9
Social Welfare
UNTIL this year the Social Welfare Department worked through seven distinct sections which between them operated offices, in- stitutions, clubs and community centres. Now, as a result of re- organization aiming at better co-ordination and more effective service, the number has been reduced to four. Of these, the Train- ing, Probation and Correction and the Group and Community Work divisions reproduce, with comparatively little change, similar sections that existed before. The fourth and largest, the Family Service Division, is a new concept designed to focus attention on the need to consider the problems of families. It draws together services previously provided separately through offices for child welfare, protection of women and girls, relief and services to the disabled. Hand in hand with this new division goes the progressive development of district offices through which all casework services for one district, previously provided separately, are available to clients in one location. This facilitates a comprehensive approach to the multiple problems which often beset a family. A number of smaller sub-offices which formerly provided relief assistance remains. Under supervision of the district offices, they provide access to more comprehensive services.
The first district office opened in 1965 in the Western district, a second was established in 1966 in the Eastern district, and this year the first Kowloon District Office was established in August. It is hoped that these offices, apart from providing a more effective service to families and individuals, may in due course play a significant part in the measurement of local needs.
Co-operation between the department and the many voluntary agencies which play so important a part in the provision of social welfare services has continued during the year under review. Appendix XLV lists 82 agencies which are member organizations of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Many of these receive a government subvention but substantial sums are also raised locally