Yesterday, President Tony Tan Keng Yam launched Singapore's first transition group home that helps girls integrate into society. There were 155 child abuse cases last year. The home is part of Dayspring's Residential Treatment Centre, which provides therapy for girls aged between 13 and 17 who have been physically, sexually, or emotionally abused repeatedly.
After the girls go through the one-year care and counselling programme at the treatment centre, the plan is for them join the transition home to acquire the skills needed when they rejoin society. The treatment centre and transition home are examples of the "small-group therapeutic homes" concept first mentioned by then Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan in 2011. The idea behind such small group homes, which have been successful in countries such as Britain and the United States, is that children with a history of repeated abuse need closer attention and care.
Dayspring's treatment centre opened in 2011 and is the first such home here. There is a group home for boys called HomeSweetHome@Admiralty. The Ministry of Social and Family Development told the Straits Times that it is planning to set up two more group homes in 2016. The Government said in 2012 that it would pump $13 million into setting up six small group homes.
Thoughts anyone?
Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big
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