greater difficulties for disadvantaged families, affecting both family stability and children’s opportunities for growth. The Guardian Association has worked with Indigenous communities in Hualien to promote cultural preservation and family education programs. These efforts have not only strengthened the resilience of local families but also supported the preservation of community culture, demonstrating the Association's commitment to multicultural support and addressing local needs.

　　在政策層面，Louis 強調，台灣對兒童與家庭的資源投入仍遠遠不足。目前，公共支出僅占 GDP 的不到 2%，遠低於 OECD 國家的平均水平。他呼籲政府應遵守《兒童權利公約》（CRC）的精神，實質增加對家庭支持的投入，同時縮小城鄉差距，確保每個孩子都能獲得公平的成長機會。

　　On the policy front, Louis stressed that Taiwan's investment in resources for children and families remains significantly inadequate. Currently, public spending accounts for less than 2% of the GDP, far below the average level of OECD countries. He urged the government to adhere to the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) by substantially increasing investment in family support. Additionally, he called for efforts to close the gap between urban and rural areas, ensuring that every child has equal opportunities to grow and thrive.

　　守護者協會也分享了在實務中的應對措施。例如，在台北市，協會成立了家庭支持中心，與社福中心合作，為中度脆弱的家庭提供情感支持與生活建議，幫助他們穩定生活。在南投地區，協會針對有特殊需求的兒童，提供個別化的課後輔導服務，協助他們提升自信並增強生活自理能力。

　　The Guardian Association also shared its practical approaches to addressing these challenges. For example, in Taipei, the Association established a Family Support Center in collaboration with social welfare organizations to provide emotional support and life guidance to moderately vulnerable families, helping them stabilize their lives. In Nantou, the Association offers individualized after-school tutoring services for children with special needs, helping them build confidence and develop life skills for greater independence.

　　守護者協會對 Kristopher Velasco 教授的來訪表達感謝，並期待他的跨國研究能為台灣的兒童與家庭工作帶來更多洞見與啟發。

　　The Guardian Association expressed its gratitude for Professor Kristopher Velasco's visit and looks forward to his cross-national research bringing valuable insights and inspiration to efforts supporting children and families in Taiwan.