Addressing the Childcare Gap: Chang Chia-chun Proposes Annual NT$12,000 Parenting Growth Subsidy for Children Aged 0–6

Declining birthrates constitute a matter of national security, directly impacting talent development and urban competitiveness in Yunlin. Today (26), Chang Chia-chun, a legislative councilor and candidate for Yunlin County magistrate, unveiled her '0–6 Years Parenting Growth Subsidy' policy. The initiative proposes an annual subsidy of NT$12,000—NT$1,000 per month—for every child aged 0 to 6, aiming to support children’s development and provide additional assistance to every family.

Chang, a mother of two, shared her profound understanding of the daily pressures faced by parenting households. She emphasized that the six years from birth to elementary school enrollment represent the most financially intensive and caregiving-heavy period for families. Expenses such as formula, diapers, vaccines, medical care, and childcare turn everyday spending into the 'sweet burden' parents willingly bear.

Chang noted that while the government currently offers one-time childbirth subsidies to counter low birthrates, greater emphasis should be placed on 'assisting in raising' and 'ensuring peace of mind in parenting.' Therefore, she introduced the '0–6 Years Parenting Growth Subsidy' to fill the critical support gap during this golden parenting phase, helping families navigate the most demanding stage of child development.

Under her proposal, every child aged 0 to 6 registered as residing in Yunlin County would receive a monthly NT$1,000 parenting growth subsidy, totaling NT$12,000 annually. This consistent, ongoing support aims to ease household financial strain and strengthen young people’s confidence in starting families and raising children in Yunlin.

Chang stressed that the NT$12,000 subsidy symbolizes the county government’s willingness to share responsibility with parents in raising the next generation. She aims to evolve policy from merely 'encouraging births' toward 'supporting upbringing' and 'ensuring secure parenting,' integrating this initiative with existing central and county-level childcare and parenting services to form a comprehensive family support network.

"Yunlin should become a city that grows alongside its children," Chang declared. Investing in families and the next generation is, at once, investing in the nation’s future and Yunlin’s future. Beyond the parenting growth subsidy, she pledged to continue expanding public childcare resources, creating family-friendly spaces, enhancing parental welfare, and upgrading childcare services to establish a holistic policy framework supporting children from birth through preschool.

Chang stated that investing in children is investing in Yunlin’s next two decades, and supporting families means retaining more youthful hope in Yunlin. Through the '0–6 Years Parenting Growth Subsidy,' she hopes to empower families willing to have children with courage and give current parents greater confidence, collectively building a 'childbirth-friendly, parenting-welcoming, and economically sustainable' Yunlin.