ENG-2000 — Page 244

SOCIAL WELFARE

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residential places) and 1 615 early education and training centre places for pre-school disabled children. For autistic children, an enhanced training programme with input from clinical psychologists was provided in special child care centres. In addition, there were 96 small group home places for school-age mentally handicapped children requiring residential service.

Services for Adults with Disabilities

With a view to promoting integration of people with disabilities into society, 1 280 supported employment places were provided for those who could manage to work in open settings with necessary counselling and support service. For those who were not yet ready to compete in the open job market, there were 6 795 sheltered workshop places to help develop their work skills. Besides, there were 3 526 day activity centre places for severely mentally handicapped persons and 180 training and activity centre places for discharged mental patients to help them become more independent in daily living. Four social clubs for ex-mentally ill persons and 18 social and recreational centres for other groups of people with disabilities were set up to encourage their active participation in the community through various kinds of leisure activities.

As for residential services, there were 4 795 hostel places, 17 supported housing places and 154 supported hostel places for people with disabilities who could neither live independently nor be adequately cared for by their families, or who lived in areas too remote from their places of training or employment. For aged blind people who were unable to look after themselves adequately, or in need of care and attention, 965 places were provided in homes and care-and-attention homes. For chronic and discharged mental patients, there were 570 long-stay care home places and 1 307 halfway house places.

Professional Back-up and Support Services

Apart from professional back-up from clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists for people with disabilities in rehabilitation day centres and hostels, support services such as home-based training for mentally handicapped persons, after-care service for dischargees of halfway houses, domiciliary occupational therapy service, and the community rehabilitation network for persons with visceral disability or chronic illness were provided in the community. Furthermore, respite service for mentally handicapped persons, occasional child care service for disabled pre-schoolers and six parents resource centres were provided to meet the special needs of families with disabled members.

Staff Training and Development

The SWD's Lady Trench Training Centre organised 515 in-service training programmes for a total of 24 021 staff of the department and NGOs. In addition to promoting a self-learning culture in the department, the centre also developed cyber- learning in 2000.

Research and Statistics

The SWD conducts surveys and research studies, develops and maintains data systems and undertakes statistical compilation and estimation for the monitoring, planning, development and review of social welfare services. Major studies and surveys completed include the Study of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance