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SOCIAL WELFARE

Research and Evaluation The department's Research and Statistics Section conducts various research studies for planning and monitoring services offered by the department. Of the 19 research projects conducted in 1982, six studies involved household visits or interviews. These were the

· annual review of street sleepers; a study of the impact of family life education services; an analysis of applications under the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme (slight injury cases); an investigation into group housing among elderly people living in the private sector; a study of demand for placement of mentally handicapped persons in sheltered workshops, work activities centres or vocational training; and a study of demand by severely physically handicapped persons for care and attention services. Other studies were mainly to provide a statistical basis for the planning, monitoring and evaluation of various services, particularly in the social security field.

The department also includes an Evaluation Section which is responsible for developing, monitoring and reviewing the departmental system for the evaluation of services provided by the subvented agencies to ensure that public funds are used effectively and standards of service overall are satisfactory. In this connection, district staff of the department conduct regular visits to subvented service units or experimental projects financed from the Lotteries Fund. Summaries of reports arising from these visits are presented to the Social Welfare Advisory Committee when subvention applications are considered. In addition, the evaluation section conducts in-depth evaluations of individual welfare services, programmes and organisations. In 1982, seven such studies were conducted.

Community Building

The government has attached increasing importance in recent years to promoting com- munity building which aims at creating a cohesive and harmonious society. The need to foster community spirit and a sense of belonging is particularly evident in the large public housing estates and the fast-growing new towns of the New Territories.

The Community Building Policy Committee was formed in 1977 to draw together and co-ordinate a territory-wide network of services and facilities. At present, the City and New Territories Administration (CNTA) and the Social Welfare Department contribute directly to community building at district level. The CNTA, through its network of district offices and sub-offices spread over the territory, is primarily concerned with promoting mutual concern and a community spirit through community organisations such as mutual aid committees, owners' corporations, area committees, kaifong welfare associations, rural committees, clansmen's associations, and local arts and sports associations. The Social Welfare Department is responsible for various aspects of group and community work aimed to promote the social development of individuals and groups and to foster a greater awareness of community responsibilities. Purpose-built facilities - community centres, estate community centres and community halls are provided throughout the territory, run either by the department or by voluntary agencies with the assistance of government subvention.

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A recent review of the standard of facilities in community centres has identified a need to improve the basis for planning the provision of these centres to ensure that all sectors of the population are adequately served. It has also recommended significant improvements to the schedule of accommodation and standards of design and fitting-out of the centres. The recommendations have been endorsed by the Community Building Policy Committee and the Social Welfare Advisory Committee, and the new standards of provision will be submitted to the Executive Council for approval.