ENG-2010 — Page 258

208 | Social Welfare

The Family Conference Scheme, run jointly by the SWD and the Hong Kong Police Force, assists juveniles cautioned under the Police Superintendent's Discretion Scheme for the second time or who are in need of the services of three or more parties. Social workers, police officers, teachers and the parents of these young people work together to decide which treatment is best for them.

Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services

At year-end, the SWD was subventing 14 residential Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres and Halfway Houses, 11 Counselling Centres for Psychotropic Substance Abusers and two social clubs for drug abusers, ex-drug abusers and their family members. Under the Drug Dependent Persons Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres (Licensing) Ordinance, 21 certificates of exemption and 19 licences for Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres were issued or renewed in 2010.

School Social Work Service

At year-end, 482 secondary schools were each provided with a stationing school social worker to help students with academic, social and emotional problems and to maximise their educational opportunities.

P.A.T.H.S. to Adulthood: A Jockey Club Youth Enhancement Scheme

In the 2010-11 school year, a total of 236 secondary schools joined the Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes (PATHS) to Adulthood project. This time-limited project funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities. Trust was launched in the 2005-06 school year. It aims to promote the holistic development of junior secondary students into responsible young adults.

District Support Scheme for Children and Youth Development

Since the 2005-06 financial year, the SWD has received a recurrent annual provision of $15 million to provide direct cash assistance and implement projects. under the District Support Scheme for Children and Youth Development. The Scheme was launched to address the developmental needs of disadvantaged children and young people, which cannot be met by their families or the mainstream education systems.

Support Service to Youth Employment

In 2010, subvented welfare NGOs continued to make use of the 3 000 time- limited programme worker posts allocated to them to employ needy young people to assist social workers in delivering service-related programmes in order to gain working experience.

Child Development Fund

In 2008, the Government set up the $300 million Child Development Fund (CDF) to provide children from a disadvantaged background with more personal development opportunities, so as to reduce inter-generational poverty. CDF projects help participants draw up and implement their own development plans as well as develop an asset-building habit, thus preparing them for long-term development.