Yuen Long District Youth Outreaching Social Work Team

Background

The outreaching service of Hong Kong Christian Service was started as early as 60s, with two pilot outreaching programs at Lei Cheng UK estate in Shamshuipo in 1966 and Tsimshatsui in 1975. In 1979, the Government published the White Paper "Social Welfare into the 80s", Shamshuipo and Tsimshatsui Outreaching Social Work Team were officially established. Afterwards, our outreaching service was extended to Yuen Long District and Yuen Long Outreaching Social Work Team was established on October 1, 1988. On the other hand, due to the decreasing service need at Tsimshatsui in late 80s, Tsimshatsui Outreaching Social Work Team was reprovisioned to Kwun Tong district and became Ngau Tau Kok Outreaching Social Work Team in 1991.

With the integrated trend of youth services in 1995, outreaching service was gradually merged with Integrated Children and Youth Service. Only some outreaching teams were remained and their service areas were expanded. In the same year, Yuen Long Outreaching Social Work Team was renamed as Yuen Long District Youth Outreaching Social Work Team.

Followed by the restructuring of youth service, Shamshuipo outreaching team and Ngau Tau Kok outreaching team were totally merged with our Integrated Children and Youth Service and completed their historical tasks by 2002.

Yuen Long District Youth Outreaching Social Work Team aimed at reaching out to direct contact with youths who are vulnerable to undesirable influences. Once the engagement is possible, outreaching social workers will provide appropriate service to help youths to deal with difficulties encountered in daily life and then develop a wholesome life.

Service Objectives

• To assist youths in fulfilling their potentials.
• To prevent the deterioration of behavioural problems of youth.
• To improve the abilities of youth to solve difficulties and problems.

Service Approach

Outreaching social workers will identify, establish direct contact with, and probe into the needs of target clients by reaching out to the places that youths are known to go frequently such as football or basketball fields, electronic game centres, places of entertainment, cyber cafes, etc. Active encouragement in setting up service objectives will also be made to these clients in order to offer appropriate service to them.

Service Scope

• To provide counselling service to assist our clients to overcome difficulties and problems.
• To provide group activities such as job training and adventurous activities as well as other activities conducive to the completion of casework programmes.
• To provide referral service if the needs of our clients cannot be met by Our Team.

Service Targets

Youth aged 6 to 24 living, studying, working and seeking entertainment in our service boundary which covers Yuen Long Town Centre, Long Ping Estate, Shui Pin Wai Estate, Fung Kam Street nearby areas and Kam Tin.

Service Application

No application is required for clients identified by our outreaching social workers. We also accept referrals from outside parties. Youth meeting basic requirements will be invited by assigned social workers to become potential members or members.

Service Termination

Current clients can withdraw from service voluntarily at any time without making an application. Service will be terminated when:

• Agreed service plan is achieved; or
• Clients no longer meet our basic requirements; or
• Service is not suitable to the client’s needs.

*Notice will be issued to our members upon termination of service by our team.