ENG-2005 — Page 249

Social Welfare | 207

to perform unpaid community work. During the year, 1 674 offenders were put under such orders.

Six residential homes, with a total capacity of 380 places, provide educational, prevocational and character training for juvenile offenders as well as children and young persons with behavioural or family problems.

The Young Offender Assessment Panel, jointly operated by the SWD and the Correctional Services Department (CSD), provides the courts with coordinated professional views on sentencing options for offenders aged 14 to 24. The Post- Release Supervision of Prisoners Scheme, another joint service of the SWD and the CSD, assists discharged prisoners in their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. During the year, 475 ex-prisoners were placed under supervision. One NGO is subvented to provide hostel and supportive services for ex-offenders.

Services for Young People

The overall objective of welfare services for young people is to help those aged between six and 24 develop into mature, responsible and contributing members of society through a range of preventive, supportive and remedial services.

At year-end, 133 Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres were providing children and youth centre services, outreach social work services, school social work services and, where possible, family life education under one management to address the changing needs of young people in an integrated and holistic manner. Eighteen of the centres with additional resources also provided overnight outreach services to address the needs of young night drifters. With joint funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Lotteries Fund, the third phase of the modernisation programme of integrated children and youth services centres was launched during the year to improve the physical environment and provide modern. furniture and equipment designed to be more appealing to contemporary youngsters.

By the end of the year, 489 secondary schools were each provided with a school social worker to identify and help students with academic, social and emotional problems, maximise their educational opportunities, develop their potential and prepare them for responsible adulthood. Sixteen District Youth Outreaching Social Work Teams provided services to address the needs of high-risk youths and deal with juvenile gang issues.

To promote the holistic development of adolescents into responsible young adults, a four-year project funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, P.A.T.H.S. to Adulthood: A Jockey Club Youth Enhancement Scheme, was launched in 52 secondary schools in the 2005-06 school year. After an initial experimental phase, the $400 million scheme will be implemented in full in the 2006-07 school year.

The Community Support Services Scheme (CSSS) assists young people who have broken the law or are at risk. During the year, six CSSS teams, one operated by the department and five by NGOs, provided services to the targeted clientele.