ENG-2009 — Page 259

Social Welfare 1 199

Residential respite services for persons with disabilities, occasional childcare service for pre-schoolers with disabilities and six resource centres for parents and relatives are also available. In addition, there were five social clubs for ex-mentally ill persons and 16 social and recreational centres for persons with other disabilities to encourage them to participate in community leisure activities.

Preparation Work for New Legislation to Regulate Residential Care Homes for Persons with Disabilities (RCHDs)

In preparation for a licensing scheme to regulate the operation of residential care homes for RCHDs, the Government will formulate suitable complementary measures, such as a pilot Bought Place Scheme for private RCHDs to encourage them to upgrade their service standards, to increase the supply of subsidised residential care places, thereby shortening the waiting time for subsidised residential service; and to help the market develop more service options for persons with disabilities.

Financial Assistance for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Patients

The SWD administers the trust fund for SARS patients or families affected by this disease. The trust fund for SARS stopped accepting new applications on January 1, 2006. A total of 890 applications were approved, the cumulative payments for which had amounted to over $173 million by the end of the year.

Medical Social Services

Medical social workers are stationed in public hospitals and some specialist clinics to help patients and their families with welfare needs. Such patients are given counselling, financial and other tangible assistance, as well as referrals to rehabilitation and support services to help them recover and reintegrate into society. During the year, additional medical social workers were provided to enhance services for persons with mental health problems and chronic patients, and medical social workers dealt with around 177 800 cases.

Services for Offenders

Under related ordinances, the SWD discharges statutory functions and provides. community-based and residential services to help people who have committed crimes reintegrate into the community and become law-abiding citizens.

The probation service helped 6 378 offenders during the year. Probation officers assess and report to the courts on an offender's suitability for probation orders, and render supervision to those under the orders. The officers also prepare reports on long-term prisoners and petitioners for consideration for early release.

Based on the recommendation of the Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse, a two- year Pilot Project on Enhanced Probation Service was introduced at Kowloon City and Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts in October to provide more focused, structured and intensive treatment programmes for convicted young drug offenders aged below 21.