XN000022-1990-06-15 — Page 9

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FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1990

CHILD WELFARE SERVICES:

MEMBERS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE THAT A MORE FLEXIBLE POLICY FOR THE PROVISION OF DAY CRECHE SERVICE MIGHT NOW BE NECESSARY, EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO SET UP DAY CRECHES IN NEW TOWNS FOR SOCIAL NEED CASES. THESE ARE AT PRESENT NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE DECISION TO FREEZE DAY CRECHE PLACES SINCE 1979.

WORK-BASED CHILD CARE CENTRES SHOULD BE FURTHER EXPLORED AND IMPLEMENTED. IN THE PROVISION OF CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR THE WORKFORCE, THE INVOLVEMENT OF EMPLOYERS AND INDUSTRIALISTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED.

THEIR INVOLVEMENT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD, INDICATING RECOGNITION OF SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE IR EMPLOYEES, AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS TO SOCIETY IN GENERAL AND TO THE WORKFORCE IN PARTICULAR.

A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT LIAISON OFFICE SHOULD BE GIVEN A TRIAL IN THE SURPREME COURT PREMISES WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF SERVING THE FAMILY COURT.

THIS WOULD ASSIST THE JUDICIARY IN CHANNELLING ENQUIRIES ON FAMILY MATTERS, MAKE ENQUIRIES CONCERNING WELFARE SERVICES AND HANDLING PROCEDURES, AND PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION.

CONSIDERATION SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN то MAKING REFERRALS FOR FAMILY COUNSELLING TO FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

ON LEGAL PROVISIONS IN RESPECT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, MEMBERS RECOMMENDED THAT THE EXISTING PUBLICITY MEASURES SHOULD BE CONTINUED AND THAT THE GROUP WORK APPROACH BE EMPLOYED TO HELP BOTH THE ABUSED AND THE ABUSERS.

SINCE THE TENDENCY

OF LEAVING CHILDREN UNATTENDED . WAS APPARENTLY ON THE INCREASE, THE WORKING PARTY CONSIDERED THAT PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION AGAINST LEAVING CHILDREN UNATTENDED WERE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN LEGISLATION.

THE

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SHOULD CONSIDER THE DESIRABILITY OF MERGING THE ADOPTION UNIT WITH THE FOSTER CARE UNIT. ADVANTAGE OF SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WOULD BE EXAMINED IN THE FUTURE.

RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE:

THE REVISED PRINCIPLES FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE FAMILY AND RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SERVICES ARE:

THE FIRST OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE AND DESIRABLE FOR THE CHILD TO REMAIN WITH HIS OR HER OWN FAMILY;

FOR

YOUNGER

A FAMILY SETTING MEETS THE NEEDS OF A CHILD IN CARE BETTER THAN AN INSTITUTIONAL SETTING AND PARTICULARLY CHILDREN;

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