Social Welfare ❘ 199
The probation service helped 14 224 ex-offenders during the year. Probation officers assess and report to the courts on ex-offenders' suitability for Probation Orders, and continue to supervise them while they are under those orders. The officers also prepare reports on long-term prisoners and petitioners for consideration of early release.
During the year, 3 074 people aged 14 or above who were convicted of offences punishable by imprisonment were placed on Community Service Orders. They were required to perform unpaid community work arranged and supervised by SWD officers. The newly built Tuen Mun Children and Juvenile Home, with 388 places, commenced operation in the year, providing educational, prevocational and character training to juvenile offenders and children and young people with behavioural and/or family problems.
The Young Offender Assessment Panel, jointly run by the Correctional Services Department (CSD) and the SWD, provides the courts with professional views on sentencing options for offenders aged between 14 and 24. The Post-Release Supervision of Prisoners Scheme, another joint service of the SWD and the CSD, assisted 985 discharged prisoners during their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community in 2007. An NGO is being given subvention to provide hostel and supportive services to ex-offenders.
Services for Young People
The overall aim of welfare services for young people is to help those aged between six and 24 to become mature, responsible and contributing members of society. A range of preventive, supportive and remedial services is provided by NGOs to help bring this about.
At year-end, there were 134 Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres (ICYSCs) providing children and youth centre service, outreach social work service and school social work service under one management to address the changing needs of young people in an integrated and holistic manner. Eighteen ICYSCs also provide what is called 'overnight outreaching service' to help young night drifters get back on the right track. With funds from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Lotteries Fund, five ICYSCs were able to modernise their premises with trendy furniture and equipment that better cater to the needs of today's young people in the last batch of modernisation programme.
At year-end, 490 secondary schools were each provided with a school social worker to help students with academic, social and emotional problems and to maximise their educational opportunities. Sixteen District Youth Outreaching Social Work Teams provided services to high-risk youths and dealt with juvenile gang issues.
A total of 230 secondary schools joined the Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes (PATHS) to Adulthood, A Jockey Club Youth Enhancement Scheme in the 2007-08 school year. The four-year project funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, was launched in the 2005-06 school year and aims to
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