SOCIAL WELFARE
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To equip staff with updated and specialised skills in the various areas of welfare services, the department sends experienced personnel to attend advanced training courses and international seminars. During the year, 37 officers attended 22 such courses and seminars. The Social Work Training Fund and other scholarships also provide funds to promote advanced social work training.
Research and Evaluation
The Research and Statistics Section of the Social Welfare Department conducts studies to assist in planning and monitoring services provided by the department. Thirteen studies were undertaken in 1984 including one carried out jointly with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. This was on the social welfare manpower situation in Hong Kong. Other studies are geared to obtaining statistical information for the planning and review of social security schemes, probation and other services.
The department, through its Evaluation Section, is responsible for assessing services. provided by the subvented welfare agencies. Departmental staff make regular visits to these agencies and reports are subsequently submitted to the Subventions and Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee which advises on subvention applications. During the year, the department also conducted five in-depth evaluations of individual subvented social welfare programmes and organisations as well as experimental projects financed by the Lotteries Fund, the Community Chest and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Community Building
Rapid development and increasing urbanisation in the territory often bring about the creation of new communities, population relocation and high density living. In this situation, it is important to maintain Hong Kong as a cohesive and harmonious society. Efforts are carried out under the overall theme of Community Building which seeks to foster among residents a sense of belonging, mutual care and civic responsibility. These objectives are promoted through the provision of purpose-built facilities for group and community activities, formation of citizen's organisations, and encouragement of citizen's participation.
Many government departments and voluntary organisations contribute towards Com- munity Building which is monitored and co-ordinated by the Community Building Policy Committee. The government departments principally responsible for this programme area are the City and New Territories Administration (CNTA) and the Social Welfare Depart- ment. The former implements the specific objectives of community building through a network of district offices, and is primarily concerned with promoting mutual care and community spirit through community organisations such as area committees, mutual aid committees, rural committees, kaifong welfare associations, women's organisations and local arts and sports associations. The Social Welfare Department is responsible for various aspects of group and community work aimed at promoting the social development of individuals and groups and at fostering a sense of community responsibility. Community centres, run by either the Social Welfare Department or voluntary agencies, are provided throughout the territory to serve as bases for community building work.
To meet an increasing level of activity and to make best use of expert social workers, the management of community centres will in future become a general administrative responsibility of the CNTA. This will allow the Social Welfare Department to devote its resources to extending and developing its work among groups of young people and adults, particularly those with special needs where the skill of trained social workers is required.