FAMILY SERVICE UNIT

Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Acting Minister for Community Development what plans his Ministry has for strengthening the Family Service Unit.

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: The Family and Women's Welfare (FWW) Section of MCD undertakes the following functions:-

(i) provides information and referral services and a telephone hotline service for families and individuals in need of assistance;

(ii) oversees the development of Family Service Centres and other support services for families;

(iii) serves as a first point of contact for women in distress;

(iv) provides assistance and support to families with relationship problems such as marital conflicts and family disputes; and

(v) processes applications for Special Marriage Licences where either party is below 18 years of age as required under Section 20(2) of the Women's Charter.

The FWW Section is manned by a team of 10 Welfare Officers, led by an Assistant Director and 3 Supervisors.

However, individual cases referred to the Ministry are not dealt with in isolation. The Ministry adopts a family-centred approach in the management of these cases.

Work with families is, therefore, also undertaken by other Sections and Branches of the Ministry. The family service functions undertaken by the other Sections of the Ministry include:-

• public education on family life;

• direct services to the aged, children and offenders and their families;

• development, promotion and co-ordination of support services for families by voluntary welfare and community organisations; and

• research and review of policies and programmes affecting the family.