XN000022-1980-12-11 — Page 3

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1980

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SHE SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD REVIEW THE HOTLINE SERVICE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH IN THE LIGHT OF THREE MONTHS' OPERATION AND DECIDE WHETHER IT SHOULD BE MAINTAINED ON A PERMANENT BASIS.

THE HOTLINE

3-432255

IS MANNED BY ONE FULL-TIME AND

10 PART-TIME TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS FROM 9 AM TO 10 PM FROM MONDAY TO SATURDAY, AND BETWEEN 1 PM AND 10 PM ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

AFTER 10 PM, CALLS ARE RECORDED FOR FOLLOW-UP ACTION THE NEXT DAY.

ON THE PROVISION OF FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES, MRS CHAN SAID THE DEPARTMENT PLACED GREAT IMPORTANCE ON THIS PROGRAMME TO WHICH IT DEVOTED OVER 30 PER CENT OF ITS TOTAL FIELD STAFF RESOURCES.

SHE SAID FAMILY SERVICES WERE AIMED AT PRESERVING AND STRENGTHENING THE FAMILY AS A UNIT BY HELPING INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR PERSONAL OR FAMILY PROBLEMS, AND WERE PROVIDED THROUGH A NETWORK OF 19 FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

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THE MAIN FEATURES INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING FOR VARIOUS FAMILY PROBLEMS, REFERRALS FOR ASSISTANCE IN HOUSING,

JOB, SCHOOLING, MEDICAL OR INSTITUTIONAL CARE, FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION, CARE AND PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTHS, HOME HELP, AND LEGAL ADOPTION SERVICE, SHE SAID.

IN THE PAST 10 MONTHS, THE CENTRES RECEIVED NEARLY 16 000 NEW CASES REQUIRING FAMILY SERVICES, OF WHICH SOME 9 500 OR ABOUT 60 PER CENT WERE BY DIRECT APPLICATION, WHILE SOME 5 200 WERE REFERRALS,

+THE DEPARTMENT ALSO REACHES OUT TO HELP NEEDY PEOPLE, MRS CHAN ADDED.

SHE SAID THE PROBLEMS HANDLED WERE WIDE-RANGING AND MAINLY CONCERNED DIFFICULTIES IN INTER-PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP, PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH CHILDREN'S UPBRINGING AND DISCIPLINE WHICH MIGHT INVOLVE NEGLIGENCE, ABUSE AND ILL-TREATMENT OF CHILDREN, PROBLEMS ARISING FROM POOR HEALTH, DISABILITIES AND OLD AGE, AS WELL AS FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS.

AT PRESENT, SHE SAID, THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES HAVE AN ACTIVE CASELOAD OF OVER 18 000.

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