FAMILY SUPPORT
1
TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1987
* CASELOADS IN THE FAMILY CASEWORK SERVICE SHOULD BE REDUCED
TO THE TARGET LEVEL AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE AND THERE SHOULD GREATER EMPHASIS ON TRAINING IN CRISIS INTERVENTION.
BE
AS AN ADDITIONAL MEANS OF REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN TAKEN INTO RESIDENTIAL CARE, THE HOME HELP SERVICE SHOULD BE DEVELOPED FURTHER TO ASSIST A PARENT CARING FOR CHILDREN ALONE OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD.
* EXPANSION OF DAY CARE SERVICES FOR PRE-SCHOOL AND PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS A SHORTAGE SHOUD” ВЕ ENCOURAGED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
FOSTER CARE
CARE AS A RESIDENTIAL
CHILDREN.
* FOSTER CARE IS PREFERABLE ΤΟ INSTITUTIONAL PLACEMENT CHOICE FOR MOST CHILDREN REQUIRING CARE, INCLUDING MILDLY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED HOWEVER, AS THE EXISTING SERVICE IS NOT FULLY UTILISED AND THE INCIDENCE OF BREAKDOWNS IS ABOUT 20 PER CENT, EXPANSION OF THE FOSTER CARE SERVICE OR MOVEMENT AWAY FROM INSTITUTIONAL CARE TOWARDS FOSTER CARE MUST BE WELL PLANNED, GRADUAL AND CLOSELY SUPERVISED. WITH THIS IN MIND, RECRUITMENT OF FOSTER PARENTS SHOULD BE INCREASED GRADUALLY.
* THE FOCUS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE ON EXPANDING THE SERVICE FOR
NORMAL AND MILDLY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.
SMALL GROUP HOMES
* SMALL GROUP HOMES MEET THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE ABOVE THE AGE OF FOUR AND REQUIRE AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF CARE OUTSIDE THEIR OWN FAMILY MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS. THE NUMBER OF THESE HOMES SHOULD
BE INCREASED
TO CATER FOR CHILDREN REQUIRING RESIDENTIAL CARE MAINLY FOP SOCAIL OR FAMILY REASONS.
INSTITUTIONS SHOULD
BE
* AGENCIES OPERATING RESIDENTIAL
ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP SMALL GROUP HOMES AS SATELLITES ΤΟ THE PARENT INSTITUTION TO FACILITATE THE GRADUAL MOVEMENT OF CHILDREN FROM CARE IN AN INSTITUTIONAL SETTING TO CARE IN A FAMILY SETTING.
CHILDREN NEEDING