FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1986
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ADOPTION SERVICE HAS BEEN IMPROVED
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO REDUCE THE TIME TAKEN TO PLACE A CHILD IN A SUITABLE ADOPTIVE HOME SO AS TO MINIMISE CHILDREN'S STAY IN INSTITUTIONS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SHE TOLD A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAD BEEN ACHIEVED AND THOSE BE ING PLANNED FOR THE ADOPTION SERVICE.
SHE SAID THAT WITH THE STREAMLINING OF THE ADOPTION PROCEDURES AND ADDITIONAL MANPOWER, SOME 120 BACKLOG APPLICATIONS HAD BEEN CLEARED BY THE END OF 1985 AND THE DEPARTMENT HAD NOW BUILT UP A SMALL POOL OF SUITABLE PROSPECTIVE ADOPTERS.
DURING 1985-86, A TOTAL OF 114 LOCAL HOMES WERE APPROVED FOR ADOPTION OF A WARD AND 106 WARDS WERE PLACED IN ADOPTIVE HOMES, REPRESENTING A RESPECTIVE INCREASE OF 60 PER CENT AND 70 PER CENT OVER THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
+AT PRESENT, WE HAVE A POOL OF 14 FAMILIES WAITING FOR MATCHING WITH A CHILD AND ANOTHER 76 HOMES ARE UNDERGOING A HOME STUDY.
+AT THE SAME TIME, 41 CHILDREN (21 BOYS AND 20 GIRLS) ARE AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL ADOPTION,+ MRS CHAN SAID.
SHE ALSO NOTED THAT A SUPPORTIVE GROUP FOR FIRST-TIME CHINESE ADOPTIVE PARENTS HAD BEEN LAUNCHED.
+THIS WAS WELL RECEIVED AND WE INTEND TO ORGANISE ADDITIONAL GROUPS TO EQUIP ADOPTERS WITH PARENTING KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AND TO HELP THEM IN ADJUSTING TO THEIR NEW RESPONSIBILITIES, SHE SAID.
IN AN EFFORT TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE SERVICE, MRS CHAN SAID, ALL ADOPTION WORK WOULD SHORTLY BE CENTRALISED IN THE ADOPTION UNIT.
AT PRESENT, PRE-ADOPTION SERVICE IS PROVIDED BY STAFF IN THE 22 FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES WHILE ASSESSEMENT OF PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PARENTS, MATCHING AND THE SUBSEQUENT LEGAL FORMALITIES ARE CARRIED OUT BY THE ADOPTION UNIT.
MRS CHAN SAID IT WAS HOPED THAT CENTRALISING WOULD ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO EITHER ELIMINATE OR AT LEAST KEEP TO A MINIMUM THE NEED FOR INSTITUTIONAL CARE OF CHILDREN AWAITING ADOPTION.
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EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO PLACE TWO NEW BORN BABIES STRAIGHT FROM HOSPITAL WITH SUITABLE AND WILLING PROSPECTIVE ADOPTERS FOR TEMPORARY CARE AND CUSTODY INITIALLY AND SUBSEQUENTLY FOR ADOPTION AFTER THE BABIES WERE FORMALLY RELINQUISHED BY THEIR MOTHERS AT SIX WEEKS.
THIS ARRANGEMENT