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SLW visits SWD's Central Foster Care Unit (with photo)
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     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited the Central Foster Care Unit of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) at Southorn Centre in Wan Chai this afternoon (July 30) to grasp the latest situation of the foster care service provided by the SWD.

     Accompanied by the Assistant District Social Welfare Officer (Central Western/Southern/Islands), Miss Chan Lai-chu, Mr Cheung was briefed by the staff on the scope of services and operation of the Unit which includes recruitment and assessment of foster homes, provision of support to foster homes and thematic talks, and more. He also met with a pair of foster parents to hear them share their experience of joy and tears in foster care service. Noting that they have taken care of 51 needy children in the past 12 years, Mr Cheung thanked them profusely for their selfless commitment.

     Mr Cheung also chatted with the staff of the Unit and stressed that the well-being of foster children should always come first. He encouraged the colleagues to keep improving and developing the foster care service so that children in need can be provided with a stable growing environment.

     The SWD's Central Foster Care Unit was established in 1982 to oversee and co-ordinate the provision of foster care services by non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The purpose of foster care is to provide substitute family care for children whose parents cannot adequately take care of them for various reasons, so that the children can continue to enjoy family life until they reunite with their families or when other long-term welfare plans are in place.

     The local foster care service is currently run by 11 NGOs with a total of 1 070 service places. As at the end of June this year, there were 935 registered foster families and 946 foster children in placement.

Ends/Thursday, July 30, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:12

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