• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.121-146
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• 2005

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the structure and characteristics of the utilization support systems(USS), which has been institutionalized to aid the use of social welfare services in Japan's social welfare systems recently. In order to conduct such purposes, this paper made the process as follows. Firstly, this paper examined the developmental processes of social welfare systems, and the back ground of institutionalization of USS in Japan. Secondly, this paper formulated at ideal dimension the analytic model which was to explain the structure and characteristics of the USS. To build this model, this paper used two factors which were the connective dependency to the welfare support systems and the feasible-satisfying alternative setting for user. Thirdly, this paper analyzed the characteristics of the user-driven support facilities which has already activated in social welfare systems in Japan. According to the result of analyzing such model, this paper explained that USS in Japan has possessed the structure and characteristics, such as to aid self actualization and human right of user, to compose the inner coalition organization with supply systems, to emphasize the employee to train care management's skill, and to keep up bounded openness to USS's participation. Therefore, oligopoly market is formulated owing to bounded openness in the field of USS and the role of social worker such as a care manager is emphasized on making care plan.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.47
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• pp.310-333
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• 2001

The purposes of this research were 1) to investigate the characteristics of the meal service participants; 2) to evaluate the food service utilization of the elderly; 3) to identify major factors that affect food service satisfaction of the participants in Chungchongbuk-Do. For doing this, 309 subjects were selected and the survey research method was adopted. The characteristics of the meal service participants were similar to the characteristics of general elderly population in Korea. The public assistant recipients were under representative in this sample, that is, most of elderly people who participated in meal service consisted of non public assistant recipients. It meant that meal service was not provided to low-income elderly people. The health status of the elderly people was stable to be able to attend to the meal service organizations. The most important reason to use a meal service was to see their friends. It showed that meal services played an important role to provide support systems to the elderly people in community. Thus, meal services should be provided to the elderly people with social services. In order to analyze the factors influencing food service satisfaction, multiple regression analysis was employed. The results showed that physical activity, contact with friends who met in meal service program, and the number of social services were the important variables to predict meal service satisfaction in this study. These findings contributed to a better understanding of developing a meal service planning. Several improvement strategies were recommended to provide effective meal services. First, socio-economical characteristics of the elderly should be considered to provide appropriate services. Second, meal services should be provided to the elderly people with social services. Third, home delivery meal services should be available to the home-bound elderly.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.31-58
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• 2006

The purpose of this article is to analyze the structure and characteristics of the care manager systems of the long term care insurance in Japan's social welfare institution. In order to realize such purposes, this paper develops the discussion process as follows. Firstly, this paper examines the developmental processes and contents of the long term care insurance system and the care plan services which are the services to aid the utilization of long term care services. Secondly, this paper describes the care manager which conducts the role of care plan services intentively. Thirdly, this paper makes the research framework which is formulated as the legislative views about the care manager on the long term care insurance act, task systems, recruitment and retraining systems, and research data of care manager. Summarizing the contents of care manager's circumstances and characteristics about the long term care insurance, the results are explained as follows. that is to define care manager's status as the components of care plan center, to control indirectly the activities of care manager's care plan by operating care service center and care plan center in equal corporate, to set role and task ambiguously, to recognize care manager's role as the attributed role of care service center, to give licence and qualification in local government. Therefore, it's difficult to realize care plan depending on speciality and neutrality for the service user. The essential parts for the reform of care manager systems may be to separate care service center and care plan center and to redefine the task and role of care manager, the role and task of which should be put on care plan services.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.21-38
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• 2008

Objective: This study examined the use of mental health helping systems among college students in Korea. A behavioral model of health service utilization was applied to examine factors influencing different types of helping systems. Methods: A total of 454 college students from four universities participated in the survey. A self-administered questionnaire measuring help-seeking behaviors including formal health and mental health services, informal helping system, peer group, and family support was used. Results: Respondents frequently turn to family members and peer group when in need, and age, sex, mental Health status, and attitude and knowledge on mental illness were significant factors affecting help-seeking behaviors of Korean students. While older students and those with more severe symptoms were more likely to seek help from formal resources, students with more severe symptoms were less likely to seek help from informal resources. Male students and those with negative attitude toward mental illness were less likely to ask peer groups for help. Conclusions: Study results indicate that informal resources and peer groups can be significant sources of social support for individuals in their late adolescence and young adulthood, however, their role as gateways to professional help is limited. Student counseling centers should take on a more active role in reaching out; implications for developing peer leaders as counselors and self-help groups are discussed.