XN000022-1976-08-15 — Page 2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 1976

HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT FOR THE YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES WHO ARE EXPECTING CHILDREN,+ WE PREPARE THEM ON CHILD CARE AND GROWTH, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL SKILLS.+

+AS FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, WE ADVISE THEM ON THE WAYS OF HELPING CHILDREN TO ADJUST TO AUTHORITY AND TO DEVELOP A POSITIVE SCHOOL-HOME RELATIONSHIP, HE CONTINUED. +OUR STAFF ALSO HELP TO BRIDGE THE GENERATION GAP, ENABLE PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES AND THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN, AND EDUCATE THEM TO BE LESS HARSH ON THE YOUNG ONES.+

TURNING TO THOSE WHO HAVE ADOLESCENTS IN THE FAMILY, MR. SWEETMAN SAID THAT THE SOCIAL WORKERS WILL ADVISE THEM TO RECOGNISE THE DESIRE OF YOUNG PEOPLE FOR INDEPENDENCE AND AT THE SAME TIME CRAVING FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.

+FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE THEMSELVES, WE GIVE GUIDANCE TO THEM

ON THE SELECTION OF SCHOOLS, CAREER AND MARRIAGE.

+AND FINALLY, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEREAVEMENT IN THE FAMILY, OR WHO BECOME WIDOWED, HANDICAPPED, OR AGED, WE GUIDE THEM TO DEAL WITH PAINFUL EMOTIONAL SHOCK, HE ADDED.

AT PRESENT. SERVICE OF THIS NATURE IS UNDERTAKEN THROUGH INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING TO PARENTS AND CHILDREN AND POSSIBLY TO OTHER MEMBERS IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD OR THROUGH SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICE IN WHICH DIRECT COUNSELLING AND SERVICES ARE EXTENDED TO THE PUPIL HIMSELF AND VERY OFTEN TO PARENTS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.

FURTHERMORE, MR. SWEETMAN CONTINUED, THE COMMUNITY CENTRES IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN ORGANISING GUIDANCE PROJECTS FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS AND THEIR PARENTS IN THE SUMMER TO PREPARE THE STUDENTS IN THEIR FURTHER STUDIES AND TO HELP THEM CHOOSE A JOB.

TO EXPAND AND DEVELOP THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMME, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS TO ADOPT THE GROUP DISCUSSION APPROACH BY ORGANISING TALKS, SEMINARS AND FORUMS ON A LARGE SCALE.

MR. SWEETMAN SAID THE ADVANTAGE THAT THE GROUP DISCUSSION APPROACH HAD OVER THE CASEWORK APPROACH WAS THAT PARTICIPANTS COULD SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE, HELP SOLVE EACH OTHER'S PROBLEMS AND SPREAD THE KNOWLEDGE OF A HEALTHY FAMILY LIFE AMONG THEMSELVES.

THE GROUP DISCUSSION APPROACH TO PROMOTE THE NEW PROGRAMME WILL BE AIMED AT CONTACTING:-

1) PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE UNDER INSTITUTIONAL CARE OR

IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS-

II) SCHOOLS, BY EXPANDING SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK-

111) CHURCH GROUPS- AND

IV) THE COMMUNITY THROUGH COMMITTEES ORGANISED AT DISTRICT

LEVEL.

L

/+A LONG-TERM