3
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1987
AT PRESENT, REFERRALS ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO THE CENTRES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, INCLUDING MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS, FAMILY CASE WORKERS, DOCTORS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES. THESE CENTRES ALSO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM PARENTS. AT THE SAME TIME, MANY OF THEM KEEP THEIR OWN WAITING LISTS WHICH MAY CONTAIN THE NAME OF THE SAME CHILD.
THIS HAS RESULTED IN A LACK OF FLEXIBILITY IN TRANSFERRING A CASE WHERE THERE IS NO VACANCY OR WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES BRACUSE THE REFERRING SOURCE IS NOT IN POSSESSION OF AN OVERALL PICTURE OF THE VACANCY SITUATION.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT THE REFERRING SOURCE OR PARENTS LOOKING FOR PLACEMENT NEED TO CONTACT A LARGE NUMBER OF CENTRES AND AGENCIES.
"THE EXACT DEMAND 19 DIFFICULT TO ASSESS BECAUSE A CHILD MAY BE PUT ON THE WAITING LISTS OF SEVERAL CENTRES, H MR REYNALDS SAID.
THESE PROBLEMS HOPEFULLY WOULD BR OVERCOME WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CO-ORDINATED REFERRAL SYSTEM, HE ADDED.
"ADDITIONALLY, THE CRS CAN ENSURE THAT THE HIGH PRIORITY AND THE MORE DIFFICULT CASES CAN BE DEALT WITH MORE EFFICIENTLY AS THERE IS A COMPLETE RECORD OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF A CHILE, AS A RESULT, HE CAN BE PLACED IN THE CENTRE THAT BEST SUITS HIS NEEDS.
"IT WILL ALSO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND CONTINUITY FROM ONE TYPE OF SERVICE TO ANOTHER AT THE APPROPRIATE AGE OR STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT AS A CHILD GROWS AND MAKES PROGRESS, HE SAID.
*
ALL THE SOURCES OF REFERRALS AND AGENCIES ASKED TO FEED THE INFORMATION ON THE CHILDREN CENTRES AND THOSE BRING WAIT-LISTED TO THE CRS.
CONCERNED HAVE BEEN ENROLLED IN THEIR
THE CHILDREN WILL THEN BR WAIT-LISTED ACCORDING TO CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND THEIR PREFERENCE OF LOCATION OF CENTRES WHICH ARE GROUPED INTO FIVE REGIONS HONG KONG ISLAND, EAST KOWLOON, WEST KOWLOON, EAST NEW TERRITORIES AND WEST NEW TERRITORIES.
-
WHEN VACANCIES BECOME AVAILABLE, APPROPRIATE CANDIDATES BE SELETED FROM THE CRS ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF WAIT-LISTING REFERRED TO THE CENTRE FOR SERVICE.
WILL AND
THOSE WHO REQUIRE ENROLMENT IN PREPARATORY CLASSES IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND INTEGRATED PROGRAMMES IN KINDERGARTENS WILL BE REFERRED TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE SERVICES.
MR REYNALDS APPEALED ΤΟ PARENTS WHO REQUIRE PLACEMENT FOR THEIR DISABLED CHILDREN TO CONTACT THE NEAREST 9WD FAMILY SERVICES CENTRE.
THERE ARE AT PRESENT 455 KARLY EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRE PLACES, 660 SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRE PLACES AND 544 INTEGRATED CHILD CARE CENTRE PLACES AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT
IS PLANNING TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 560, 732 AND 150 PLACES RESPECTIVELY WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
14