Co-organisers
Consortium of Institutes on Family in the Asian Region (CIFA)
CIFA is an independent organisation which provides a regional platform for networking and collaboration among organisations and professionals who share the mission of “Converging Profession Wisdom for Family Well-Being.” Its function is to support and enhance mutual interests in research and training initiatives, and to share clinical experiences and policy formulation on families that are unique to the Asian region.
The Inauguration and Inaugural Symposium of CIFA was held at The University of Hong Kong in 2008, followed by biennial Regional Symposiums in Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai and Seoul, each attracting an average of over 350 participants. Other significant activities include Family Summit in 2014 to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family and the Asian Family Summit in 2018 to echo the global effort to achieve the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda For Sustainable Development as promulgated by the United Nations. Apart from these, on-going major activities include cross country researches, training activities, Wofoo Asian Award for Advancing Family Well-Being (Wofoo 3A Project), promotion and fund-raising activities, and distribution of information through its website and CIFA-NET, the newsletter.
In recent years, CIFA is most encouraged to strengthen the network with the United Nations, with the presence of Ms. Daniela BAS, Director of the Division for Inclusive Social Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs as the Guest of Honour at its 5th Regional Symposium in 2016 and the Asian Family Summit in 2018. While Ms. Bas’ presence acknowledges the significance of the work of CIFA in Asia, it also provides excellent opportunities to strengthen the tie between CIFA and the United Nations, laying a foundation to facilitate future collaboration.
National Taiwan University Children and Family Research Center Sponsored by CTBC Charity Foundation (CFRC)
The National Taiwan University Children and Family Research Center was funded through a cooperative agreement between National Taiwan University (NTU) and CTBC Charity Foundation in 2012. With the rapid social, economic, demographic and family changes in Taiwan, Taiwan is encountering many social problems related to children and family, such as the declining fertility rate, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, adolescent drug abuse. In search of measures and strategies to address these social problems, the National Taiwan University collaborated with CTBC Charity Foundation to establish this research center. Our aims are to explore problems related to families and especially children, provide innovative service models and policy recommendations, publish academic research outcome, and promote international collaboration. The Research Center expects to become the leading think-tank in Taiwan regarding children and family issues, and aims to solve the problems related to families and children in Taiwan.
We have three teams which divided into different aspects, Family Support Services, Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention and Intervention, and Adolescent Addiction Prevention and Intervention. CFRC is creating a research platform to encourage young scholars to research children and family welfare issues. Also, developing databases and policy white papers on children’s health, education, welfare, and development. Organizing forums, activities, and events to promote the welfare of children and families as well as facilitate communication among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to seeks for more collaboration and communication with international and domestic organizations on this urgent issue.
Child Welfare League Foundation (CWLF), R.O.C
The Child Welfare League Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to child welfare, both in the fields of direct and indirect services. In order to advocate for children’s rights and raise awareness of child welfare issues, CWLF works on improving legislation, coordinating a network of related child welfare agencies and organizations, as well as monitoring the government’s child welfare system and policies, so as to create a better environment for our children.
The goals of CWLF are facilitating the amendment of child welfare laws and policies, promoting the concepts of child welfare, providing child welfare services, conducting child welfare research, building child welfare networks and establishing a child welfare data center.
Department of Social Work, National Taiwan University
The Department was originally the Division of Social Work under the Department of Sociology, and officially became a separate program responsible for recruitment in 1981. Finally, in 2002, the Department of Social Work was established and the core mission was defined as grooming social work practitioners through our undergraduate and graduate programs.
To expand the international exposure of our students, NTU’s Department of Social Work has established cooperation agreements with many acclaimed social work schools abroad. We have also initiated a summer internship program with the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, in which we select top undergraduate and graduate students to work in local U.S. institutions through a rigorous screening system. These students acquire social work knowledge, and also learn about local cultures and welfare systems. All our Ph.D. students are also required to conduct short-term research studies in overseas academic institutions so as to foster global perspectives.
International Council on Social Welfare, Taiwan (ICSW)
Founded in 1928, the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) is an independent, non-governmental, non-political, non-religious, non-profit, permanent international organization whose mission is to promote the development of social welfare in all countries. With the initiative to provide a platform for the exchange of experiences of social welfare and social work professionals, and to carry out knowledge construction and technical support; ICSW also has the highest-level of consultative status in UN ECOSOC, UNESCO, UNICEF, the European Council, the ILO, U.S. alliance and regional government organizations, and has extremely far-reaching influence in international affairs. To promote the exchange between Taiwan and international social welfare organizations, the social welfare experts, scholars, and organizations in Taiwan established the “International Council on Social Welfare China’s Committee,” on June 17, 1967, our Council was renamed in 1987 as the "The Council of Social Welfare, Taiwan".
The purpose of ICSW is to enhance the cooperation and coordination of national and local social welfare organizations, and strengthen the cooperation between international social welfare and social work organization. In addition, we also hold annual social welfare academic conferences, practical workshops and professional training activities, and promotes academic publishing and policy initiatives to strengthen the exchange and discussion of social welfare issues in domestic and international levels in order to promote the planning and implementation of social welfare policies in Taiwan.
Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation
Tzu Chi Foundation was established in 1966 by Venerable Dharma Master Cheng Yen on the poor east coast of Taiwan. Over the years, the foundation has been contributing to better social and community services, medical care, education and humanism in Taiwan and around the world. Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation carries out the missions aiming to help the poor.
Tzu Chi’s missions focus on giving material aid to the needy and inspiring love and humanity to both givers and receivers. In addition to charity, the foundation dedicates itself in the fields of medicine, education, environmental protection, international relief work and the establishment a marrow donor registry. It also promotes humanistic values and community volunteerism. Through helping those in need, Tzu Chi volunteers take on the path of bodhisattva practices, the way to Buddhahood.
Taiwan NPO Self-Regulation Alliance
In order to gain more acquaintance and trust from the public, assist the donors to understand the operation status of Non-government organizations (NGOs), and encourage NGOs to promise and fulfill the mission and the accountability of the organization, Taiwan NPO Self-Regulation Alliance was established on 21th October, 2005. The purpose includes financial transparency, fund raising integrity, service efficiency and well governance.