XN000022-1991-10-16 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1991

SWD ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO MEDIA REPORTS

THE SOCIAL WELFARE

DEPARTMENT (SWD) CLOSELY MONITORS PRESS REPORTS ON HARDSHIP CASES EVERYDAY,

A SWD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THIS JOB IS DONE BY THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT AND OFFICERS OF SERVICE UNITS.

THEY PAY ATTENTION TO REPORTS ON BOTH MAJOR AND MINOR HARDSHIP

INCIDENTS.

"INFORMATION OFFICERS OF THE PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT BEGIN THEIR DAILY WORK BY GOING THROUGH MAJOR NEWSPAPERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

TE

THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATION NETWORK, THEY WILL PROMPTLY INFORM SUBJECT OFFICERS OF THE RELEVANT SUB-OFFICES IF FOLLOW-UP WORK IS REQUIRED.

OVER THE YEARS, THE SWD HAD COME TO THE RESCUE OF A BIG NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS AND) FAMILIES AFTER THEIR ('ASES WERE EXPOSED BY

NEWSPAPERS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE DAILY NEWSPAPER SCANNING, COUPLED WITH THE WELL-ESTABLISHED SOCIAL WELFARE NETWORK, ENABLEI SWD SOCIAL WORKERS TO RENDER TIMELY SERVICES TO THE NEEDY.

THE SWD HAS 34 SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS AND 30 FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES STRATEGICALLY LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

"WHILE THE MAJORITY OF SWD SERVICE RECIPIENTS APPROACH THESE OFFICES FOR ASSISTANCE, SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICIALS ALSO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO LOCATE, APPROACH AND OUT-REACH THE NEEDY ΤΟ RENDER APPROPRIATE SERVICES, HE NOTED.

It

REFERRALS FROM THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA REPORTS ALSO RESULTED IN BE TIMELY PROVISION OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES TO THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT KNOWN TO THE SWD FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, HE ADDED.

THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLIC RELATIONS SECTION HANDLES AN AVERAGE

OF 800 PRESS AND PUBLIC ENQUIRIES PER MONTH.

THE SPOKESMAN COMMENDED THE MASS MEDIA AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR REFERRING CASES WHICH THEY ACTION OR ASSISTANCE MAY REQUIRE.

CIVIC-MINDED CONSIDER SWD

"WE HAVE BEEN ATTACHING GREAT IMPORTANCE TO MEDIA REPORTS AS IT ENABLES SWD SOCIAL WORKERS TO RENDER SERVICES AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF TRAGEDIES AND DISASTERS, THE SPOKESMAN

SAID.

SWD, WITH AN ESTABLISHMENT OF 4,000 WORKERS, SOCIAL SECURITY STAFF, INFORMATION AND SUPPORTING STAFF.

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STAFF, COMPRISES SOCIAL OFFICERS, GENERAL GRADE

IT PROVIDES A TOTAL OF 64 TYPES OF SERVICES, INCLUDING FAMILY WELFARE, CHILD CARE, SOCIAL SECURITY AND REHABILITATION SERVICES.

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