XN000022-1985-04-19 — Page 15

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FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985

+THUS, SEPARATION, WHETHER TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT

SHOULD

BE A MEASURE OF LAST RESORT DICTATED ONLY BY THE INTERESTS OF THE CHILD, SHE ADDED.

REFERRING TO THE DEPARTMENT'S CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT, MRS CHAN SAID THAT IT SERVED AS THE FOCAL POINT FOR HANDLING ALL GENUINE CHILD ABUSE CASES.+

THE UNIT PROVIDES PRACTICAL HELP FOR THE FAMILY, INCLUDING ARRANGING FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT, BETTER ACCOMMODATION AND DAY CARE SERVICES FOR THE CHILDREN.

PARENTS ALSO RECEIVE INTENSIVE COUNSELLING TO IMPROVE THEIR SELF IMAGE, TO ENABLE THEM TO SET REALISTIC GOALS FOR THE IR CHILDREN AND TO COPE BETTER WITH THEIR PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES. IF NECESSARY, STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT ARE EMPOWERED TO APPLY TO THE COURTS FOR A CARE AND PROTECTION ORDER SO THAT THE ABUSED CHILD CAN RECEIVE THE BEST POSSIBLE TREATMENT.

SPEAKING OF THE DEPARTMENT'S HOTLINE, MRS CHAN SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC TO REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE CASES, THE HOTLINE WAS ALSO INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO SEEK HELP WHEN THEY FELT THEMSELVES UNABLE TO COPE.

+UNFORTUNATELY, SHE SAID, +VERY FEW CALLS TO OUR HOTLINE ARE ACTUALLY MADE BY PARENTS THEMSELVES. WE HOPE THAT MORE PARENTS AT RISK WILL MAKE USE OF THIS FACILITY. THEY CAN PE ASSURED OF PROMPT PROFESSIONAL HELP IN CONFIDENCE.+

TURNING TO ALTERNATIVE CARE FOR THE ABUSED CHILD, MRS CHAN SAID THERE WAS SOME EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT PROPERLY CONTROLLED AND SUPPORTED, RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT COULD BE BENEFICIAL BOTH TO THE CHILD AND TO THE ABUSIVE PARENTS.

IN THE LONGER TERM, AN ALTERNATIVE RESOURCE MIGHT BE TO EXPAND FOSTER CARE AND SMALL GROUP HOME SERVICES SO THAT ABUSED CHILDREN COULD BE PROVIDED WITH A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

+HOWEVER,+ SHE SAID, +BOTH THESE SERVICES ARE STILL AT AN EARLY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT AND IT WILL TAKE TIME AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO BUILD UP A POOL OF SUITABLE FOSTER PARENTS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY DEGREE OF SOCIAL WORK SUPPORT TO ENABLE FOSTER PARENTS, BIOLOGICAL PARENTS AND THE CHILD TO INTERACT AND TO DEVELOP A CO-OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP.+

MRS CHAN DISCLOSED THAT THE DEPARTMENT PLANNED TO OPEN A SECOND RECEPTION CENTRE FOR CHILDREN AT SHA KOK ESTATE IN NOVEMBER THIS YEAR.

SHE XFRESSED