XN000022-1976-12-28 — Page 7

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1976

DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE BAD NEWS

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BAD NEWS IS THE THING TO LOOK FOR WHEN SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICERS READ THEIR NEWSPAPERS EVERY MORNING.

THEY DO SO NOT BECAUSE THEY LIKE READING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S MISFORTUNES, BUT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO TRY, IF POSSIBLE, TO TAKE AWAY PART OF THE STING FROM THESE TRAGEDIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

+ IN THESE DAYS OF FAST COMMUNICATIONS, THE NEWS MEDIA HAVE LONG BECOME OUR QUICKEST SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON INDIVIDUAL CASES OF HUMAN TRAGEDY, + A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

+THE FAMILIES OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY ACCIDENTS OR OTHER MISFORTUNES ARE OFTEN TOO OVERCOME BY GRIEF TO THINK ABOUT THE IR FUTURE NEEDS, AND THIS IS WHY AN EARLY APPROACH BY STAFF OF OUR DEPARTMENT TO OFFER THEM ASSISTANCE IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE, HE SAID.

EVERY MORNING, DIVISION HEADS AND SUPERVISORS OF FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES AND FIELD UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT SCAN THROUGH NEWSPAPERS TO LOOK FOR REPORTS OF ACCIDENTS, SUICIDES, OR CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY WHERE IT IS APPARENT THAT THESE INCIDENTS WILL BRING HARDSHIP TO INNOCENT VICTIMS.

ONCE THESE CASES ARE IDENTIFIED, CASE WORKERS ARE IMMEDIATELY SENT OUT TO CONTACT THE VICTIMS' FAMÍLIES TO FIND OUT THEIR NEEDS AND OFFER APPROPRIATE HELP.

+ THE MOST COMMON KIND OF HELP IS THE ALLOCATION OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WHERE A FAMILY'S BREADWINNER, ESPECIALLY THE SOLE BREADWINNER, IS KILLED OR INCAPACITATED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+BURIAL GRANTS OF UP TO $600 EACH CAN ALSO BE QUICKLY ARRANGED IF THE FAMILY IS IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES,+ HE POINTED OUT.

IF THE PERSON IS KILLED OR INJURED WHILE TRYING TO UPHOLD THE LAW, FURTHER CASH GRANTS CAN BE ARRANGED UNDER THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME.

WHERE A PERSON'S DEATH LEAVES BEHIND HOUSING PROBLEMS FOR HIS DEPENDENTS, FOR INSTANCE WHEN THE ACCOMMODATION WAS PROVIDED BY THE VICTIM'S EMPLOYER AND DEPENDING ON OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FAMILY, CASE WORKERS CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT FOR THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC HOUSING ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS.

/IN CASES