XN000022-1989-04-29 — Page 2

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1989

$31 MILLION ALLOCATION FOR OUTREACHING SOCIAL SERVICES

THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO ALLOCATE MORE THAN $31 MILLION TO VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES FOR THE PROVISION OF OUTREACHING SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR. THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID THIS TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE HIN KENG CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE CUM EXTENSION OF OUTREACHING SOCIAL SERVICES MRS WONG SAID: "THERE ARE 20 OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK TEAMS IN THE TERRITORY CURRENTLY AND THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO INCREASE TWO TEAMS IN EACH OF THE CURRENT AND FORTHCOMING FINANCIAL YEAR; MAKING A TOTAL OF 24 TEAMS.

"TO ENSURE QUALITY SERVICE, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL CONDUCT AN OVERALL REVIEW LATER THIS YEAR."

SHE NOTED THAT OUTREACHING SOCIAL SERVICES WAS INTRODUCED IN 1979 AND THE SERVICES HAD BEEN DEVELOPING IN A STABLE MANNER THEREAFTER. SINCE THEN, SUCH SERVICES HAD BEEN PROVIDED BY VOLUNTARY SERVICES THROUGH GOVERNMENT FUNDING AMOUNTING TO MORE THAN $1 MILLION FOR EACH TEAM.

MRS WONG SAID: "OUTREACHING SOCIAL SERVICES IS A PREVENTIVE YOUTH SERVICE AND SOCIAL WORKERS OF THESE TEAMS HAVE TO TAKE THEIR INITIATIVE TO REACH OUT TO YOUTHS WHO ARE KNOWN TO FREQUENT THE STREETS, IN THE PLAYGROUND, GAME-CENTRES, BILLIARD ROOMS AND CAFETERIA.

"AFTER IDENTIFYING THE TARGET CLIENTS THROUGH DIRECT CONTACT, OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORKERS WILL PROVIDE COUNSELLING, GUIDANCE, AND OTHER FORMS OF SOCIAL WORK SERVICES TO YOUNG PEOPLE WITH EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL OR BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS.

"THROUGH THE PARTICIPATION OF PROPER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, YOUTHS WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO UNDESIRABLE INFLUENCES MAY GAIN SATISFACTORY PERSONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT," MRS WONG SAID.

WITH

APART FROM THE PROVISION OF PREVENTIVE SERVICES, MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT YOUTHS SERVICES COULD ALSO BE PROVIDED DEVELOPMENTAL, CARING AND REMEDIAL ESSENCE.

AND TO

CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES NOT ONLY PROVIDE RECREATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT ALSO HELP YOUTHS BE INVOLVED IN WORTHWHILE ACTIVITIES AND PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

OF INTEREST

A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES INCLUDING THE SETTING UP GROUPS, CLUB GROUPS, UNIFORMED YOUTH GROUPS, AWARD SCHEMES AND YOUTH COUNCILS, AND OTHER SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE PROVIDED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTHS.

MRS WONG