THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1993
CS BRIEFED ON CHILD WELFARE SERVICES
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, THIS (THURSDAY} AFTERNOON INSPECTED CHILD WELFARE SERVICES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
SIR DAVID WAS GREETED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR IAN STRACHAN, AT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S HONG HONG REGIONAL OFFICE IN THE HARBOUR BUILDING, CENTRAL.
HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE SERVICES OF ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE SMALL GROUP HOMES AND THE DEPARTMENT'S PROGRAMME TO MOVE CHILDREN FROM AND
LARGE INSTITUTIONS TO NON-INSTITUTIONAL CARE.
"WE HAVE STREAMLINED OUR ADOPTION PROCESS AND AS A RESULT CHILDREN CAN BE PLACED INTO ADOPTIVE HOMES MUCH EARLIER. WE ALSO EXPAND FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT AND SMALL GROUP HOMES, MR STRACHAN SAID.
SIR DAVID WAS TOLD THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILDREN GROWING UP IN FAMILY-LIKE SETTING FOR THEIR NORMAL DEVELOPMENT.
FOSTER CARE IS A FORM OF NON-INSTITUTIONAL RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SERVICE WHICH AIMS TO PROVIDE A TEMPORARY ALTERNATIVE FAMILY FOR ORPHANS OR CHILDREN WHO LACK ADEQUATE FAMILY CARE BECAUSE OF NEGLECT, ILLNESS OF PARENTS OR OTHER SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
"WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR FOSTER PARENTS. THROUGH FOSTERING, CHILDREN CAN GROW UNDER A PROPER FAMILY SETTING AND ENJOY HAPPY CHILDHOOD. FOSTER PARENTS CAN, ON THE OTHER HAND, GAIN SATISFACTION THROUGH SERVING THE COMMUNITY,' MR STRACHAN SAID,
"
THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN APPEALING TO ELIGIBLE COUPLES TO JOIN THE FOSTER PARENTS TEAM BY HOLDING EXHIBITIONS AND SEMINARS TO PUBLICISE THE SERVICE, HE ADDED.
SMALL GROUP HOME IS A TYPE OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDED IN A FAMILY SETTING FOR A GROUP OF EIGHT CHILDREN UNDER THE CARE OF HOUSE-PARENTS TO HELP THEM GROW IN A NORMAL ATMOSPHERE.
THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH FIVE FOSTER CARE AGENCIES AND PROVIDING A TOTAL OF 360 PLACES. THE NUMBER WILL GROW TO REACH 600 BY 1996/97.
FOUR AGENCIES ARE NOW PROVIDING 23 SMALL GROUP HOME UNITS 184 CHILDREN. THE NUMBER OF HOME UNITS WILL BE BOOSTED TO PROVIDING 640 PLACES IN FOUR YEARS' TIME.
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WHILE DISCUSSING WITH THE SWD STAFF MEMBERS ON THE PROGRESS THEIR WORK ON CHILD WELFARE SERVICES, SIR DAVID TOLD MR STRACHAN THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY ON CHILDREN WELFARE IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND HE
FULLY SUPPORTED THE PROVISION OF NON-INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR THOSE CHILDREN IN NEED.
LATER IN THE AFTERNOON THE CHIEF SECRETARY VISITED PO LEUNG KUK'S FUNG TAK SMALL GROUP HOME IN WONG TA] SIN ΤΟ SEE FOR HIMSELF HOW THIS FORM OF NON-INSTITUTIONAL CARE ALLOW NORMAL UPBRINGING FOR CHILDREN IN A FAMILY-LIKE SETTING.
SIR DAVID ALSO PRAISED THE STAFF THERE FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
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