198 | Social Welfare
work in the open market were accommodated in sheltered workshops where 5 113 places were provided. There was also a total of 453 places in integrated vocational training centres and 3 685 places in integrated vocational rehabilitation services. centres.
To improve employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, funding was allocated to 23 NGOs to enable them to set up 57 small businesses providing jobs for 476 such persons. In tandem, the Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) assisted vocational rehabilitation services units to develop their marketing and business strategies and employment-aided services.
Day activity centres provided 4 485 places where persons with intellectual disability were trained on independent living skills. A total of 230 places were also provided in training and activity centres to help former mentally ill patients adjust to normal daily life.
There were 7 191 places in hostels and care homes providing residential care services for persons with disabilities who were unable to live independently in the community, or whose families could not care for them adequately. Elderly blind persons were provided with 825 places in care homes. For discharged mental patients, 1 509 places were provided in halfway houses and 1 407 in long-stay care homes.
Services for Persons with Mental Health Problems
The first Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness (ICCMW) in Tin Shui Wai started operation in March 2009 to provide one-stop, accessible and integrated community mental health support services to discharged mental patients, persons with suspected mental health problems, their families and carers and residents living in the district. The Government will expand this integrated service model across the territory by revamping the existing community mental health support services through the setting up of ICCMW in all 18 districts in the coming year.
Professional Back-up and Support Services
Support services provided by clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists are available to persons with disabilities in rehabilitation day centres and hostels. A speech therapy service is also available to children attending pre- school rehabilitation centres.
A range of community support services is available for persons with disabilities and their families and carers including former mentally ill patients, living in the community. These included district support centres for persons with disabilities, community mental health links, community mental health care services, community rehabilitation day services, after-care services for people discharged from halfway houses, community mental health intervention projects, integrated community centres for mental wellness, and rehabilitation services for persons with visceral disability or chronic illnesses.
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