the homes of people who have been assisted or may require assistance. These visits are made in connection with periodic reviews of cases to establish the effectiveness of whatever advice or assistance as may have been given in the past, or to render assistance where an applicant is unable to call at the office. In addition to normal visits of this kind Officers-in-charge are responsible for detecting people in need and their staff are required to respond immediately to such cases as may be reported in the press or elsewhere, regarding the death or injury of persons and the possible destitution of their dependents, in traffic accidents, fires, suicides, natural disasters and other unfortunate
occurrances.
THE WELFARE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN
64. Casework service in connection with the welfare of women and children is provided through the District Offices and Family Services Centres; these are supported by specialized services administered centrally by the Principal Social Welfare Officer (Children and Women) and including the co-ordination of day care for children in child care centres provided mainly by voluntary welfare organizations, legal adoptions of children, and residential care and pre-vocational training for children and young women.
65. Day care services for children continue to be in great demand for the reason that there is a considerable number of mothers who have to work to supplement family incomes and who are therefore unable to devote sufficient care and attention on their children at a vital period of their growth and development. Day care services in nurseries, creches and play centres provide the remedy to insufficient care for children. These are mainly provided on a non-profit-making basis by voluntary welfare organizations which work in close collabora- tion with the Department.
66. During the year under review more than 13,500 places were available for children in some 73 non-profit-making nurseries and creches and 17 play centres, the majority of which are sponsored by voluntary welfare organizations, and assisted by subventions from Government. UNICEF provides assistance to some nurseries by donating equipment.
67. Legal adoptions of children are made in accordance with the provisions of the Adoption Ordinance, Cap 290, under which the
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