SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 1979
16,000 FAMILIES OFFERED HELP BY S.W.D.'S FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES
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EVERY MORNING, CASEWORK SUPERVISORS AT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES SCAN THROUGH NEWSPAPERS LOOKING FOR BAD NEWS.
THEY STUDY REPORTS OF ACCIDENTS SUICIDES OR CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY WHERE IT IS APPARENT THAT THESE INCIDENTS WILL BRING HARDSHIP TO THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
ONCE THESE CASES ARE IDENTIFIED, CASEWORKERS ARE SENT OUT TO CONTACT THE VICTIMS' FAMILIES OR RELATIVES TO FIND OUT THE IR NEEDS AND OFFER APPROPRIATE HELP.
THE DEPARTMENT AT PRESENT OPERATES 17 FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES ON HONG KONG ISLAND, IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, PROVIDING A VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR FAMILIES IN NEED.
+APART FROM REACHING OUT FOR CLIENTS THROUGH THE NEWS MEDIA, OUR FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES ARE MOSTLY DIRECTLY APPROACHED BY CLIENTS. CLIENTS ARE ALSO REFERRED TO US, SAID MRS. LEE TANG PO-KING, CASEWORK SUPERVISOR OF THE TAI PO FAMILY SERVICES CENTRE.
IN 1978-79, MRS. LEE SAID, NEARLY 16,000 FAMILIES WERE OFFERED SERVICES BY THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES - AN INCREASE OF 2,000 OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S TOTAL OF 14,000,
SHE SAID FAMILY SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE COUNSELLING AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR SCHOOLING, TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, HOME HELP SERVICE, FREE LEGAL ADVICE, MEDICAL ATTENTION AND PLACEMENTS IN INSTITUTIONS.
THE PROBLEMS HANDLED, SHE ADDED, BROADLY FALL INTO FOUR AREAS THOSE INVOLVING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE- DIFFICULTIES IN INTER-PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS- PROBLEMS ARISING FROM POOR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH- AND HARDSHIP RESULTING FROM UNEMPLOYMENT, IMPRISONMENT, DESERTION, ILLNESS AND DEATH.
MRS. LEE SAID THAT BY MEANS OF VISITS AND INTERVIEWS, CASEWORKERS ASSESS THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE CLIENTS AND HELP THEM FIND SOLUTIONS,
+WE TRY NOT TO IMPOSE A SOLUTION ON THE CLIENTS. INSTEAD, CASEWORKERS ENCOURAGE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SOLVING THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. BY WORKING TOGETHER, THEY ANALYSE THE PROBLEMS AND TRY TO DRAW UP A SOLUTION, SHE SAID.
IN RECENT YEARS. MRS. LEE SAID STAFF OF THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES HAVE EMPLOYED NEW TECHNIQUES TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES, SHE SAID.
+APART FROM USING THE TRADITIONAL ONE-TO-ONE CASEWORK TECHNIQUE, DISCUSSIONS AND TALKS ARE OFTEN ORGANISED FOR SMALL GROUPS OF CLIENTS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, SHE SAID.
MRS. LEE