2004/05

Transcription

2004/05

Contents
THE AGENCY
Our Mission, Belief and Vision
Our Mission
• Advocate for a holistic child policy
• Provide quality pr evention through community
education & professional training
• Provide professional child protection services to children
& families
• To advance child pr otection development through
innovative projects
Our Belief
We b e l i eve t h a t c h i l d r e n ’ s s u r v i va l , p ro t e c t i o n a n d
development should be given priority, their views should
be heard and given due weight. In the a pplication of
these principles, children of every race, creed and color
should be given equal treatment.
Our Vision
ACA aspiring to be a leading organization in child protection,
will cultivate a nurturing & car ing non-violent environment
for the optimal growth of children.
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2004-2005 annual report
Organization Chart
Members’ General Meeting
Executive Committee
Director
Supervisor
Administration Manager
Chuk Yuen Centre
Tuen Mun Centre
Social Workers
Social Workers
Administration Staff
Administration Staff
Scope of Supervision
Supervisor
Administration Manager
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THE AGENCY
Roles & Strategies
Roles
A Child
A Counsellor
An Educator &
A Child
Protection Agent
& A Therapist
A Trainer
Advocate
Hotline Service
Public Education
Work with the Media
Investigation
Community Empowerment
Criticism & Response
Casework & Counselling
Service
Volunteer Participation
Committees & Working
Groups
Training & Sharing
Groupwork Service
Publications / Website
Information
Training Manuals / Audiovisual Material
Research
Partnership with Overseas
Organizations
Services & Strategies
Multidisciplinary Coordination & Collaboration
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Five Year Highlight
4 attempts with
118 letters sent
out
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THE AGENCY
Significant Events 2004/2005
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THE AGENCY
Significant Events 2004/2005
1. Special Programmes
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The Child Councilor Programme
Parent Education Programme: Good Mother
Networking Project
Healthy Start Home Visiting Programme
Project Teens
Stop Family Violence: Give Children Back Their
Childhood
Young Explorer in Body Safety and IT Learning
Cyber Project
Certificate Course on Child Protection and Child
Sexual Abuse
Tuen Mun Centre Open Day
Mother’s Day Event in Chuk Yuen, Wong Tai Sin
Father’s Day Event in Lung Cheng Mall, Wong Tai Sin
2. Surveys
2.1 “Exploring the Impacts of Online Activities on Junior Secondary School Students” by ACA
2.2 Survey Report on “Stop Family Violence - Give Children Back Their Childhood” by ACA
2.3 Joined the HKCSS NGO Sur vey on needs after expiry of the Tide Over Grant
3. Responding to Domestic Violence & Homicide Case - Tin Shui Wai four
members fatal case, Advocacy on Zero Tolerance of Violence
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Met with Legislative Council Mrs. Selina Chow, also our advisor
Met with Dr Law Chi Kwong and an alliance under the Hong Kong Council of Social Service
Attended and made submission in Home Affairs and Welfare Panel
Participated in Committee on Child Abuse
Presented the ACA stance to the 3 Persons Review Committee on Child Abuse and
Domestic Violence
Presented a pa per to the Senior Prosecutors on Child Abuse: Challenge for Law
Enforcement
Participated in the Tea Gathering invited by Dr E K Yeoh, the Secretary for Health, Welfare
and Food
Served on SWD Task Force on the Review of the Child Abuse Handling Procedure
Advocated for Head Start and Home Visitation in a Focal group with Dr Philemon Choi
and Dr Shirley Leung
4. Holding 5 Press Conferences
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Press Conference on Responding to the Tin Shui Wai Tragic Case
Press Conference to release findings on Positive Life Value
Press Conference on 25th Anniversary Programme in Metropolis Mall
Press Conference on World Prevention of Child Abuse Day: 25th Anniversary Fund Raising
Concert in Polytechnic University, Jockey Club Auditorium
Press Conference on Survey on Impact of Cyber Network on Children5.
Placement and Internship
21 Students from the following Universities and Faculties for the two types of Programmes:
5.1 Universities/Faculties:
Universities: University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, Chinese University of
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, City University of Hong Kong,
Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) Programme
Faculties:
Medicine, Laws, Social Sciences , Counseling, English for Professional
Communication (AAEPC), etc
5.2 Programmes
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Social Work Block and Concurrent Placement
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Internship and Exposure Programmes
6. Funding and Fund Raising
6.1 25th Anniversary Fund Raising Concert cum AGM: Mr Hacken Lee, the 2Rs, Mr Cheung
King Him, Ms Cheng Pei Pei and our child ambassador Ms Nicola Cheung Sun Yuet
6.2 Met with representatives of the following funding bodies:
a) Social Welfare Department
b) The Community Chest of Hong Kong
c) The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust
6.3 Intensive Meetings with the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) on a Child
Friendly Community Project
7. Overseas Contact and Liaison
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Invited to set up a Child Protection Centre in Macau
Bidding for ISPCAN Congress 2008 in Hong Kong
Entertained overseas experts from Canada and USA visiting ACA
Invited by an international body Children with Hope to conduct a training session
Visited by Child Helpline from the Netherlands which contacted ACA for a hotline in the
Asian Region
Invited to be the coordinator and Focal Point in the Southeast Asia Pacific Region on
Corporal Punishment and Violence on Children. Coordinated the Strategic Alliance on
Violence Against Children
Through the arrangement of the General Chamber of Commerce visited by a group of 35
Ladies from China
Invited to conduct two training sessions to Macau on Child Abuse
Invited as a speaker to the Child Law seminar in Beijing
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THE AGENCY
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Chairperson’s Remarks
2004/5 was a sobering year for child protection. In April, Hong Kong lost 2 children in Tin Shui
Wai within hours of their mother seeking professional help; a newborn baby was found alive in
a waste bin in the same distr ict; the bodies of three dead infants were found within eight
days. In May, an unbor n child died when the pregnant mother ended her own life. In June,
parents were sentenced for the death of their daughter w ho left a residential creche a healthy
infant two months earlier, and so it went on. Hong Kong has to ask our selves when we keep
saying “children are our future”, what future are we giving our children?
For years ACA has asked for Child Fatality Reviews. Such a system has been in place in the
United States for over two decades and has since been esta blished in many countries. It is an
unfortunate way to lear n from our failures but at least our children would not have died in
vain. Now finally the government is looking into this call. We hope this “looking” will not take
too long while our children continue to succumb.
As we ponder over “death”, we should also look at the star t of life. In 2004, of the 40,000
marriages registered in Hong Kong, over half were cross border marriages. Children born into
these families have parents struggling to adjust to each other’s way of life while coping with
the new arrivals into their families. They hold different expectations of each other and their
children. Children growing up in such families face great challenges and w hen matters go
astray, protecting these children poses numerous obstacles for our social workers. While our
government plans for more remedial ser vices, we look forward to innovative approaches
involving governments on either side of the border being explored and supported.
By serving families where abuse has occurred, we learn to identify families at risk and work on
means to minimize such r isks. We actively advocate for the rights of the child, the right to
grow up in an environment free from violence. These have been the focuses of ACA’s activities,
a difficult balancing act with the number of staff on hand. Even so, we are pleased to have
the opportunity to share our knowledge and skills with our neighbour ing territory. ACA (Macau)
Association was registered on 29 December 2004. We look forward to working with colleagues
in Macau to protect children from maltreatment. We are also honoured to have been invited
to bid for the hosting of the 2008 ISPCAN Congress in Hong Kong, a complicated process in
which the suppor t of the Hong Kong Tourism Board was indispensable.
As ACA’s wor k expands in complexity and scope, we are grateful for the loyalty and
understanding of our staff. We have been fortunate to retain our experienced social workers.
Otherwise it would have been near impossible to cope with the natur e of our work, but we
had a difficult time with turnover of administrative staff. Hopefully this will soon settle. It is no
mean task to keep up staff morale while staff benefits were adjusted. We appreciate the
effor t of our Dir ector w ho has to manage both inter nal and exter nal demands w hile
maintaining the high professional standard of our agency.
As our regular funding bodies review their mode of operation, we have to rely more and
more on supplementar y donations to continue functioning. We were ha ppy to have
celebrated our 25th Anniversary with a successful fund-raising concert but with unavoidable
added workload to our staff. ACA is prepared to continue to work with the community for the
better ment of our children. With a common goal, we are confident that the community is
also willing to work with us.
Dr. Patricia Ip
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THE AGENCY
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Hon Treasurer’s Report
The Year 2004/05 under review had been another vibrant and demanding year sustaining
a unique child protection service in terms of funding and manpower. As at year end
there was a small amount of HK$82,338- surplus in our general fund after the Executive
Committee’s resolution to transfer an amount of HK$850,000 to our staff cost fund. We
were pleased that the total amount for our Specific Funds increased by 1.6 %
(from HK$4.48million for 2003/04 to HK$5.56million in 2004/05). The specific funds
allowed the agency to have emergency and contingency back up and thus, unless
in special circumstances , it would be unwise to use such funds for items such as
capital expenses and equipments. The total income received in the year decreased
by 4 % (from approximately HK$8.7million in 2003/04 to HK$8.35million in 2004/05),
mainly in the area of specific and general donations. However the total expenditure in
view of careful monitoring and some staff turn over came down by 1.5 % (from around
HK$8.39million to HK$8.27million).
The major funding bodies such as the Community Chest, the Government Subvention,
and the Hong Kong Jockey Club allocated previous level of funding to this agency.
Yet, in the coming year, in view of changes of funding mode of the Community Chest
and the Hong Kong Jockey Club to cover projects rather than one off grant, and the
termination of tide over grant by the Social Welfare Department, the NGO sector,
including this agency, would face considerable challenges and adjustments.
Special efforts to liaise with the various funding bodies and to solicit cor porate and
community support, in cash and in kind, must continue to reduce unnecessary stresses
and interference caused to services impacting children and families. Being able to
launch the Flag Day for 2005/06 had been a hope and a challenge w hich this agency
could shoulder only with the passionate participation of a large group of volunteers, a
capable and cohesive team. As a result of persistent meeting and correspondence,
the Community Inclusion and Investment Fund was finally convinced to sponsor the three
year project which allowed us to have two more pairs of hands to spread the caring
and non-violent message with an active mentoring programme in Wong Tai Sin around
our head quarters.
Mr. James Ng
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THE AGENCY
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Director’s Report
The Against Child Abuse accomplished our twenty-fifth year of service with a theme of
Improving Family Solidarity and Zero Tolerance of Violence. The deterioration of family
solidarity plus horrific tragic homicide suicide cases, such as the one in Tin Shui Wai, has
became driving force for change in the community. This agency took the opportunity
heightening advocacy by joining various working groups and made submissions in the
legislative council panels urging to move beyond words. Position papers were sent widely
to policy makers and publicized through the mass media reflecting the extent of the
problem children and families encountered and the lack of a child perspective ignoring
their best interest and well being in Hong Kong. The need of the government to appoint
an independent and well supported Child Commissioner, representing the best interest
of the Child in Hong Kong, is clearer now than ever before. Such a need being our
advocacy priority for the year under review and will continue.
Instead of only stressing significant harm, we built community networks and strengthened
capacities of children and their families. Through ten vigorous projects, ranging from
head start, children participation to parents support programs, we strive to achieve the
caring and non-violent mission. Adolescence, a period of storm and stress, and parents
with adolescent children encountered tremendous hardship. This special target group,
teenagers and their parents, was taken on this year in the Project Teens and Stop Family
Violence: Give Children back their Childhood Project. We focused on exploring effective
parenting beyond corporal punishment and upheld non violent conflict resolution
strategy to support families in need.
We worked energetically, with multidisciplinary professionals who come into frequent
contact with children and their families, through conducting Certificate courses, on child
protection and prevention of sexual harassment. Such courses were welcome by
colleagues who joined in the year under review as many life cases and practice wisdom
shared, difficulties and ways to overcome hurdles explored. Moreover, to allow students
from different faculties of the various Universities to be attached to a child protection
agency was considered invaluable exposure and twenty one students joined us in this
encounter.
We tried hard to make children’s voice heard in the community at different levels. The
Child Councilor Project collaborated with the Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights
and Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF continued to receive support from the Home
Affairs Bureau. The child councilors have matured as high achievers with their experience:
debating, researching child rights concerns, meeting various stakeholders locally and
overseas empowered them to participate and taking the actualization of the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child forward. Efforts lobbying support making the child
council an ongoing mechanism for more children to share the participatory opportunity
will receive priority in the coming year, in which the first Hong Kong under China Report
on the Implementation of the UNCRC will be presented at the UN in Geneva in September
2005.
Overseas networking increased in variety and in intensity last year. As the fir st
National Partner of the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect
(ISPCAN), this agency has been invited to bid for the ISPCAN Congress on Child
Abuse in 2008 and the result will soon be announced. This agency has upon invitation
by Save the Children Sweden become the focal point in the Southeast Asia Pacific
against violence towards children and striving to prohibit corporal punishment and
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THE AGENCY
a strategic alliance has been formed in Hong Kong. It is our hope that Hong Kong
will join some thir teen countries to daringly legislate against corporal punishment
of children and strive for non harmful child discipline beyond the rod. Furthermore,
our efforts to assist the Macau government setting up a child protection centre
against child abuse continued and with mor e of their personnel trained. Last but
not the least, we were delighted that our advocacy role was allowed to flow also in
our mother land in the child law seminar in Beijing explor ing how children can be
adequately protected by law.
The funding and limited manpower did not negatively affect our morale though we
have to meet the thr ee major funding bodies making clearer our rationale for
specialization, our selection of roles and ser vices and our division of manpower.
Upon persistent meeting with the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund, a three
year project in Wong Tai Sin was eventually granted and ena bled this agency to
employ two more pair s of hands to wor k with the community suppor ting the
vulnerable and the poor and building a safe and child friendly community in the
neighborhood.
To quote from one of our strong supporter and loyal board member, “Small is Beautiful
and Small is Powerful”. May the beauty of our small creatures be reflected by this
agency through innovative means in their best interest and let our small creatures
also learn to take responsibility to become ca pable and car ing individuals and
true pillars of Hong Kong.
Mrs. Priscilla Lui
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Financial Review
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THE AGENCY
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR 2004/2005
The Executive Committee Members have the pleasure in presenting their annual report and the
audited financial statements of the Organization for the year ended 31st March, 2005.
Principal Activities
The principal activities of the Organization during the year were to work for the prevention of all
forms of child abuse and child neglect and to make remedial measures when they occurred.
Financial Affairs
The state of the Organization's affairs at 31st March, 2005 is set out in the balance sheet on page
21. The income and expenditure for the year are set out on page 22 to 23.
Executive Committee Members
The Executive Committee Members during the year were as follows:Dr. Patricia Ip
Dr. Gladys Lam
Mr. James Ng
Ms. Grace Chan
Mrs. Cheng Chung Yau Ling
Ms. Kan Shin Yu
Dr. Chow Chun Bong
Mrs. Priscilla Lui
Dr. Ho Ting Pong
Mr. Nicholas Jim
Dr. Lee Man Yuk Ching
Dr. Patrick Cheung
Ms. Vera Lam (Appointed on 19th April, 2004)
In accordance with Article 42 and 43 of the Organization's Articles of Association, one-third of the
members of the Committee, or if their number is not a multiple of three then the number nearest
to one-third, shall retire by rotation but, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
At no time during the year was the Organization a party to any arrangements to enable the
Executive Committee Members of the Organization to acquire benefits by means of acquisition
of shares in or debentures of any other body corporate.
No contracts of significance to which the Organization was a party and in which any Executive
Committee Members had a material interest subsisted at the end of the year or at any time during
the year.
Auditors
The financial statements have been audited by Messrs. S. Y. Yang & Company who have kindly
consented to serve as Honorary Auditors for the ensuing year.
On Behalf Of The Executive Committee
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Patricia Ip (Dr.)
Chairperson
August 30, 2005
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THE AGENCY
REPORT OF THE HONORARY AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF
AGAINST CHILD ABUSE LIMITED
(Incorporated In Hong Kong With Limited Liability)
We have audited the financial statements on pages 21 to 29 w hich have been prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Hong Kong.
Respective Responsibilities Of Executive Committee Members And Auditors
The Companies Ordinance requires the Executive Committee Member s to prepare financial
statements which give a true and fair view. In preparing financial statements which give a true
and fair view, it is fundamental that appropriate accounting policies are selected and applied
consistently.
It is our responsibility to form an independent opinion, based on our audit, on the balance sheet
together with the notes thereon and to report our opinion solely to you, as a body, in accordance
with section 141 of the Companies Ordinance, and for no other purpose. We do not assume
responsibility towards or accept liability to any other person for the contents of this report.
Basis Of Opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with Statements of Auditing Standards issued by the
Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The audit includes examination, on a test
basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. It also
includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgments made by the Executive
Committee Members in the preparation of the financial statements, and of whether the accounting
policies are appropriate to the Organization’s circumstances, consistently applied and adequately
disclosed.
We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which
we considered necessar y in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable
assurance as to whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. In forming
our opinion, we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the
financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Opinion
In our opinion, the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Organization’s
affairs as at 31st March 2005, and of its Income And Expenditure for the year then ended and
have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Ordinance.
S. Y. Yang & Company
Certified Public Accountants
August 30, 2005
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BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST MARCH, 2005
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THE AGENCY
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH, 2005
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THE AGENCY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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THE AGENCY
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THE AGENCY
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THE SERVICE
Hotline and Drop-in Services
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Early identification of child abuse, or situations where children are at risk of abuse is the crucial
step to prevent children from being harmed. ACA provides a channel for the public to report
suspected child abuse cases and to receive concern on child management issues through hotline
and drop-in services. Our social workers also provide counseling and enquir y services at the
hotline and drop-in levels. After initial risk assessments, follow-up services such as investigations,
home visits or referrals are made.
Nature
In the year under review, 776 cases were handled in our hotline and drop-in services. There was
an increase of 46 cases compared with the 730 cases handled in the previous years.
Of the 776 cases, 418 (53.9%) were suspected abuse cases, 118 (15.2%) were child management
cases and the remaining 240 (30.9%) were cases on family and personal problems such as marital
problems and depression.
Of the 418 suspected abuse cases, physical abuse, as in the previous year, had the highest rating
(201 cases, 48.1%). They were followed by sexual abuse (78 cases, 18.7%), neglect (49 cases,
11.7%), psychological abuse (22 cases, 5.2%) and multiple abuse (68 cases, 16.3%). (Chart 1)
Referrers
Among the 776 hotline and drop-in cases, about half of them (366 cases, 47.2%) were referred by
family members, friends and relatives: 188 cases (51.3%) by mothers, 67 cases (18.3%) by fathers,
76 cases (20.8%) by friends and relatives and 35 cases (9.6%) by the alleged abused children.
There were 15 cases (1.9%) by the alleged abusers themselves. It is encouraging to see family
members taking the initiative to seek help and look for alternatives at an early stage to prevent
violence from developing.
Another group with a high referring rate was the public and neighbours who referred 243 cases
(31.3%) for assessment and follow-up. Besides, professionals referred 142 cases (18.3%) (Chart 2)
Of all referrals, 227 cases (29.3%) obtained our hotline number or came to know our services mainly
through mass media, 202 cases (26%) through ACA’s other services and 158 cases (20.4%) through
the telephone company. (Chart 3). Therefore, mass media were a key player assisting in the work
of public education and prevention of child abuse. Most of these reported cases were triggered
by a recent incident, aggravating an already tense situation to an intolerable state.
Districts
On the distribution of the number of reported abused children in the 18 districts, the five districts
recording the highest number of reported abused children were Tuen Mun: 94 children (10.4%),
Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai: 66 (7.3%), Sai Kung/Tseung Kwan O: 57 (6.3%), Wong Tai Sin: 56 (6.2%) and
Shatin/Ma On Shan: 52 (5.7%) (Char t 4). There was an increase in Sai Kung/Tseung Kwan O
compared with the previous year. More preventive measures should be put to new towns with a
sharp increase in population.
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THE SERVICE
It is worth noting that 10 cases reported involved children in Mainland China, while no such cases
had been recorded in the previous year. With the increase in mobility of both children and adults
on both sides of the border, it is anticipated that the number of reported cases on child abuse
involving children in the Mainland would increase. Attention has therefore to be paid on crossborder cases and there is a need to develop a protocol to improve communication between
Hong Kong and the Mainland to protect children from abuse.
Age of Children
The 776 reported cases involved 907 suspected abused children. Among them, 45 (5%) were
younger than 2 years old, 115 (12.7%) were between 3 to 5, 172 (19%) were between 6 to 8, 157
(17.3%) were between 9 to 11, 100 (11%) were between 12 to 14, and 38 (4.2%) were between 15 to
17 (Chart 5). Most of the abused children were aged between 6 to 11, indicating that children
within this age group were most vulnerable of being abused.
Suspected Abusers
Also, the 776 reported cases involved 833 suspected abusers. Among this number, parents, as in
the previous year, were the majority: 158 (19%) were mothers, 98 (11.8%) were fathers and 64
(7.7%) involved both parents. Among the other suspected abusers, 31 (3.6%) were other family
members, 31(3.6%) were relatives or friends, 26 (3.2%) were teachers and tutors, 15 (1.8%) were
care-takers and 4 (0.5%) were strangers (Chart 6).
Services Rendered
In the year under review, different types of services were rendered 2,314 times at the hotline and
drop-in levels. More than one contact was usually made to obtain sufficient relevant information
for risk assessment. Altogether, 1,413 direct phone contacts, 467 collateral phone contacts, 157
investigations, 129 referrals and 76 office interviews were made and 72 letters were issued (Chart
7).
Besides, 129 referrals were made to assist families and children in need to use community resources
and related services. Of these referrals, 70 cases (54.3%) were referred to Integrated Family Services
Centres, 39 (30.2%) to Family and Child Protective Services Units of the Social Welfare Department,
and the rest were referred to school social work services, medical social ser vices or psychiatric
services, etc. (Chart 8).
Investigation
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Outreach investigation ser vice is provided to families at risk of child a buse or having child
management problems after initial assessment at the hotline and drop-in levels. A team of two
social workers conducts home visits or office interviews to suspected abused children, abusers
and other significant family members. A non-punitive and non-judgmental approach is adopted
to engage families’ involvement. Except when assessing the contributing factors for abuse, we
also explore family relationship and look for family strengths. An immediate follow-up plan is
formulated to eliminate possible violence. Family members’ cooperation is sought to build up
resilience and restore harmony. In the possibility of the need to deal with resistant clients when
the situation has been assessed as r isky, multidisciplinary approach to help the child and the
family by enlisting assistance from other parties is used.
In the year under review, 157 investigations were conducted, with 46 cases (29.3%) defined as
abuse, 78 cases (49.7%) defined as child management at risk and 28 cases (17.8%) defined as
child management problems. The remaining cases were elderly abuse or sex play etc. Of the 46
cases defined as abuse, 12 (26.1%) were physical abuse, 11 (23.9%) were neglect, 8 (17.4%) were
sexual abuse, 5 (10.9%) were psychological abuse and 10 (21.7%) were multiple abuse cases (Chart
9). Physical abuse had the highest rate this year while sexual abuse was rated highest in the
previous year. Neglect had the second highest rate, followed by sexual abuse and psychological
abuse.
Usually, more than one contact is required with the family at the investigation level. During the
course of the 157 investigations, 2,322 contacts were made. These included 841 direct phone
contacts, 730 collateral phone contacts, 429 home visits, 113 letters, 57 office inter views, 29
collateral interviews, 24 collateral visits and 19 multi-disciplinary case conferences. (Chart 10).
After investigation, 80 cases were referred out for counseling service, day care service, residential
service or for further investigation (Chart 11). Among the 80 referred out cases, 50 (62.5%) were
referred to Integrated Family Services Centres, 13 cases (16.2%) to Family and Child Protective
Services Units of Social Welfare Department, 8 (10%) to school social work services, 5 (6.3%) to
Education and Manpower Bureau, 2 (2.5%) to medical social ser vices and 2 (2.5%) to the police
(Chart 12).
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THE SERVICE
Casework
A total number of 113 cases were handled in the year under review. Among these, 42 cases
(37.2%) were defined as abuse while 52 cases (46%) were defined as child management at risk
and 19 cases (16.8%) were child management.
Of the 42 abuse cases, 16 cases (38.1%) were sexual abuse, 10 cases (23.8%) were physical abuse,
9 cases (21.4%) were multiple a buse, 6 cases (14.3%) were psychological a buse and
1 case (2.4%) was neglect (Chart 13).
Among 135 children involved in the 113 cases, 50 were abused children while 85 were at risk of
being abused. Among these children, 105 (77.8%) were living with both parents, 15 (11.2%) were
living with the mother, 6 (4.4%) were in boarding school, small group homes or foster homes,
5 (3.7%) were with relatives, 3 (2.2%) were with adult survivors and 1 child (0.7%) was living with the
father (Chart 14).
A total of 3,947 sessions of ser vices were rendered for the 113 cases handled in the year under
review. Altogether, 2,398 telephone contacts, 611 collateral phone contacts, 593 home visits, 163
office inter views were made, 151 letters were issued, 22 collateral visits, 5 volunteer ser vices,
3 financial assistance and 1 collateral interview were conducted (Chart 15).
Although families and children were encouraged to attend office interviews, very often, outreach
had to be made to the families to provide home visit counseling ser vices as some families found it
inconvenient to travel and some parents had to look after young children at home. In order not
to discourage hard-to-reach families from receiving counseling services, home-based counseling
was an effective way to show community support. Also, the home environment provided a familiar,
thus effective, setting to demonstrate alternative child management skills. Caseworkers would
explore positive family strengths, introduce conflict resolution alternatives, facilitate family members’
communication and introduce community resources to strengthen family cohesion. Other
knowledge and skills were shared with individual families whenever appropriate.
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Case Conferences
In the year under review, 25 multidisciplinar y case conferences were held, a sharp rise when
compared with 9 case conferences held in the previous year.
Altogether, 13 cases were established as child abuse cases: 5 physical abuse, 4 multiple abuse
(2 with physical, psychological and neglect elements, 1 with physical and psychological elements
and 1 with psychological and neglect elements), 2 neglect, 1 sexual abuse and 1 psychological
abuse. The remaining cases included 7 at risk of physical abuse cases, 1 domestic violence case,
1 school bullying case, and 3 review case conferences. The review case conferences were for
relatively serious and complex cases.
The number of multidisciplinary professionals involved in the case conferences ranged from three
to nine. Police were involved in 12 cases.
Among these cases, application for a Care or Protection Order was required for 7 cases. Thirteen
children were removed from home and were placed either at foster homes or small group homes.
All parents were invited to attend the multidisciplinary case conferences to express their views.
Their cooperation was also sought to follow through the welfare plan formulated for the best interest
of the children. Four parents attended the whole case conferences on their children’s cases and
24 parents and family members attended the welfare plan discussions.
After the case conferences, 20 cases were followed up by the Family and Child Protective Services
Units, Social Welfare Department, 4 cases by Integrated Family Services Centres and 1 case by
ACA.
35
THE SERVICE
Group Work Services
Child protection services put emphasis on prevention rather than cure. Thus, the aims of preventive
group work services are to convey the message of child protection and to disseminate positive
parenting concepts and skills. By so doing, it is believed that child abuse can be prevented. In
the year under review, ACA organized eleven groups, eight of which were developmental groups,
two were mutual help groups and a therapeutic group. A total of 1094 participants attended the
166 sessions of the eleven groups. This good response reflected the enthusiastic support the public
gave to ACA group work services.
Among the eleven groups, four of them, named “Well Prepare for Primary One-Parents group”,
“Well Prepare for Primary One-Children Group”, “Parent-child Interactive Group”and “Adventure
Training for Pupils” were particularly well received by families in Tuen Mun district. The two “Well
Prepare for Primary One” groups helped parents and children understand the difference between
kindergarten and primary school lives. Through talks and experiential activities, parents and their
36
children learned how to prepare well for primary schooling. The “Parent-child Interactive Group”
provided an opportunity for parents and children to share their feelings through handicraft-making
and parent-child activities. As for the “Adventure Training for Pupils” group, it trained the participants
in the use of problem solving skills and communication skills.
Two mutual help groups, “Good Mother Leisure Corner” and “Sunshine Support Group”, continued
to play an important role in implementing preventive child protection services. “Good Mother
Leisure Corner” organized different activities to enhance parent-child communication and effective
parenting. A mutual support network among the parents was established. The “Sunshine Support
Group” continued to work on mutual support among group members through group discussions
and other activities.
In addition, one therapeutic group called “An Energetic Youth” was organized in the Chuk Yuen
Centre. Through interactive games and activities, group members learned to handle problems
independently. Work of the group produced good results as participants shared the conviction
that they had the ability to change.
37
THE SERVICE
Child Sexual Abuse Hotline and Drop-in
38
Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) cases (Chart 16)
In the year under review, ACA hotline and drop-in services received 78 cases related to child
sexual abuse and other 10 cases on multiple abuse with elements of CSA. Of the 88 reported
cases, 65 cases were suspected child sexual abuse, 10 multiple abuse cases with elements of CSA,
9 cases involved age-inappropriate sexual activity (sex play) and 4 enquires about CSA. Compared
with the 118 cases in 2003-2004, the number decreased by 25%.
Source of Referral (Chart 17)
Chart 17 indicates that almost half of the cases (40 out of 88) were reported by family members;
10.2% (9 out of 88) by the public/neighbour/friends and 44.3% (39 out of 88) by the professionals.
The figures show that family members and professionals play an important role in child protection.
Cases previously handled by other agencies (Four enquiries are excluded)
(Chart 18)
Chart 18 indicates that more than half of the cases (44 out of 84) had previously been handled by
other agencies. Of these 44 cases, 31% (26 out of 84) had been handled by one agency (6 by
Social Welfare Department; 8 by non-governmental organizations; 10 by school social work service;
one by clinical psychologist service and one did not reveal). Also, 21.4% (18 out of 84) had been
handled by more than one agency, including 15 cases handled by two agencies, 2 cases by
three agencies and one case by four agencies.
The figures reflect that complex cases require support from different agencies. Issues therefore
that need to follow up are how to coordinate agencies’ effor ts and how to enhance
communication amongst agencies to ensure effective use of scarce resources in the provision of
best services to needy families. ACA thus plays a significant role in this coordination process.
Age-inappropriate sexual activity - sex play (Chart 19)
Chart 19 shows that out of the 9 reported cases involving sex play, 15 children under aged 10
were involved. Unlike the year before, the number of male child was almost three times (11) that
of female (4) (18 female and 8 male in 2003-2004). The figure indicates that male children aged
between 7 and 8 (8) should be given close attention.
39
THE SERVICE
The following case analysis excluded the age-inappropriate sexual
activity (9 cases) and the CSA enquiries (4 cases)
Sex and Age Profile of Suspected Abuser (Chart 20)
Chart 20 indicates that 83 suspected a busers were involved in 75 suspected abuse cases. Of
these 83, 78.3% (or 65) were male and 12% (or 10) were female. About 27.7% (or 23) of these
suspected abusers were aged between 10 and 19. Out of these 23 suspected abusers, 82.6% (or
19) were aged between 10 and 14. The profile of young offenders was relatively high.
Relationship with Abused Child/Person (Chart 21)
Amongst the 83 suspected a busers of the 75 reported cases, 70 of them (or 84.4%) involved
suspected abusers who were acquaintance of the abused child and 4 of them (or 4.8%) involved
suspected abusers who were strangers to the abused child. Out of these 75 reported cases, 9
cases did not reveal the relationship with the abused child. Amongst the suspected abusers, 34
(or 41%) were family members, including parents (16); brother (6); grandfather (2); step-parent
(2); step-sibling(1) and other relatives (7). Other acquaintances constituted 43.4% (or 36), including
friends/classmates (17), caretakers or his/her spouse (6), neighbors (1), the mother’s cohabitant
(3), teachers/tutors/coaches (7) and others (2).
Sex and Age Profile of Abused Child/Person (Chart 22)
Of the 91 abused children in the 75 suspected abused cases, 67 of them (or 73.6%) were female
and 20 (22%) were male. As for the age of the abused children, 17 out of 91 (or 18.7%) were aged
6 and below; 35 (or 38.5%) were between 7 and 12; 25 (or 27.5%) were between 13 and 16; 1 (or
1%) was between 17 and 18; 6 of them (or 6.6%) were aged over 18 years adult survivors and 3 (or
3.3%) did not reveal the age of the child. The figures indicate that children aged 12 and below
were the most high-risk group of abuse (57.2%).
Forms of abusive behaviour in suspected CSA cases (Chart 23):
Chart 23 indicates that 98 counts of a bused behaviours were recorded in the 75 reported abuse
cases. There were 68 counts (or 69.3%) which involved physical contact and 17 counts (or 17.4%)
did not. Of these counts, 13 (or 13.3 %) did not reveal the form of behaviour.
Of the counts involving physical contact, 9 (or 9.2%) involved vaginal intercourse, 2 (or 2%) involved
oral sex and 5 (or 5.1%) involved object or digital penetration. A vast majority of counts involved
behaviours related to fondling (48 or 49%). Such acts included fondling or touching (28); genital
fondling (19) and mutual genital fondling (1). Other counts of behaviours involved kissing (2 or
2%); lying on the child’s body and fondling the genitalia area (2 or 2%).
Other counts which did not involve physical contact included exposing genitals to childr en (3),
children instructing other children to expose own genital (2), instructing/forcing children to view
sexually explicit materials (5), being exposed to adult’s sexual activity (1), peeping (3) and others
(3).
40
Family Corner
41
THE SERVICE
Although Tuen Mun district has been developed over twenty-five years, it is still perceived as a
rather isolated community. Families with children in Tuen Mun encounter child management
problems, such as, inadequate parenting knowledge and skills, insufficient social support network
and marital problems. It has been found that they are reluctant to make use of community resources
to solve their problems. Hence, the reporting rate of child abuse remains high in the Tuen Mun
district.
Sponsored by Keswick Foundation, the Against Child Abuse Tuen Mun Centre was established in
1986. The Centre’s objectives are to promote child protection services and build up parents support
network in Tuen Mun. We believe in practising effective parenting. Parent-child relationship should
be enhanced. In the past eighteen years, we have gained much support from the parents and
local community in promoting child protection services.
In 1989, a room named “Family Corner” was set up in Tuen Mun Centre for parents to share their
parenting experiences. The aims were to develop a parent mutual support network and to enhance
effective and positive parenting. Families who enrolled in the "Family Corner" as members were
encouraged to utilize our centre's facilities and services. The services of Tuen Mun Centre Family
Corner were planned and implemented by “Family Corner Volunteer Group”. In the reporting
year, a total of 193 family members for Tuen Mun Family Corner and 60 mother volunteers of “Family
Corner Volunteer Group” assisted our child protection preventive programmes. The services are as
follows:
a)
“Good Mother Sharing Time”
By using the “Good Mother Networking Training Manual”,
the Family Corner Volunteer Group helped to organize the
“Good Mother Sharing Time”. They conveyed the positive
message of child protection and parenting knowledge to
29 mothers through talks, group discussions, role plays and
home exercises. Participating mothers treasured the
relationship built up during group discussions and causal
talks. After completing the 6 sessions , 16 out of 29
participants joined the Family Corner Volunteer Group.
b)
Toy Corner/Resource Corner
Family members of Family Corner were encouraged to utilize
our centre's facilities and services. Parents were allowed to
borrow parenting materials, such as parent-child reading
materials, videotapes and toys. During opening hours, while
children were enjoying the toys in the toy corner, parents had the opportunity to discuss and share
their parenting experience with our mother volunteers.
c)
Good Mother Leisure Corner
The Good Mother Leisure Corner, held every alternate Tuesday morning, made use of a variety of
activities, such as educational talks, video sharing, handicraft and gourmet sessions, to facilitate
parents share their parenting concerns with each other. In the reporting year, 128 parents
participated in nine different activities.
d)
Newsletters
A quarterly newsletter “Family Corner” for the members of the Tuen Mun Centre was published to
promote child protection messages, centre services and parenting knowledge. Family Corner
volunteers and the Centre Coordinator were on the production team.
In the reporting year, 193 families enrolled as “Family Corner” members. The year recorded a total
of 2496 adults and 673 children attending different activities organized by Family Corner. The
number of books, video, tapes and toys loaned was 339.
42
Healthy Start Home Visiting Program
43
THE SERVICE
A preventive child protection ser vice
named “Healthy Star t Home Visiting
Programme” was initiated by the Against
Child Abuse in 1997. This project aimed
at strengthening families with newborns
in the ar ea of parenting concepts ,
knowledge, skills and attitude. It was
believed that through the regular home
visitation by trained volunteers, worries
and stresses of parents-to-be in the pre and post-natal stages can be minimized. The project
objectives were i) strengthen families with newborn, ii) enable parents to effectively perform their
caring and protective roles, and; iii) prevent child abuse and neglect in a long run. The 3-year
project was funded by the Community Chest of Hong Kong from April 1997 to March 2000 as a pilot
project. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust continued to suppor t funding for two more
years from August 2000 to July 2002. The project was evaluated to be worthwhile for parents-to-be
in reducing their stress and anxiety. Although the two funding bodies ceased their support to the
project, ACA deployed two social workers to continue the project in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tin
Shui Wai district.
A summary of this project in the year under review is as follows:
Publicity
With the blessing from the Tuen Mun Hospital and Department of Health, we set up some promotion
counters at Ambulatory Care Centre at Tuen Mun Hospital and Maternal & Child Health Centres
located at Tuen Mun, and Tin Shui Wai. Project workers with some trained volunteers explained our
project details and distributed leaflets to the parents-to-be who attended these centres. Some
enrolled immediately. Leaflets were also sent to Integrated Family Service Centres and the
Obstetrical and Gynaecological Department of Tuen Mun Hospital to introduce the programme.
This resulted in some referrals.
Target Families
67 target families enrolled as at 31 March 2005. After intake visits by project workers, a pair of
trained volunteers would be assigned to provide home visitation to these families.
Volunteers
The volunteers were regarded as friendly helpers who provided emotional support and concern to
the target families. They also shared their past experience and taught parents how to handle the
new born baby. They were also responsible for reporting the progress and needs of families to the
project social workers. Most of the volunteers valued continued support and guidance from the
project workers through individual supervision session.
Other Supporting Programmes
44
a.
Healthy Start Resource Library
Both target families and volunteers were encouraged to borrow
educational items, such as books, toys, CD-ROM and CD, from our resource
corner.
b.
Recycled use of baby essential items
To promote concepts of environmental protection to our target families, a
mutual help scheme was introduced by project workers. Target families
would indicate their needs of baby-related items and project workers would try to match them.
The most popular items were baby beds and prams.
Project Teens: Violence Prevention
Sponsored by the American Women’s Association of Hong Kong
45
THE SERVICE
Sponsored by the American Women’s Association of Hong Kong, this project aimed to promote
healthy relationship, including what expectations and boundaries each party should have, between
parents and their adolescent children and adolescents and their peers. Effective and non-violent
stress management and conflict resolution methods were also covered.
This project included three phases : volunteer training, sharing forum and workshop. In October
2004, 10 mothers and 10 teens were recruited as volunteers. They received five sessions’ training
on the following topics: understanding of self and importance of effective communication;
identifying source of stress and effective stress management techniques; conflict resolution &
adolescent Storm & Stress; and Programme Plan for conducting the sharing forum and workshop.
Both mother and teen volunteers had significant exchange during the training sessions and those
coming from the same family discovered many aspects, which they were previously unaware of,
from the other party. Changes took place when both parties were more prepared to understand
and support the other.
After the volunteer training programme, two programmes were launched: Sharing Forum on 2
January 2005 and three workshops on 5 March 2005.
70 parents, teenagers, children and volunteers participated in the Sharing Forum. Mr. Wong Sing
Chi of Centre for Restoration of Human Relationships was invited as guest speaker on the day. He
shared his experience on how to establish a positive parent-teen relationship. A mother volunteer
and a group of 8 teenage volunteers also shared their ways and wishes to work for the enhancement
of their parent-teen relationship and methods in the resolution of conflicts.
There were 79 participants in the three workshops. The foci of the workshops were: conflict resolution
by non-violent means; stress management and a positive relationship with teenage children. Both
parents and teenagers were able to voice their difficulties encountered. They had reflection on
effective and non-violent ways to handle their conflicts. The programme received highly favourable
feedback from participants as they were able to share and reflect their own emotions and efforts
through the help of social workers present acting as facilitators. With the participation of both
parents and teenagers in the programme, the importance of mutual exchange, understanding
and trust between the parents and teenage children was reinforced.
We aim to conduct similar projects in future to help mothers with adolescent children pass through
this stormy and stressful period.
46
Children’s Council Project
47
THE SERVICE
In 2000, Against Child Abuse, Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF and Hong Kong Committee on
Children’s Rights, with the support and sponsorship of Home Affairs Bureau, joined hands in promoting
the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and children’s rights in Hong
Kong by launching the UNCRC - Child Ambassadors’ Scheme. Over the years, the Scheme has
evolved into the Children’s Council Project. The Children’s Council Project also emphasizes children’s
participation and empowerment. In the review period, with the continued pledged support from
Home Affairs Bureau, the Children’s Council 2004 and a Children’s Forum were organized.
Children’s Council 2004
The Children’s Council held its inaugural meeting in March 2003 in the Legislative Council Building,
where five motions having close relationship with children were moved, presented and debated
by 60 Child Councilors.
48
The Children’s Council 2004 was organized between February and July 2004. After months of training,
discussion, collation of arguments and drafting of motion documents, the 60 new Child Councilors
were all well prepared for the second Children’s Council. Appointment Ceremony of Child
Councilors 2004 cum Press Conference was held on 16 May 2004. We were honoured to have Hon
Mrs Rita Fan Hsu Lai Tai, President of Legislative Council, to officiate the Ceremony. The second
Children’s Council Meeting was held on 22 May 2004 at the Legislative Council Building. The whole
day meeting was kindly chaired by Legislative Councilors Hon Mr Fred Li Wah Ming in the morning
and Hon Ms Miriam Lau Kin Yee in the afternoon. Three motions concerning children’s participation
in education reform, the needs of children in poverty and school bullying were moved and discussed.
Report of the Children’s Council 2004 was published in early December 2004 and disseminated to
all secondar y schools, NGOs, government officials, legislative councilors, public libraries and
overseas child right counterparts.
“Have Your Say, Don’t Delay!” Children’s Forum
Following the Pre-forum Workshop held on 30 October 2004, more
than 150 local child par ticipants aged between 10 and 18
attended the 2-day Children’s Forum on 18 & 19 December 2004.
The Forum aimed to explore the level of Hong Kong children’s
participation in family, school and community/society as well as
the readiness of establishing a permanent Children’s Council in
Hong Kong. Besides local par ticipants , 12 over seas child
representatives accompanied by cha perons from foreign
organizations including Child Rights Foundation (Cambodia), Kids
Link Fiji (Fiji), Save the Children Korea (South Korea) and Soong
Ching Ling Foundation (China) and 5 overseas guests also
attended the 2-day Forum. With the full support and assistance
of the School of Early Childhood Education, The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd), the
activity was held at the Tai Po Campus of the HKIEd.
The Children’s Forum included three main parts: experience exchange, views exchange and cultural
exchange. The Children’s Council Working Committee, formed by the Child Ambassadors and
Child Councilors, and the four overseas teams shared their experience in promoting children’s
rights in their respective countries/cities and exchanged ideas on the strategies and challenges in
setting up a child-led organization. The local child participants shared their views on child
participation in family, school and community/society according to the materials they had collected
and prepared for the Forum. Views from over 5,000 fellow children had been collected through
questionnaires, interviews and on the Internet before the Children’s Forum.
We were honoured to have Hon Mrs Rita Fan Hsu Lai Tai, President of the Legislative Council and Mr
Chris Wardlaw, Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower, to officiate the Opening Ceremony
and Closing Ceremony of the Children’s Forum respectively. Representatives from Education and
Manpower Bureau, Social Welfare Department, NGOs and schools also attended the Childr en’s
Forum to listen to the voice of children. More than 300 participants were present.
Advocate for Children’s Rights
The Child Ambassadors and the 2003 & 2004 Child Councilor s who are interested to continue to
promote children’s rights have formed the Children’s Council Working Committee. The Committee
has about 80 members and they are striving for a permanent Children’s Council in Hong Kong.
The Working Committee initiated the meeting “8•12 Views Exchange on Children’s Rights” with the
Legislative Council Election candidates on 12 August 2004 to exchange ideas on child related
issues. A total of 31 Child Ambassadors and Child Councilors met 25 LegCo candidates. They
urged to establish a Child Commission to raise the unique status of children and set up a permanent
Children’s Council as a built-in mechanism to enhance communication between children and the
government. The candidates were also urged to care about children’s welfare and the problems
children are facing.
49
THE SERVICE
In January 2005, the Children’s Council Working Committee published a Report, giving an account
on the state of local children from the viewpoints of children. The Report was submitted to the UN
Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Promoting Children’s Rights
The Children’s Council Working Committee conducted a workshop for a child right concern group
run by a NGO. A total of 13 group members aged between 6 and 10 attended the workshop on 25
August 2004 at ACA. Our Child Councilors helped the younger ones to understand the concept of
children’s rights and the two groups also shared their own experience of participation in the
community.
Our social worker and a representative of Children’s Council Working Committee were invited as
speakers in a seminar on ”The Role of Social Ser vice Agencies in Mobilizing Children and Youth
Participation” organized by Hong Kong Council of Social Service on 24 March 2005 to share the
experience of partnership between children and adults in child participation and the Children’s
Council Project.
The Children’s Council website was launched in September 2004 to promote children’s rights and
the Children’s Council Project. The website was designed, developed and managed mainly by
the members of the Working Committee. (Website: www.childrencouncil.org.hk)
Cyber Project
50
Most parents are unable to protect their children from undesirable impacts in the cyber world. As
they are not equipped with information technology (IT) nor competent in IT skills, they find themselves
gradually alienated from their children with regard to recent IT trends and on the use of information
communication technology (ICT) and the internet.
During the year under review, ACA initiated a new project, Cyber Project, with the aim to bridge
this Digital Divide in families and to promote communication between students and parents in the
use of ICT and the Internet and internet safety.
By the end of 2003, a group of 14 ACA volunteers had completed a series of training on internet
safety. To promote concepts of internet safety in the community, this group worked closely with
youth volunteers to formulate and implement promotional activities, including conducting a survey
in early 2004 on internet safety and helping out a carnival in May 2004.
The survey, “Exploring the Impacts of On-line Activities in the Junior Secondar y School Students”,
aimed to explore established patterns of behaviours of junior secondary school students using the
internet and possible risks as a result of these patterns. Students in F.1 to F.3 from seven schools
participated in the sur vey. Altogether, 1716 valid completed questionnaires were collected.
Findings from the survey, including possible risks and impacts of internet addiction, potential traps
in ICT and suggestions to the individual users, parents and the government, were made known to
the public through a press conference, to arouse public awareness on child safety when using ICT.
In May 2004, the group organized a booth in the Dream Home Carnival at Chuk Yuen North Estate
to promote internet safety. Through interactive games at different stalls, participants’ awareness in
internet safety was heightened in the midst of fun and laughter.
51
THE SERVICE
Parent Education Programme:
Good Mother Sharing Time
Parent education is an important service among ACA preventive child protection services. Under
the reporting year, two “Good Mother Sharing Time” programmes were conducted in Tuen Mun
Centre. One was conducted for the public from October to November 2004 and the other for
members from six Parent Teacher Associations in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai districts
from November to December 2004.
Twenty nine parents participated in the first programme which comprised six training sessions. It
aimed to convey positive messages of child protection and to enhance participants’ parenting
knowledge and skills. The programme was conducted by the Family Corner Volunteer Group. Our
“Good Mother Networking Training Manual” was used and different activities like talks, group
discussion, roles play and home exercises were organized during the sessions. On completion of
the programme, 16 out of 29 participants joined the Family Corner Volunteer Group.
The second programme, called “Good Mother Networking Training Workshop”, was conducted
by social workers from November to December 2004. Participants were members of Parent Teacher
Associations. Altogether, 22 participants joined a six-session training course. The sessions provided
a systematic concept-based programme intended to impart information, awareness and skills to
the participants on aspects of parenting, especially what children need, their emotions and
behaviour. Participants found the contents both helpful and useful.
52
Mass Programme
Throughout the year, ACA organized various kinds of activities for publicity and educational and
recreational purposes.
Two major promotion events were organised: (i) the Dream Home Carnival, conducted on 9 May
2004 (the Mothers’ Day), held at the Chuk Yuen Centre and the skating ground of Chuk Yuen
(North) Estate and (ii) the Tuen Mun Centre Promotion Day, held on 8 April 2004 at the Tuen Mun
Centre and the public area of On Ting Estate. Both events attracted participation by thousands of
residents. On both occasions, the message of child protection was publicized through ceremonies,
parents and children workshops, game booths and exhibitions.
Other mass programmes included the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Father’s Day press conference and publication distribution
Harlem Globestrotters 2004
Parent-child day camp
Visit to Tree Top Cottage
Visit to Environment Protection Cottage
Parent-child overnight camp
Fund raising counter at the Matilda Hospital
Fund raising counter at the Shatin Junior College
AGM cum fund raising concert
Parent-child Christmas Party
Visit to Ocean Park
Promotion and fund raising counter at King George V College
53
THE SERVICE
Volunteer Service
245 volunteers registered as Friends of ACA in the review period. Over the year, the volunteers
actively participated in agency functions and worked on particular projects or groups like Healthy
Start Home Visiting Programme, the volunteer group of Family Corner, the volunteer group of Stop
Family Violence Project.
In April 2004, a 2-session training programme was conducted for the 40 new volunteers.
In the year under review, our volunteers helped in the planning and organizing of large events like
Mother’s Day Programme: the Dream Home Carnival. Other programmes implemented with their
help are as follows:
-
54
Tuen Mun Centre Open Day
Father’s Day press conference and publication distribution
Tuen Mun Centre Summer Programmes
The Children Therapeutic Group
Live translation for case interview
-
Parent Education Program (6 sessions)
Compilation of telephone data base list
Parenting talk conducted by Ms Norman Leban
Translation for the annual report
AGM press conference
AGM cum Fund Raising Concert
ACA commercial booth and event game booth at the Matilda Hospital Sedan Chair Race &
Children Bazaar
Tuen Mun Centre Christmas Party
Promotion and fund-raising counter at Shatin Junior College
Promotion and fund-raising counter at KGV Fair
Fun Fair at the Lai On Estate
Compilation of the hotline data monthly statistics
Filing/other administration work
Leisure corner
Duty at the Tuen Mun Centre Library
Four volunteers were selected as the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year. They are Miss Leung Pui
Ying, Ms Tsang Bik Ha, Miss Wong Ka Kei, and Mr Bobby Yu. Congratulations to them all! Besides,
special thanks are also extended to all our volunteers for their dedicated service.
55
THE SERVICE
The Mother’s Day Event
56
The Mother’s Day Event:
The Most Valuable Family Player Award Presentation and
the Dream Home Carnival on 9 May 2004 (Sunday)
Mother’s Day is a big event in the city. This year, ACA organized a
special programme emphasizing the impor tance of family
cohesion: the Dream Home Carnival. Before the event, a ‘Most
Valuable Family Players Award’ was organized to encourage family
cohesiveness and to cultivate a caring family relationship. Through
a writing contest, entrants were asked to write stories about their
family to support the ‘most valuable family player’ they nominated.
The panel of judges included Mr s. Sophie Leung, chairperson of
Women’s Commission, Mr. Yim Yee King (Ah Chung), the renowned
artist and Dr. Patricia Ip, ACA chairperson. Four Awardees were
selected: the champion: Mr. Yau Cheung, the two first runner ups:
Ms. Chung Mui and Ms Karen Lam and the second runner-up: Ms
Annie Wong. The Award Presentation was held on Mother’s Day to
make this Award more memorable. Their stories were compiled in a
collection in the Dream Home Publication which was distributed on Father’s Day.
On Mother’s Day, about 1,800 participants joined the Dream Home Carnival at our Chuk Yuen
Centre and the skating ground of Chuk Yuen North Estate. The Carnival added fervour and heat
to an already hot and sunny Mother’s Day.
Events of the day included the open day of Chuk Yuen Centre, the Most Valuable Family Player
Award Presentation, children’s workshops, game booths, handicraft corners, parent interactive
workshop and fund-raising corner. Of course, the Award Presentation was the highlight of all events.
We were honoured to have Mrs. Sophie Leung, the chairperson of the Women’s Commission to
officiate the ceremony. Local leaders and representatives from Government offices like Home
Affair District Office, Education and Manpower Bureau, Social Welfare Department attended this
event to show their support. ACA Ambassador, Miss Nicola Cheung was the master of ceremony.
Dr. Chan Yee Shing led a children chorus in the ceremony and Ms. Cheng Pei Pei and Miss Marsha
Yuan shared their invaluable experience of their mother-daughter relationship.
There were also performances by Chan Shu Kui Memorial School, King’s College, La Salle College
and Sik Sik Yuen Ho Tak Kindergarten.
We sincerely thank the Fire Service Volunteer Group, the St John’s Ambulance Service and volunteer
group of Po Chiu Catholic Secondar y School for their service and assistance on the day. We
appreciate the effort of the Friends of ACA for organizing and conducting all the events.
57
THE SERVICE
Stop Family Violence
58
“Stop Family Violence - Give Children Back Their Childhood” Project
Jointly sponsored by The Committee on the Promotion of Civil Education and Matilda Sedan Chair
Race Charities Fund
The increase in domestic violence heightened public awareness of its impact on children. Children
may get hurt in such violent situations. Witnessing the violence causes them worries and scares
them. They may feel ambivalent towards their parents and this hinders their development and
growth. They may use violence as conflict resolution or may develop self-harm behaviour. Being a
specialized NGO with the aim to cultivate a nurturing and caring non-violent environment for the
optimal growth of children, ACA shoulders the responsibility to advocate zero tolerance towards
violence.
The “Stop Family Violence - Give Children Back Their Childhood” project lasted six months. It aimed
at:
1.
exploring the impact of family violence, particularly spouse violence, on children;
2.
understanding the needs of children who witnessed family violence to provide corresponding
services;
3.
mobilizing young people to organize educational activities to advocate and promote equality
and safety within the family; and
4.
raising youth’s awareness of the rights of the child to prevent them using violence in their families.
59
THE SERVICE
The project comprised three important components:
1. Volunteer Training Programme
A four-session Youth Empowerment Training Programme was held on Saturdays from 24 July to 14
August 2004. Over 30 volunteers were trained on family violence and its impact on children, the
basic skills of conducting a survey and programme planning.
2. Survey on Family Violence
A survey exploring (a) children’s experiences towards family violence, (b) the impact of family
violence on children being exposed to such violence, and (c) service needs of this clientele, was
conducted in September and October 2004. Altogether, 2,302 primary four to primary six children
responded.
Some important areas uncovered by the survey are as follows:
i)
About half of the interviewees equate physical violence as family violence and neglect the
threat of verbal violence and other types of violence.
ii)
Interviewees’ low alertness to family violence may delay timely intervention.
Only 40% of them would seek help when violence first occurred while 63%
would seek help only when someone was hurt. About 12% responded that
no help was needed as the situation would improve.
iii)
Over 10% of inter viewees indicated that they did not know which
organization could help to handle family violence issues.
iv)
Of the interviewees, 43.2% would keep silent when faced with conflicts or
difficulties, 24.7% would shout to relieve tension , 21.2% would throw things
and 9.1% would hit people.
v)
When bullied 22% of interviewees would ignore it, 18.4% would hit people
and 22.2% would not share with others because of shame.
vi)
Among the interviewees, 63.8% had witnessed parents’ verbal fight or
discord, 17.9% had witnessed parents’ fighting. For physical punishment
by parents, 17.9% was inflicited by mothers while 16.9% by fathers.
vii)
On witnessing family violence, 16% would protect their mother, -8.9% would
fight back, and 12.4% would lose appetite and 11.9% would have nightmares later.
viii) Other types of impact on this group of children resulting from family violence included self
blame (32.7%), feeling of hopelessness (25.8%) , fear (24.4%), feeling worried (23.2%), feeling
of being misunderstood (21%) and anger (15.4%).
60
ix)
Some reasons for parents’ disputes leading to violence included: child discipline (14.1%), lack
of spouse’s affection (9.6%) and financial issues (9.5%).
x)
Over 60% of interviewees had experienced being left alone at home.
xi)
About 37% of interviewees had previously been involved in household accidents. The number
of such accidents was as high as 2,175. The most common were: falls (83%), cuts (60.1%) and
crush injuries (44%).
In accordance with the survey findings, we arrived at the following conclusions:
i)
Schools and social services organizations should be directly responsible for educating children
regarding family violence. Aspects should include (i) definition and impact of family violence;
(ii) knowledge and skills of self protection amongst children, including how and when to seek
help and which organizations can offer help; (iii) how to handle conflicts in a non-violent way;
(iv) how to present and communicate one’s feelings and thoughts effectively; and (v) proper
ways to handle and report family violence .
ii)
Social and community organizations should publicize information on family violence. Media
can play a very effective part by publicizing information on different types of social service
resources when they are making coverage on family violence cases.
iii)
Government and relevant organizations should establish guidelines on handling family violence.
All relevant parties and frontline social workers should be provided with sufficient and continuous
training to heighten their awareness and sensitivity when working on cases of family violence.
iv)
Parents need to address family problems early before the situation becomes more complex
or deteriorate. They should also stop using corporal punishment on their children and learn to
handle conflicts with non-violent means.
v)
Children should be equipped with knowledge and information of family violence in order to
raise their sensitivity and ability to handle violent circumstances. Mutual support among their
own peer group should be encouraged and strengthened. Early report of family violence
should be encouraged.
vi)
Adults should never leave children unattended at home and particular attention should be
paid to home safety.
vii)
When handling family violence cases, relevant parties should place special emphasis on
dealing with children’s emotion, behaviour and their subsequent learning problems.
Appropriate action plans should be worked out and followed through.
To conclude, the result of this survey have alerted us that family violence still exists in various forms
and most children are not knowledgeable about family violence. This may constitute a threat to
child development and child safety. Government and relevant parties should be more pro-active
in preventing family violence and in attending to children’s needs during therapy. There should be
zero tolerance towards family violence in our society.
3. Educational Activity
To raise public awareness in family violence and its impact on children, two educational activities
were organized in the year under review. The first one was conducted on 6 November 2004 at the
Central Atrium, G/F of the Olympian City II, and the second one, sponsored by Wong Tai Sin District
Council, at the Wong Tai Sin Shopping Centre on 19 December 2004.
Dr. Fernando Cheung Chiu Hung, Legislative Councilor, was invited to both activities and gave his
message of support to the prevention of family violence. Mr. George Lung Chee Ming, committee
member of Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education, attended the activity at Olympian
City and Mr. Dr. Albert Li Sze Bay, J.P. of Wong Tai Sin District Council attended the one at Wong Tai
Sin Shopping Centre.
Volunteers helped in the exhibition corner, the educational workshop “the Children’s Court”, the
painting corner “The Family I wish for”, the game booths “Fish for the Right Elements of Prevention
of Domestic Violence” and “Throw away Violence”. About 2,000 children and parents attended
the two activities. It is hoped that these activities could disseminate the message of “stop family
violence” to the community.
61
THE SERVICE
Young Explorer in Body Safety & IT Learning
Young Explorer in Body Safety & IT Learning is a project targeted to serve the children at kindergarten
level and their parents.
From January to February 2005, ACA organized activities for this parent-child group to promote
concepts of body safety and child protection and to explore learning with IT appliances, mainly
using IBM’s Young Explorer and educational software. Parents were encouraged to interact and
have more frequent discussions with their children on body safety while using IT. From the feedback
of the parents and children they enjoyed the experience in exploring concepts on body safety,
child protection and learning of IT usage. Both parents and children enjoyed the process of learning
through interactive games, which made understanding concepts easy. They also extended what
they had learnt in the parent-child sharing and interaction to their own situation at home. From
February to May 2005, some members from the Junior Volunteers Group took turn on duty to help
in guiding children and parents to use the Young Explorer software. Their help received much
favourable feedback.
62
Junior Volunteers Group
In Tuen Mun Centre, the Junior Volunteers Group provided various services in promoting child
protection this year. In August 2004, the group conducted a two-session training for 21 children
aged between five and nine. Through the use of interactive games, the children’s awareness in
body safety was heightened.
Also, in November 2004, ten volunteers were trained to conduct the “ACTION! - Child Protection”
programme, which served 16 children aged 4-7 on the importance of child protection. They also
helped in the preparation and implementation of the “Young Explorer in Body Safety and IT Learning”
project for parents and children.
63
THE SERVICE
The Father’s Day Press Conference and
Dream Home Publication
Sponsored by the Schneider Electric (Hong Kong) Limited
Father’s Day reminds us of the important role fathers play in families. On Father’s Day this year,
ACA conducted a press conference and distributed the Dream Home Publication.
The press conference covered a report on the implementation of UN Convention on the Rights of
the Child in Hong Kong and the announcement of the Dream Home Publication and the ACA 25th
Anniversary Events.
Year 2004 marked the tenth anniversary of the
extension of the UN Convention on the Rights of
the Child to Hong Kong. Through the press
conference, it was hoped that both government
and public attention could be drawn to the work
and effort on rights of children in the local scene.
The Dream Home Publication, with the cover
designed by Mr. Yim Yee King (Ah Chung), the
renowned artist, compiled a collection of family
stories written by entrants of the Most Valuable
Family Players Competition and drawings by
children in activities previously organized by ACA
on their perception of safety. The publication
was sponsored by the Schneider Electric (Hong
Kong) Limited.
Special appreciation has to be given to the Friends of ACA and staff of Schneider Electric (HK)
Limited who helped to distribute over 1,100 copies of the publications at the Lung Cheung Mall in
Wong Tai Sin on the Day.
64
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TRAININGS /
SHARING FORUMS
Talks/Seminars and Information Dissemination
Talks and Seminars
ACA was invited to deliver talks and conduct seminars organized by tertiary institutes and different
organizations to professionals, parents and children. Topics included overview of child protection
in Hong Kong, identification and handling of child abuse cases, prevention of child sexual abuse
and sex education, children’s rights, effective parenting and exploration of child development
issues.
Among the 67 talks conducted in the year under review, 21 were delivered to professionals, 19 to
kindergarten, primary and secondar y school students, 12 to parents, 8 to the public and 7 to
university students. Altogether, 5,469 participants attended these talks (char t 25), and 86%
participants found them helpful and very satisfactory.
Information Dissemination
Altogether, 14 groups of 204 visitors, including professionals, university students and volunteers,
visited both ACA’s Chuk Yuen Centre and Tuen Mun Centre. Information on ACA services and
child protection messages was disseminated to them during their visits.
65
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TRAININGS / SHARING FORUMS
Fieldwork Placement and Internship Programme
As in previous years, ACA provided social work fieldwork placement and internship programmes
for students from the Departments of Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Medicine and Law of
tertiary institutes.
Students under the social work fieldwork placement programme were given opportunities to handle
hotline, investigation and to provide casework services. They appreciated the exposure and handson experience provided in this specialized field of child protection. Students under the internship
programme were also given similar exposure opportunities to various services.
List of Students for Fieldwork Placement and Internship Programme
66
University of Hong Kong
Ms Lau Ka Mei
Ms Ho Tsz Wai, Fanny
Ms Yu Wing Yan, Joyce
Mr Lee King Wai, Chris
Mr Ng Chun Lim
Ms Wu Yi Man, Eman
Ms Wong Sau Man, Mandy
Ms Yeung Kok Fung, Sam
Ms Fu Yuet Yee
Ms Chan Yuk Lam, Karen
Ms Tang Lai Ching
Ms Tam Yik Shan, Chole
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Ms Ng Ching Yih, Susanna
Ms Au Wing Yan
City University of Hong Kong
Mr Lo Ka Hung, Sam
Ms Lee Chui Yi, Jessica
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Ms Ma Cheuk Yee, Cheryl
Ms Lam Yat Ning, Elaine
Hong Kong Baptist University
Mr Wong Kwong Liu
Ms Chu Wai Lam, Kanis
Ms Chan Wai Tuen, Amelia
Child Protection Training Course
Backed by many years of experience in child protection, ACA has been conducting child protection
certificate courses since 2000. The courses facilitate sharing with frontline professionals and enable
early identification and effective intervention of child abuse cases.
In the year under review, three such training courses were conducted. Two certificate courses on
child protection and child sexual abuse were organized for professionals on 2-23 June 2004 and
between 21 October and 4 November 2004 respectively with 122 participants. Participants came
from different professions, including school guidance ser vice, children and youth service, family
service, rehabilitation service and education. The third training course on handling and prevention
of child abuse was organized for 30 frontline workers of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals as their staff
development programme in December 2004.
67
Sex Education Online (RTHK eTVonline)
ACA endeavour s to promote
parent-child sex education and
child sexual a buse prevention
through var ious educational
programmes and the media.
In the year under review, ACA
continued to provide support and
information to the Sex Education
Online (www.sexedonline.tv)
produced by RTHK eTVonline. We
contributed ideas and provided
educational materials and
resources in the areas of child
sexual abuse as well as parentchild sex education. Mrs Priscilla Lui, Director of ACA, who has been one of the resource persons of
the website, helped to answer email enquiries from the public. A “Sex Educators Honors Award”
was presented to Mrs Lui for her dedication and hard work in sex education in Hong Kong at the
“Safer Sex Campaign” cum “Dr. Sex Junior” Graduation Ceremony on 19 March 2005.
68
Comparative Research
The Physical and Emotional Punishment of Children in Southeast, East Asia
and Pacific Region
Child protection is a collective responsibility not only locally but also globally. In 2001, the UN
General-Assembly requested the Secretary-General to conduct an in-depth study on violence
against children. The International Save the Children Alliance would like to contribute work towards
the study End Violence Against Children. Mrs Priscilla Lui, the director of the Against Child Abuse,
was invited to serve as the Hong Kong focal point to facilitate and coordinate concerned agencies
in Hong Kong to conduct the comparative research on physical and emotional punishment in
Hong Kong.
Strategic Alliance on Child Protection
After three meetings with some of the interested stakeholders in Hong Kong, a Strategic Alliance
on Child Protection was formed and its immediate task was to conduct a research to explore the
prevalence of physical punishment in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Council of Social Ser vice, the
Department of Psychology of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Office of Fernando Cheung,
Legislative Councillor, The Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights, The Hong Kong Association
for the Survivors of Women Abuse and the Against Child Abuse were members of the Alliance in this
69
collective effort to put an end to corporal punishment on children. The Director of ACA was invited
to be the Coordinator of this Alliance.
Protocol Workshop
A research protocol workshop organized by the International Save the Children Alliance: SEAP
Region was held in Bangkok, Thailand from 21 to 23 February 2005. Dr Lin Siu Fung, Lecturer,
Department of Psychology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Ms Carmen Liu, Social worker,
ACA, agreed to be the researcher and the secretary of the strategic alliance. Both of them attended
the workshop. The workshop was an important part of the implementation of the research. Nine
regions, including Hong Kong, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Philippines, South
Korea and Vietnam, were involved in this Comparative Research. Altogether there were 32
participants, including 24 focal points and researchers and 6 resource persons. The workshop was
well structured. Valuable opportunities were there for participants from different regions to exchange
ideas. It covered the review of work on research questions and secondar y data collection and
analysis done by each team from its representing region. Thorough discussions on the protocol
development, research tools and ethical strategies were made. We would like to thank the Save
the Children, Sweden and the Cathy Pacific for sponsoring the accommodation and air passages
for our attendees to this workshop.
Research Implementation
Data collection is in progress. One primary school and another secondar y school accepted our
invitation to allow their students to par ticipate in this study. The detailed analysis would be
completed soon. We hope that observations and recommendations made could benefit Hong
Kong, as well as other regions around the globe, to understand what kinds of violence our children
are facing. Let us work for an end to corporal punishment on children.
70
PUBLICITY & FUND RAISING EVENTS
25th Anniversary Celebration
71
The year under review marked the 25th anniversary of the Against Child Abuse. The 25th Anniversary
Fund Raising Concert cum Annual General Meeting was organized to:
1)
involve celebrities and children in the promotion of the important message of child protection and
to draw public’s attention to the World Children’s Day; and
2)
raise funds for innovative and proactive child protection
programmes for children and their families.
Press Conference on 20 October 2004
The Fund Raising Concer t was publicized through a press
conference held on 20 October 2004 at the Metropolis Mall.
Altogether seven guests, including Ms Cheng Pui Pui, Ms Marsha
Yuan, 2R (Ms Rosanne Wong and Ms Race Wong), Mr Hins Cheung,
Mr Pacino Wan and our Child Ambassador Ms Nicola Cheung were
present to show their support to our work in child protection and
to appeal to the public for support of the Concert.
Press Conference on 19 November 2004
Another Press Conference was held on 19 November 2004, the
World Prevention of Child Abuse Day, to solicit participation of
the community to combat family violence and child abuse and
to urge the public to support in sharing collective responsibility in
ensuring optimal growth and development of our children in a
caring, nurturing and non-violent environment.
Our Director, Mrs Priscilla Lui and social worker, Ms Kit Wong met with the mass media. Mrs Lui
highlighted the child protection, counseling, educational and advocacy roles shouldered by ACA
72
in the past twenty-five years. ACA’s belief that child protection is a collective responsibility was
presented. She also appealed to the government to take an active and leading role in involving
the entire community in the work of child protection. She also explained to the media the multilevel services targeted to various stakeholders including children, teenagers, parents and parentsto-be, child minders, childcare workers, teachers, social
workers and student trainers of various trades.
During the conference, Mrs Lui also raised the concern
regarding change of funding policy and the budget cut,
leading to stresses and strains on agencies with a small staff
force such as ACA. These agencies needed resources to
handle complex and demanding cases of child abuse and
domestic violence and to render both r emedial and
preventive services.
Mrs Lui presented the trends, characteristics and numbers
of hotline, investigation and cases handled in the year under
review. She particularly stressed the needs of the ser vice users receiving
Social Security and those living in poverty. She also explained the
importance in providing intense services at different levels to enable
thorough assessment and humane handling with the involvement of both
children and parents concerned.
L a s t l y, M r s L u i c o m m e n t e d o n t h e
importance of having a Child
Commission and a Ser ious and Fatal
Cases Review Mechanism to r eflect
children’s needs and ensure a safe and
happy childhood for them. She also
reiterated ACA’s appeal to the government to adopt a proactive
and strategic approach in the implementation of the UN Convention
on the Rights of the Child.
Social worker, Ms Kit Wong shared with the media the process and
significant role of investigating suspected child abuse cases and
the problems encountered. Ms Wong stressed the importance of
thorough assessment and engaging clients at the forefront through the intervention process. As
an illustration of the service users’ needs of services, Ms Wong’s presentation was followed by a
video explaining ACA’s work for one of its service users.
73
25th Anniversary Fund Raising Concert cum Annual General Meeting
ACA held this event on 20 November 2004, World Children’s Day, at Jockey Club Auditorium, the
Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Ms Elsie Leung GMB, JP, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region was our honorable guest. Celebrities and student groups, including
Mr Hacken Lee, Ms Marsha Yuan, 2R (Ms Rosanne Wong and Ms Race Wong), Mr Hins Cheung and
our Child Ambassador Ms Nicola Cheung, the SKH Wei Lun Primary School and the La Salle
Secondar y School Chinese Orchestra perfor med at this Fund Raising Concer t. Corporate
sponsorships, both in cash and in kind were received. Special thanks are extended to our generous
donors, including legislative councilors, ACA Executive members, general public and corporations
such as the Universal Music, She & He Ltd., Fa Tin Textile & Fashion (H.K.) Ltd., Yat Fai Flower Printing
Industrial Co. Ltd., Swarovski Hong Kong Ltd., CRABTREE & EVELYN, Plastrons Ltd., Protege Professional
Career Solutions, Swire Coca Cola Hong Kong and Career Times Online Ltd. for their support. More
than HK$380,000 was raised.
Fund Raising Events
During this year, ACA partnered with different organizations in raising funds. Response was
enthusiastic.
On 14 November 2004, ACA volunteers helped to man an educational game booth and a fund
raising booth at the Bazaar of Matilda Hospital Sedan Chair Race Char ities Fund. There were over
3000 participants.
On 27 November 2004, ACA joined the School Fair of Shatin College and Junior School by sending
volunteers to man a fund raising booth. Over a thousand parents and children expressed their
support and appreciation of services provided by ACA.
On 5 March 2005, volunteers helped to promote ACA services and raised fund at the Carnival of
King George V School. Over a thousand people participated.
74
Publication / Audio and Visual Production
To heighten the awareness of child abuse and to consolidate valuable experience in the field of
child protection for reference for other sectors of the community, a project report and a booklet
was published and disseminated.
The project report had a comprehensive coverage of the Children’s Council 2004, a project jointly
organized by Against Child Abuse, the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF and the Hong Kong
Committee on Children’s Rights, with the sponsorship of the Home Affairs Bureau. The project
involved 120 Children Councilors, all under the age of 18, who presented and debated motions
closely related to children in the two Children’s Council Meetings in 2003 and 2004 held in the
Legislative Council Building. The objective of the project was to promote children’s rights, with the
ultimate aim of setting up a permanent Children’s Council in Hong Kong.
, designed and named by Mr. Yim
Another publication this year was the booklet
Yee King (Au Chung). It was published on Father’s Day. The booklet promotes harmonious family
lifestyle through a collection of touching stories of how family members support each other in
times of adversity. Half of the booklet consists of photos of the award presentation on the Mother’s
Day’s Carnival and essays submitted by nominators, describing how contestants contributed their
efforts to pull their families together. The other half of the booklet displays artwork of children who
participated in the “Let Us Grow Healthily” drawing competition - the opening event of ACA’s 1st
Child Safety Fundraising Carnival. Themes of child safety and growing up healthily abound in the
paintings.
75
STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION
Service Performance Monitoring System
It is our mission to provide quality child protection services. ACA has followed the guidelines of the
Social Welfare Department and commenced the implementation of Ser vice Quality Standards. If
you have any questions or comments, or would like to have access to the relevant documents of
any SQS, please feel free to contact us. The 16 SQSs include the following:
76
SQS 1
Service Information
The service unit ensures that a clear description of its
purpose, objectives and mode of service delivery is publicly
available.
SQS 2
Review and Update
The service unit should review and update the document
policies and procedures describing how it will approach
key service delivery issues.
SQS 3
Records
The service unit maintains accurate and current records of
service operations and activities.
SQS 4
Roles and Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities of all staff, managers, the
Management Committee and/or the Board of other
decision making bodies should be clearly defined.
SQS 5
Human Resources
The service unit/agency implements effective staff
recruitment, contracting, development, training,
assessment, deployment and disciplinary practices.
SQS 6
Planning, Evaluation and
Feedback
The service unit regularly plans, reviews and evaluates its
own performance, and has an effective mechanism by
which service users, staff and other interested parties can
provide feedback on its performance.
SQS 7
Financial Management
The service unit implement policies and procedures to
ensure effective financial management.
SQS 8
Legal Obligations
The ser vice unit compiles with all relevant legal
obligations.
SQS 9
Safe Physical Environment
The service unit takes all reasonable steps to ensure that
it provides a safe physical environment for its staff and
service users.
SQS 10
Entry and Exit
The service unit ensures that service users have clear and
accurate information about how to enter and leave the
service.
SQS 11
Needs of Service Users
The service unit has a planned approach to assessing
and meeting service users’ needs (whether the service
user is an individual, family, group or community).
SQS 12
Informed Choices
The service unit respects the service users’ right to make
informed choices of the service they received as far as
practicable.
SQS 13
Private Property
The service unit respects the service users’ right in relation
to private property.
SQS 14
Privacy & Confidentiality
The service unit respects the service users’ rights for
privacy and confidentiality.
SQS 15
Complaints
Each service user and staff member is free to raise and
have addressed, without fear of retribution, any
complaints he or she may have regarding the agency
or the service unit.
SQS 16
Freedom from Abuse
The service unit takes all reasonable steps to ensure that
service users are free from abuse.
77
Staff Development
To meet demanding social needs and the need to handle complex family problems, our social
workers are required to equip themselves and refresh their knowledge and skills in various aspects
of child protection. Both internal and external staff development programmes, local and overseas
conferences and workshops are arranged for them to attend.
Local Programme/Conference
Apart from the yearly staff retreat, a range of internal staff training programmes was arranged.
Themes included child abuse and domestic violence, non-violence training, ‘to have learnt and to
be learned’ on child protection, domestic violence intervention, corporal punishment, eco-systemic
intervention approach to work on child abuse families, therapy for depression and psychotherapy.
Social workers also joined different external staff development trainings. Themes included social
welfare blueprint, child protection system in Hong Kong, handling of battered spouse and domestic
violence, poverty, family support, the rights of children, children’s commission, human relationships
restoration, community child health, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, racial discrimination,
future of new immigrants, corporate social responsibility, best practices for charitable fund-raising
activities, parental perception on children’s internet use and conference of human services
information technology (Please refer to the following table).
Overseas Conference/Workshop
Two social workers, Ms Kelly Leung and Ms Carmen Liu attended a workshop in Thailand and an
international conference in Australia respectively in the year under review. Ms Leung attended
the Save the Children Regional Workshop: National Challenges, Information and Resource Needs
in Addressing Corporal Punishment on Children in Southeast Asia Pacific from 5 to 9 April 2004. Ms
Liu attended the 15th ISPCAN International Congress and the Pre-congress Workshop from 19 to 22
September 2004 sponsored by Li Po Chun Charitable Trust Fund Committee. They both found the
workshop and conference stimulating and fruitful.
78
Staff Development Programmes
Organizer
Against Child Abuse
Sharing of external trainings by ACA social workers:
Domestic violence intervention; Corporal punishment workshop
held in Thailand; Using eco-system approach to work on child abuse
families; Therapy for depression; Psychotherapy
Staff Retreat
Child Abuse and Domestic Violence (by Prof. Olive Stevenson)
Non-Violence Training Workshop (by Josefu Homo Giocoechen)
To Have Learnt & To Be Learned on Child Protection
(by Dr Jon Conte)
Fire Prevention (by Fire Service Department)
Hong Kong Council of
Social Service
Forum on Social Welfare Blueprint
Consultative Forum on Social Welfare Blueprint
Welfare Blueprint - Workshop on Specific Subjects
- Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility
- Workshop on Welfare Financing
Insurance Seminar on Insurance for Directors & Officers Liability,
Professional Indemnity & Medical Malpractice
Digital Solidarity Fund Briefing Session
Social Service
Multi-disciplinary Seminar on How to Improve the Child
Protection System in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Medical Association
Office of Dr Law Chi-kwong,
Legislative Councilor
(Social Welfare Constituency)
Social Service
The 7th International Conference of Human Services Information
Technology Applications (HUSITA 7)
Human Services
Information Technology
Applications (HUSITA), USA
79
Social Service
Workshop on Basic Concepts on Legislating Against
Racial Discrimination
Hong Kong Human
Rights Monitor
Oxfam Hong Kong
Social Service
Workshop on Impetus of a high repaying rate of
flag sales activities
Association of
Fundraising Professionals
(HK Chapter) Limited
Social Service
Public Seminar on poverty
Central Policy Unit of
SAR Government
Social Welfare Department
Sharing Session on The Reference Guide on Best Practices
for Charitable Fund-raising Activities
Training Package on Domestic Violence
- Workshop on Anger Management
Multi-disciplinary Seminar on Handling Domestic Violence
Tuen Mun District
Coordinating Committee
on Family and Child
Welfare Services
Department of Social
Work, the Chinese
University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Social
Workers Association
Course on Attention Deficit Hyperactively Disorder in Children
Assessment & Intervention
Symposium on “Building Professional Competence & Community
Capacity to Fight Domestic Violence”
Department of Applied
Social Sciences, the
Hong Kong Polytechnic
University
Institute of Health Care
Hospital Authority
80
Community Child Health - A Multi-Professional Programme
The Hong Kong
Committee On Children’s
Rights
A Forum to establish a Children’s Commission for Hong Kong
Centre for Restoration of
Human Relationships
Two-days Workshop on Certificate Training for Moderator of
Human Relationships Restoration
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
Research on “Parental Perception on Children’s Internet Use” Press Conference & Seminar
Office of Dr Law Chi-kwong,
Legislative Councilor
(Social Welfare Constituency)
Symposium on the Future of New Immigrants after the Shutting
Down of New Immigrants Centre
Harmony House
New Hope Action - Domestic Violence Crisis Management Task
Group
Forum on “Professional Without Boundaries - Developing a
Faultless Method in Handling Domestic Violence”
Faculty of Law,
The University of
Hong Kong
Lecture on “The Rights of Children in the 21st Century”
Christian Family Service Centre
Golden Jubilee Forum on “Rethinking Family Support in 21st
Century”
Save the Children
Workshop: National Challenges Information and Resources
Needs In Addressing Corporal Punishment On Children in SEAP Thailand
International Society for
Prevention of Child
Abuse and Neglects
ISPCAN International Congress And pre-congress Workshop Australia
81
APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Patron, Honorary Advisors & Executive Committee Member
82
Appendix 2: Member Lists of Sub-Committees
83
APPENDICES
Appendix 3: List of Staff Members
84
Appendix 4: Service Charts
85
APPENDICES
86
87
APPENDICES
88
89
APPENDICES
90
91
APPENDICES
92
Child Sexual Abuse Hotline & Consultation Service (Chart 16 - 23)
93
APPENDICES
94
95
APPENDICES
96
97
APPENDICES
98
Appendix 5:
Acknowledgement
Our heartfelt thanks to the following
organizations and individuals for
their substantial contributions in the
period under review:
The Community Chest of Hong Kong
Social Welfare Department
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Charities Trust
Home Affairs Bureau
Committee on the Promotion of Civil
Education
Li Po Chun Charitable Fund
Matilda Sedan Chair Race Charities
Fund
The American Women's Association
of HK Ltd.
The Marden Foundation Ltd.
Wong Tai Sin District Council
We also wish to thank the following
organizations and individuals for
their generous donations in cash, in
kind or in service:
Allianz Insurance
Allied Properties HK Ltd
Belvedere Kindergarten
Career Times Online Ltd
Chiu Chow Association
Crabtree & Evelyn
Da Hing (Far East) Co Ltd
Dr Kong Footcare Ltd
FE Mansonic Assforcharity
GTS Int'l Ltd
Helene Studio
HK Alias Franciscan
HK Today's Charitable Fund
King Geroge V College
Longie Ltd
Marden Foundation Ltd
Maxbo (HK) Ltd
Pacific Century Insurance Co., Ltd
Proactive Technology
Schneider Electric
Shatin Junior College
SKH Wei Lun Primary School
St John Cathedral
St Paul's Co Education College
Swarovski Hong Kong Ltd
The Mother Care
The Salesian Society
Tramsformatics College
Tsing Yi Trade Association Tin Shui Wai
Kindergarten
Universal Music
Andrew P. Choworowsky
Annoymous Donor
Karis Au
Au King Chi
Au Kit Lin
Au Yeung Man Yee
Brian Lik Chan
Chan Bing Woon
Christy Chan
Edmond Chan
Chan Ho Ning
Chan Hoi Yin
Chan Hok Keung Raymond
Ifan Chan
Joey Chan
Chan Kin Ming
Chan Kuen Koon
Chan Kwai Yuk
Chan Nga Ying
Chan Ping Kwong
Chan Pui Kwong
Rick Chan
Rosana Chan
Chan Shui Lan
Chan Shui Yun
Chan Shuk Man
Chan Sin Han
Chan Sin Sheung
Chan Siu Cheung
Chan Wing Lim
Chan Wing Yeung
Chan Yu Kwan
Phyllis Chang
Ronna Chao
Charis Chau
Chau Hau Ping
Cheng King Tuen
Cheng Lee Man Ning
Cheng Man Sum
Cheng Pei Pei
Cheng Shui Yin
Cheng Wui Kei
Cheuk Ngai Man Huster
Cheung Chiu Hing
Elaine Cheung
Irene Cheung
Cheung King Hiu
Cheung Sau Yuen, Nichola
Cheung Yuet Wah
Chiang Kin Chung
Choi Siu Ming
Choi Sze Man
Choi Yuen Ying
Chong Chyi Ying Alyce
Chong Sok Ling
Chow Chun Bong
Annie Chu
Chu Lai Yin
Chu Ming Nga
Patricia Chu
Chui Wing On
Elsie Chung
Chung Shu Ming
Chung Siu Lai
Click Schoech
Davicg B Fitzgevald
De Heer J.W. Kleijn
Fong Wing Ching Sharon
Fung Ka Yee
Fung Wing Fai
Fung Yat Chu
Gerald Huang
Helen Tinsley
Ho Man On
Ho Oi Chu
Hong Chi Keung
Hsu Lai Lai
Hui Na Na
Hui Yin Fat OBE JP
Ian Grenville Cross
Ip Lai Sheung Patricia
Jim Tak Hing
Kam Man Kit
Ava Kan
99
APPENDICES
Kan Shin Yu
Belinda Kong
Belinda Kuo
Kwan Hang Fan
Kwok Lai Ling
Kwok Wing Chow
Kwok Wing Tak
Kwok Yau Yam
Danny Kwong
Lai Mi Har
Lam Chan Lan Tak Gladys
Lam For Wick
Lam Fung Lam
Lam Lai Kuen
Lam Moon Hing Vera
Lau Hok Bun Andrew
Mrs Lau
Lau Sau Shing
Lau Shek Leung
Law Man Shing
Law Wai Ying
Lee Kar Ming
Lee Hacken
Lee Lai Ying
Lawerence Lee
Lee Man Yuk Ching
Lee Pui Fan
Lee Sai Chan
Lee Tung Hai
Alan Leong
Mrs Leung
Leung Chun Wah
Leung Lai Ching
Leung Lit On
Leung Pak Tim
Leung Siu Ling
Leung Wing Hong
Leung Yim Fong
Leung Yuen
Li Chiu Wah
Li Fung Ying
Li Sin Ming
Li Sin Yee
Liu Tsz Lung
Liu Yip Keung
Anita Lo
Lo Kam Wah
Lo Yin Ching
LST Chan Cho Chak PS
Lui Wai Bun
Lui Wai Ling
Mak Sau Chun
Man Chan Wai
Motilal Bharwani
Mui Kit Fong Kitty
Thomas J Mulvey
Roger A Nissim
James Ng
Kitty Ng
Ng Yut Ming
Ngan Man Shan
P & G Kennedy
Pang Ming Fung
Poon Yuen Shan
Razack Evelyn
Nancy Rhind
Sham Mei Kuen Daisy
Hody Sin
Olive Stevenson
Su Cheng Kung
Sun Shiu Ling
Maria Tam
Tang Ming
Tang Wing Ho
To Pui Ching Fanny
Tim To
Tonia
Tse Kin Shing Francis
Grace Tsoi
Tsui Hing Sum
Rosanne & Race Wong
Wang Yung Chiu
Wolfgang Graier
Mrs Wong
Wong Chi Fun
Wong Ching Yee
Christopher Wong
Wong Chung Cheung
Eva Wong
Wong Hin Wah
Wong Hui Man
Wong Lai Chun
Wong Lai Han
Margaret Wong
Wong Mei Cheung
Wong Pui Man
Wong Ting Kwong
Wong Yick Cheung
Zachary Wong
Wu Wai Fan Brenda
Yam King Lok
Yang Chuen Liang Charles
Andrew Yau
Roberta Yau
Yeung Lai Ming
Yeung Lok Ki
Ying Yu Hing
Yip Kwan Kit
Yu Sum Yee Angela
Yuen Marsha
Zheng Ge Ru
Zhu Tong
Special acknowledgement to Mr. Patrick Wong for english editing of this annual report.
100

2004/05

Transcription

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