Seoul's Dobong-gu has launched a community-based outreach system that trains local block captains — residents who know their neighborhoods intimately — to proactively identify and refer people in need of care.
The district is running integrated care guidance and resident-identification training sessions for block captains across all 14 of its neighborhoods from August through September.
The initiative draws on the block captains' close ties to daily community life to catch households in care crises early and connect them with the appropriate services.
The training goes beyond a simple program briefing, focusing on helping block captains make accurate, on-the-spot judgments about whether a resident needs support.
Participants work through the same preliminary assessment forms used in the district's integrated care support project, learning how to measure care needs, understand eligibility criteria, and handle specific crisis scenarios — including how to refer cases to the local community service center.
The district has also prepared a "Dobong-style integrated care specialized service" guide sheet so block captains can explain the program to residents in plain terms. The sheet covers the range of care services available to eligible residents and explains how to apply or seek consultation.
The district is also using integrated care big data provided by the National Health Insurance Service's Dobong branch to identify additional residents with high care needs. Officials first attempt to reach candidates by phone; when contact cannot be made, staff from the local community service center visit in person to deliver information and strengthen outreach.
Kim, a block captain in Chang 3-dong who attended the training, said the sessions filled a gap she had long felt. "I would see neighbors who seemed to need help but didn't know what services to point them toward — it was frustrating," she said. "Now that I clearly understand the eligibility criteria, I'll pay closer attention to those around me and report to the community center more actively."
Dobong-gu District Mayor Kim Dong-wook said block captains are central to finding households in crisis because no one knows the community and its residents better. "We will further strengthen our field-centered care network so that we can look into every corner — including care blind spots that data alone cannot reach — and ensure residents who need support receive it in time," he said.
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