COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL'S NATIONAL HELPLINE

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Community Development whether he will give the following information: (i) the number and profile of callers using the Community Development Council's National Helpline; (ii) the type of problems presented; and (iii) the kind of help extended to these callers.

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: The CDC National Helpline was launched on 3rd January 1998 to provide a one-stop information, assistance and referral service to the public. With the National Helpline, the public will be immediately connected with the right people at the right place instead of having to remember different helpline numbers in Singapore and calling various organisations for assistance.

19 organisations are already linked with the CDC National Helpline to provide a good social service network and frontline service to those who call. The helpline partners include those dealing with children, youth, family, women, community, elderly, health and disabled.

As on 30th April 1998, the Helpline received 3,699 calls (see details below). Among them, 20.5% requested for job placements, 18.5% for assistance on family-related matters such as counselling for child/youth issues and home placements for elderly/disabled person, 9.6% for financial assistance for daily expenses, rentals, utilities and conservancy charges, medical bills and children's education fees, 8.3% for legal aid and counselling and 4.8% for health-related matters.

We do not track the particulars of the callers because of our assurance of confidentiality. Hence, we are unable to give her the profile of the callers.

Those who were eligible for the social assistance schemes co-administered by the CDCs were given prompt approvals. These schemes include Public Assistance, Rental and Utilities Assistance Scheme, Small Family Improvement Scheme and Medifund. Besides these, interim financial help was also provided. Job seekers were matched to job banks in the Ministry of Manpower's Labournet and vacancies from local sources. Legal aid and counselling were given by professionals from various CDC partners. Referrals to homes/institutions were also made. TYPES OF CALLS TO THE CDC HELPLINE Type Total Child and Youth Matters 219 (5.9%) Elderly Matters 64 (1.7%) Financial Assistance 159 (4.3%) HDB Related Matters 86 (2.3%) Health Related Matters 90 (2.4%) Job Placement 758 (20.5%) Legal Aid and Disputes 185 (5%) Family Matters 402 (10.9%) Mental Health Matters 71 (1.9%) Handicapped Matters 18 (0.5%) Education Matters 111 (3%) Immigration/CPF/Citizenship 57 (1.6%) Matters Neighbourhood/Environment Matters 66 (1.8%) Miscellaneous 1,413 (38.2%) TOTAL 3,699 (100%)