ENG-2014 — Page 220

10

Social Welfare

discharged prisoners to rehabilitate and reintegrate into the community during the year. The SWD funds an NGO to offer hostel and supportive services to ex-offenders.

Services for Young People

The objective of welfare services for young people is to help those aged between six and 24 become mature, responsible and contributing members of society. NGOs provide a range of preventive, supportive and remedial services to achieve this goal.

Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres

At year-end, there were 138 Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres (ICYSCs), providing centre-based services, outreach services and school social work services to address young persons' developmental needs.

Outreaching Services

The 19 youth outreaching teams provide services for high-risk youths and deal with juvenile gang issues. Eighteen designated ICYSCS provide outreaching services at night to help youths who loiter at neighbourhood black-spots get back on the right track.

Services for Juvenile Delinquents

Five Community Support Service Scheme teams operated by NGOS assist young persons who are subject to the Police Superintendent's Discretion Scheme (PSDS). The Family Conference Scheme, run jointly by the SWD and the police, assists juveniles cautioned under the PSDS for the second time or in need of the services of three or more parties. Social workers, police officers, teachers and the young persons' parents work together to decide what is best for them.

Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services

At year-end, the SWD was subventing 13 residential drug treatment and rehabilitation centres and halfway houses, 11 counselling centres for psychotropic substance abusers and two centres for drug counselling. In 2014, 24 licences and 15 certificates of exemption for residential drug treatment and rehabilitation centres and halfway houses were issued or renewed under the Drug Dependent Persons Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres (Licensing) Ordinance.

School Social Work Services

At year-end, 564 school social workers were provided for 468 secondary schools to help students with academic, social and emotional problems and to maximise their educational opportunities.

PATHS to Adulthood: A Jockey Club Youth Enhancement Scheme

The second batch of the Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes to Adulthood (PATHS to Adulthood): A Jockey Club Community-Based Youth Enhancement Programme, a three-year project funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust launched in August, promotes the holistic development of junior secondary students into responsible young adults.

172