SOCIAL WELFARE
At year-end, 131 Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres (ICYSCs) were providing children and youth service, outreaching social work service, school social work service and, where possible, family life education under one management to address the changing needs of youth in an integrated, holistic manner. During the year, joint funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Lotteries Fund was approved for a total of 34 ICYSCs throughout the territory to undergo modernisation. Through improving the physical environment and the provision of modern furniture and equipment, these centres have been made more appealing to contemporary youth.
At year-end, 473 secondary schools were each provided with one school social worker unit, which identifies and helps students with academic, social and emotional problems, maximises their educational opportunities, develops their potential and prepares them for responsible adulthood. Sixteen District Youth Outreaching Social Work Teams provide services to address the needs of high-risk youth and also deal with juvenile gang issues.
For early identification of the developmental needs of students and, where necessary, timely intervention with a primary preventive programme, the Understanding the Adolescent Project was implemented in 308 secondary schools in the 2003-04 school year.
The Community Support Services Scheme (CSSS) assists young people who have broken the law or are at-risk. By year-end, six CSSS teams, one operated by the department and five by NGOs, had served 4 343 young people.
In order to strengthen support for young offenders, the SWD and the Police Force jointly developed a formalised system of conducting a 'Family Conference' for juveniles cautioned under the Police Superintendent's Discretion Scheme. Implemented in October, the 'Family Conference' aims at engaging relevant professionals at an early stage, together with family members, to decide on appropriate intervention strategies to meet the needs of young offenders.
With the aim of helping young drug abusers abstain from drug-taking habits and reintegrate into the community, a multi-modality approach is adopted to provide drug treatment and rehabilitation services. At year-end, the department was subventing 15 voluntary drug treatment and rehabilitation centres/halfway houses, five counselling centres for psychotropic substance abusers and two social clubs for ex-drug abusers. Under the requirements of the Drug Dependent Persons Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres (Licensing) Ordinance, 44 certificates of exemption and one licence valid for drug dependence treatment centres had been issued or renewed by year-end.
To enhance cooperation among relevant youth services, 18 Local Committees on Services for Young People, chaired by the District Social Welfare Officers, coordinate the provision of youth services at district level.
Clinical Psychological Services
The department and NGOs employ a total of 69 clinical psychologists who provide a range of services to family casework, rehabilitation and correctional units in the social service sector. These services include psychological assessment, treatment, consultation, staff training and public education services. During the year, a total of 3 722 cases were served, and 2 585 assessments and 16 218 treatment sessions. conducted.
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