ENG-2003 — Page 239

SOCIAL WELFARE

(6.5 per cent) on services provided by the SWD. Social welfare accounted for 15.2 per cent of the total recurrent public expenditure.

Major Achievements

Strengthening Support for Families in Need

Based on the findings of the evaluative study of 15 pilot Integrated Family Service Centre (IFSC) projects which adopted the 'child-centred, family-focused and community-based' approach, a consensus was reached between the SWD and the social service sector that the IFSCS represent an effective mode of service delivery in terms of service accessibility, ability to reach out to at-risk families, partnership with community organisations and agencies, and users' participation and satisfaction. The department is poised to fully re-engineer the family services by converting Family Services Centres into IFSCs in order to better meet the changing needs of the community.

Measures to enhance the provision of timely services for individuals or families in crisis situations were also put in place. These measures include setting up a three-year pilot Suicide Crisis Intervention Centre providing round-the-clock outreaching service and intervention for those in a crisis or at high/moderate suicidal risk. In addition, a quick link has been provided between the Departmental Hotline Service Unit and the Family Crisis Support Centre. To further facilitate timely intervention in family violence cases, the department and the Hong Kong Police Force implemented a new referral procedure in January so that domestic violence cases can be brought to the department's attention for early intervention. Publicity and public education based on the central theme of Strengthening Families and Combating Violence continued during the year.

Intensifying Support for Self-reliance

Under the impact of the SARS outbreak and the continuing economic downturn, the number of unemployment cases receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) surged from 40 513 at end-2002 to 50 118 at end-2003. While the Government is committed to providing a safety net for those least able to help themselves, to ease the significant rise in CSSA unemployment cases, intensified measures were introduced to strengthen the Support for Self-reliance Scheme. Employable CSSA recipients are provided with more targeted employment assistance including direct job matching. Community work requirements have been further enhanced to help recipients develop work habits and to contribute to society. More NGOs have been commissioned to run intensive employment assistance projects. To encourage CSSA recipients to find and stay in employment and to increase the incentive to work, the maximum level of disregarded earnings under the CSSA scheme has been raised.

Re-engineering of Community Support Services for Elders

To provide greater service integration and eliminate duplication, and provide a service infrastructure that will be more responsive to the changing needs of elders, a major exercise to re-engineer community support services for elders was launched in August 2002. As a result, a range of community units was upgraded with effect from April 1, 2003 to provide expanded functions and integrated services. These units now comprise 40 District Elderly Community Centres, 110 Neighbourhood Elderly Centres and 60 district-based Integrated Home Care Services Teams.

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