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Social Welfare
certificates of exemption for residential drug treatment and rehabilitation centres and halfway houses under the Drug Dependent Persons Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres (Licensing) Ordinance in 2015.
School Social Work
At the year end, 561school social workers were provided for 465 secondary schools to help students with academic, social and emotional problems and to maximise their educational opportunities.
Paths to Adulthood: A Jockey Club Youth Enhancement Scheme
In 2015, the department continued to implement the second round of Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes to Adulthood (Paths to Adulthood): A Jockey Club Community-Based Youth Enhancement Programme, which is funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to promote the holistic development of junior secondary students into responsible young adults.
District Support Scheme for Children and Youth Development
In 2015, the department allocated $15 million to implement a District Support Scheme for Children and Youth Development, providing cash assistance to disadvantaged children and young people and taking forward projects through NGOs to address developmental needs that cannot be met by their families or the mainstream education system.
Services for the Elderly
The government encourages and helps elderly people to lead active and healthy lives. Various community care and support services are provided to enable them to continue living in their homes. In addition, subsidised residential care services are available for those who have long- term care needs but do not receive adequate care at home.
The department subsidises an Opportunities for the Elderly Project run by community organisations to make life more meaningful for elderly people. During the year, it subsidised 268 programmes with government grants totalling $3.87 million.
About 1.65 million Senior Citizen Cards have been issued, allowing elderly people to enjoy concessions, discounts and priority service provided by various companies, organisations and government departments.
Community Care and Support Services
Various schemes under the department lend help to some 42,100 frail elderly people. At the year end, the department was supporting 136 service teams, including integrated home care services teams, enhanced home and community care services teams, support teams for the elderly and a home help team. It was also supporting 72 day care centres or units for the elderly to provide support services for those living at home. A Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly allows eligible elderly people to use the vouchers to choose the services that suit their individual needs.
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