TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1981
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STEPS TO IMPROVE RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR CHILDREN
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PLANS TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND INSTITUTIONAL SERVICE, FOSTER CARE AND SMALL GROUP HOMES FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OF CARE AND SUPERVISION WERE DISCLOSED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN.
THEY INCLUDED STEPS TO STRENGTHEN THE STAFFING POSITION IN CHILDREN'S INSTITUTIONS AND A PROPOSAL TO REIMBURSE RENTS FOR WELFARE SERVICES OPERATED IN PRIVATELY LEASED ACCOMMODATION.
MRS CHAN WAS GIVING A TALK AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE CITY LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG, IN WHICH SHE DISCUSSED ADOPTION,
INSTITUTIONAL AND NON-INSTITUTIONAL CARE AS SOME OF THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN OUTSIDE THEIR FAMILY.
SHE SAID A WORKING GROUP COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HAD LOOKED INTO THE QUESTION OF RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE AND ITS REPORT INDICATED A NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION.
IN CHILDREN'S INSTITUTIONS, SHE SAID, THERE IS A NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE STAFFING POSITION IN STAGES APART FROM INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PLACES.
THE DEPARTMENT IS NOW STUDYING THE ADEQUACY OF CASEWORK SUPPORT IN CHILDREN'S HOMES, WHILE THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE IS EXAMINING WHETHER EXISTING SUBVENTIONS FOR THESE HOMES ARE ADEQUATE.
+RESOURCES PERMITTING, THE DEPARTMENT IS FULLY PREPARED TO RESPOND TO AGENCIES' NEEDS IN THIS AREA,+ SHE ADDED.
AS AN EXPANSION OF IN-SERVICE TRAINING, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC WAS PLANNING A NEW CERTIFICATE COURSE IN SOCIAL SERVICES FOR WORKERS IN RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS, INCLUDING THOSE IN CHILDREN'S INSTITUTIONS.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE SPECIFIC STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ORGANISED ANNUALLY BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE FOR CHILD CARE WORKERS WITH SUBVENTION FROM THE DEPARTMENT, SHE SAID.
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 19 SUBVENTED CHILDREN'S INSTITUTIONS CATERING FOR SOME 1 500 CHILDREN WHO NEED CARE AND PROTECTION BECAUSE OF FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES, EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE OR BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS.
TO RESCLVE THE PROBLEM OF SECURING SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION IN BUILT-UP URBAN APEAS FOR WELFARE SERVICES WHICH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE OBSTACLES TO EXPANSION, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO WIDEN THE SCOPE OF DONT REIMBURSEMENT.