ENG-2000 — Page 241

SOCIAL WELFARE

A wide range of child welfare services is provided by the SWD. The adoption service arranges permanent homes for children in need. The child protection service provides early intervention and intensive services for abused children and their families. The child custody service provides social investigation and casework service for the children who are affected by the separation or divorce of their parents. The mediation service assists the divorcing couples in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement on their children and other arrangements. Residential child care services are provided for children and young people who need care or protection because of family crises or their behavioural or emotional problems. At the end of 2000, there were 580 places in foster care service, 904 places in small group homes and 1 424 places in children's homes, boys' and girls' homes and hostels.

Child care centres provide day care services for children under the age of six. At the end of 2000, there were 28 311 aided/government day nursery places, 1 161 aided day creche places, 717 occasional child care places and 210 extended hours places provided in 265 centres. All child care centres have to register under the Child Care Services Ordinance and Regulations. The fee assistance scheme helps low-income families with social needs to pay child care centre fees.

Medical Social Services

Medical social workers provide patients and their families with individual and group counselling, financial aid, housing assistance or referral to other community resources to facilitate their treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration into the society. To provide easy access to patients and their family members, medical social workers are stationed in public hospitals and specialist clinics so that immediate advice and assistance can be rendered to those in need. Medical social workers also contribute and assist in the teaching of student-professionals in medicine, nursing, social work and other allied health professions on the social and psychological implications of illness and disabilities. In 2000, 260 000 cases received services from 385 medical social workers.

Care for the Elders

The basic principle underlying services for the elders is to provide senior citizens with a sense of security, a sense of belonging and a feeling of health and worthiness. According to the policy of ‘ageing in place', services for the elders are provided with the objectives to promote the well-being of those persons aged 60 and over in all aspects of their life.

Community support services are provided to elders who require assistance to continue living at home. These services also give support to their carers. At the end of the year, there were 34 multi-service centres for elders, 138 home help teams, 25 home care teams, 25 meal teams, 34 day-care centres for elders, two carers' support centres, 213 independent social centres for elders, 34 support teams for elders, one holiday centre for elders and one outdoor/recreational pool bus service for elders. Under the Senior Citizen Card Scheme, about 660 000 Senior Citizen Cards were issued by the end of 2000. A total of 4 270 companies, organisations, government departments (with 7 110 units and outlets) and 1 170 medical units (with 1 340 branches) participated in the scheme to provide concessions, discounts and priority services to senior citizens.

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