SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1989
THAT
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SHE WAS TOLD
COMPLETE SELF-CONTROL, WITH THE RESULT THAT HE SELDOM MANAGED TO SCHOOL WORK BEFORE HE SLEPT. WHEN THE FATHER DISCOVERED THIS ON RETURN FROM WORK, THE BOY WOULD BE PUNISHED.
THE BOY WAS NAUGHTY AND LACKING
IN
HIS
HIS
AFTER A PRELIMINARY UNDERSTANDING, VERONICA FORMED THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS WAS MORE A CHILD DISCIPLINE CASE. BEING SATISFIED THAT THE BOY WAS NOT EXPOSED TO IMMEDIATE RISK, SHE DECIDED TO RETURN AGAIN FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION. A MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BOY MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO CONFIRM HER BELIEF.
REGIONAL
COMMENTING ON THE ABOVE CASE, THE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICER (HONG KONG), MR KWOK NAI-SIK, SAID THAT IT WAS ONE OF SOME
SERVICES 4,000 NEW CASES HANDLED BY THE FIVE FAMILY
CENTRES IN THE DEPARTMENT'S HONG KONG REGION LAST YEAR.
HE SAID THE MAJORITY OF CASES DEALT WITH BY THE FIVE FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES DURING THE YEAR WERE DIRECT APPLICATIONS FOR SERVICES. THE REST WERE EITHER REFERRED THROUGH VARIOUS SOURCES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA REPORTS.
WHILE SOME CASES COULD BE DEALT WITH SPEEDILY BY THE INTAKE CASEWORKER, SOME, SUCH AS THE ONE HANDLED BY VERONICA, WOULD REQUIRE A HIGH LEVEL OF INTERVENTION SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE.
"A CASEWORKER HAS TO OVERCOME THE INITIAL RESISTANCE OF THE CLIENTS WHO HAVE NOT CALLED FOR THE KWOK POINTED OUT.
SUSPICIONS AND SERVICES, MR
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"SHE HAS TO EXERCISE PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE IN WINNING THE TRUST OF THE CLIENTS WITHIN A SHORT TIME SPAN.
SUPPORT AND SERVICES
"SHE HAS TO BE RESOURCEFUL IN ENLISTING AFTER OFFICE HOURS. AND, OF COURSE, SHE HAS TO BE PROFESSIONALLY COMPETENT AND INDEPENDENT IN HANDLING CRISES ON HER OWN.'
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MR KWOK EXPLAINED THAT THE FAMILY SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT AIMED AT PRESERVING AND STRENGTHENING THE FAMILY UNIT. THIS INVOLVED HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO PREVENT SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND CRISES FROM ARISING.
"IF PROBLEMS HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED TO THE EXTENT WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY CANNOT COPE WITHIN ITS OWN RESOURCES, PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD BE APPROACHED FOR COUNSELLING OR OTHER PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE.
ADDED.
"REMEMBER, BARLY INTERVENTION IS ALWAYS THE
STRATEGY, HE
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