Care for at-risk kids to go on after pre-school

This post came out from The Straits Times (3 December 2016)

A four-year-old programme to help underprivileged children in pre- schools has reaped benefits, and is now being extended to ensure that the beneficiaries transition smoothly into Primary 1. The Circle of Care (COC) programme, involving 140 children at 10 pre-schools, has social workers and educational therapists working alongside pre-school teachers. They identify the causes of a child's difficulties and provide help on different fronts.

The scheme, piloted by philanthropic group Lien Foundation and welfare organisation Care Corner, has led to higher rates of school attendance and learning gains among the at-risk children receiving help. Now, to ensure that the gains do not fade out, the pre-school teachers and social workers who worked with the children will collaborate with primary school teachers and counsellors to continue supporting them until they reach Primary 3.

COC programme manager Lynn Heng said 39 of the 140 children receiving help are heading to Primary 1 next year. All the children have progress reports prepared by the pre-school teachers, educational therapists and social workers, which will be shared with the primary schools they are going to.

Besides detailing the gains that the children made in literacy and numeracy skills, the reports give information on other skills that are important for learning, such as the ability to pay attention. Prepared with the children's parents, the reports also provide information on how the parents can be helped to support their children's learning at home.

At two primary schools, Lakeside Primary and Gan Eng Seng Primary, which are receiving 12 of the children next year, the collaboration will be more structured and deeper. COC teachers and social workers have been meeting the teachers and school heads of the two schools since September to share information about the children and look at how various kinds of support can be given to them and their families. Mrs Heng said: "Some of them come from difficult home circumstances. It is important that there are various kinds of support in place to enable the family to help the child. I have seen some children make good progress in pre-school, only to slide back when they enter Primary 1."

Mrs Wang-Tan Sun Sun, principal of Lakeside Primary, said the meetings have been useful for the Primary 1 teachers who will be receiving five children from the COC programme. "We get a head start in addressing the specific needs of these children and their families," she said, adding that the school staff already hold regular meetings to discuss how children with learning or emotional needs can be given extra support. "Now, we have input from the pre-school teachers and social workers who have worked with these children and their families, and together we can come up with ways in which we can help these children progress."

Madam S. Khafifah, 46, a single mum whose daughter is on the COC programme, is glad she got to meet a school teacher and the principal of Gan Eng Seng Primary last week. "As a hawker assistant, I don't make much and I work until 9pm every night. So I was glad to hear about all the financial help I can get. The books alone add up to a lot. I am also happy that my daughter can go to the student care centre after school hours."

Lien Foundation chief executive officer Lee Poh Wah said the extension of COC to primary schools ensures continuity of support and builds on the children's hard-won progress made in pre-schools. For instance, the teacher may notice that a child is unable to pay attention in class because she is overly anxious. The social worker, after investigating the cause of the child's anxiety, will then bring together different aspects of care - ranging from educational therapy to nutrition to parental counselling - to help the child. Mr Lee said: "While pre-schools may do their best to prepare at-risk children for Primary 1, the primary school system must be... ready to better support their needs."

He stressed that primary school education must be "a more effective equaliser - where all children gain equal opportunities to achieve their true potential". "For education to make a difference, we also need to pay attention to what goes on outside the schools, be it a poor living environment or toxic stress of families under strain," he said.

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Caregiving help at hand for parents busy at night

This post came out from The Straits Times (3 December 2016)

A student care service provided after office hours is being piloted to help parents from low-income families get respite from caregiving at night. These include parents taking night classes to improve their employability, those doing shift work and those who need to attend to family emergencies, among others.

The CareNights@Morning Star programme offers student care services - such as homework supervision and enrichment activities - for children aged seven to 14. It is held from 6pm to 10pm on weekdays, unlike most centres which operate till 6.30pm on weekdays.

It is free for parents, and they can enrol their children for up to six months while they work on their short-term challenges. Temasek Foundation Cares, a philanthropic arm of investment company Temasek, has committed $683,000 to the three-year pilot programme, which is expected to benefit 540 children and their families.

Its chairman Richard Magnus said: "We met parents who would like to upgrade their skills to improve their employability but are limited by their family commitments to take care of the children." The programme allows them to go for night classes with peace of mind, knowing that their children are well taken care of, he said.

It was officially launched yesterday by Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin at a student care centre run by Morning Star Community Services in Bedok. It has helped 19 children there since it started in July, and will be rolled out to three more Morning Star centres by 2018.

While the evening student care service is mostly run by volunteers, Morning Star executive director Freddie Low said they are well-trained, and the activities are similar to those held in the daytime. Many of the families helped so far are single-parent ones. One single mother, who wanted to be known only as Paula, was allowed to enrol her special needs son in the programme even though he was only five years old. The office administrator, 35, takes night classes in early childhood and hopes to make a career switch and become a pre-school teacher. She said: "It would be good if such services were extended to younger children, especially those from single-parent families because they don't have much family support."

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

A leg-up for ex-inmates at Step-Up Centre

This post came out from The Straits Times (20 July 2016)

Former drug offender Mohammad Ridzwan had no savings and struggled to support himself after his release from jail in June last year. Looking for financial help, he decided to visit the Step-Up Centre in the Sengkang Community Hub in October. With the Centre's help, he found a job as a clinical assistant. Another thing he hopes to do soon is to have the tattoos on his arms removed under a subsidised programme.

The centre, which is run by voluntary welfare organisation Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA), began as a pilot project to serve the needs of former offenders and their families in January last year. It will be officially launched next week, and expects to handle more than 500 cases this year.

Besides counselling and mediation services, the centre provides legal aid, job referrals, and a link to support groups. It also serves as a contact point for those seeking information on drug abuse. The idea to set up the centre was first mooted in 2014, after findings of the Ministry of Home Affairs' Task Force on Drugs were released.

The people who visit the centre are mostly in their early 20s to late 30s. About 60 per cent of the 339 cases seen last year were for financial aid, said Sana executive director Abdul Karim. 'The centre aims to meet their immediate needs, for instance, by giving them small sums of money, pre-paid food vouchers and ez-link cards,' he said. 'But it also helps them to prepare for the future, by providing guidance for them to upgrade their jobs and social skills.'

The centre was set up at a cost of about $300,000 and up to 65 per cent of its daily operations are currently self-funded. It is run by about 30 para-counsellors, who are volunteers with the necessary experience and qualifications in social work and psychology. The centre also hopes to rally the support of family members by inviting them for counselling sessions and programmes to help former inmates reintegrate into society.

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Seniors live here as one community

This post came out from The Straits Times (26 June 2016)

Step out of the lift in this Housing Board block and one spots a metal gate, a sign saying it closes at 10pm daily, murals along the corridor, and residents' names on doors. Two to three elderly people live in each one-room rental flat, and amid the units are purpose-built spaces such as recreation rooms, with TVs screening shows in different languages, a laundry room, a 'nursing station' for nursing care, and a kitchen.

Welcome to the AWWA Senior Community Home, on the second to fourth levels of the 12 floor Block 123 in Ang Mo Kio Ave 6. Set up in 1976, it is the first seniors' home to be sited in an HDB rental block, and is believed to the the only one of its kind - and scale.

It started with 20 residents in another nearby block, and moved to its current site in 1988, taking up the second and third floors. In 2001, it took the fourth too. Like a senior group home, this community home is a cluster of rental flats meant to let the elderly with little or no family support age in place, in an environment which they are familiar with. AWWA's is running at full capacity - with 140 residents living in 52 flats, and about seven referrals a month.

But at senior group homes, which are clusters of five to eight flats in a block - and where the units are not necessarily next to each other - many units are empty. The Straits Times reported earlier this month that although the Government planned to have 60 senior group homes by year's end, there are just 14 homes to date. As of March, less than a fifth of the 250 places in the 14 homes were filled.

Senior group homes usually admit Singaporeans, who are eligible for HDB rental flats, and are assessed to be too frail to live alone. Sheltered homes like AWWA's cater to more ambulant, independent seniors. This way, it is easier for residents to look after their flatmates or neighbours, said AWWA Chief Executive Time Oei. Having a large number of residents is vital for the AWWA home to build a community and run effectively with economies of scale, he told The Sunday Times. 'When the flats in senior group homes are dispersed, it is hard to bring people together.'

The AWWA home has a team of social workers and care staff. It also has nurses on duty 24/7, unlike most senior group homes, where staff members are on call only during office hours. On the first floor of the Ang Mo Kio block, there is a seniors activity centre and a daycare centre for the elderly with dementia, both run by AWWA. Seniors can use the two centres' services, whether they live in the community home or not. While there are social activities, and food is provided, they are not obliged to take part in the activities and can have their meals elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Mr Oei said running the home is not without challenges. Sometimes, residents do not get along, usually due to misunderstandings, and counselling is offered. The main challenge, he said, is having to transfer seniors to nursing homes when they get too frail. 'Clinically, that's the best option for them. But we treat them like family, so sometimes it's difficult for us when we have to move them out. Building a community means we don't let people down when they need us the most, but also have to ensure they get the medical help they need.'

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Circle of Care to cover more children

This post came out from The Straits Times (23 May 2016)

A three year old programme to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds level up has reaped benefits, and is being expanded to include more children and families. Piloted by Lien Foundation and Care Corner at two pre schools in 2013, the Circle of Care programme has social workers and educational therapists working alongside pre school teachers.

It led to higher rates of school attendance and gains in learning for the at risk children at those two centres in Leng Kee and Admiralty. The scheme is now being expanded to 15 pre schools. Two primary schools - Lakeside and Gan Eng Seng - have also come under the programme to see how children can be helped with the transition to Primary 1. Social workers will collaborate with the school's counsellors, teachers and allied educators to follow the child until Primary 3. With the expansion, it is estimated that 30 per cent of the 1,700 pre schoolers enrolled at the 15 pre schools will need further help through the programme.

The programme uses an integrated approach that weaves a 'circle of care' around the child. Teachers, social workers, education therapists and community partners - who typically work apart - come together to identify the root causes of a child's difficulties and provide help on different fronts.

The model was shown to work for the 76 at risk children at the two pilot centres, where 95 per cent of them come from families with household incomes of below $3,000 a month. The Circle of Care team raised their average attendance from about 30 per cent to 70 per cent by working closely with their families. Educational therapists working with pre school teachers helped improved their literacy and numeracy skills.

Despite the encouraging results, Lien Foundation officials who went on a trip earlier this month to look at children's centres in Adelaide and Melbourne said they and their partners are looking at how the programme can be improved further. They said they were struck by the comprehensive and high quality programmes and services offered to disadvantaged children and their families in the two Australian cities.

Besides providing kindergarten and childcare services, centres offered antenatal care for mothers to be, health checks and play sessions for babies and toddlers where mothers learn about the importance of play, talk and reading.

Lien Foundation chief executive officer Lee Poh Wah said one of the takeaways for him was how the programme focused on not just helping the child, but the families too. 'Good parenting is key to helping these children. We must ensure that these kids have a strong family and good home environment.' He also noted the emphasis placed on helping children develop traits such as grit and resilience. Several of the children's centres had mindfulness programmes to help children develop concentration and self awareness. Said Mr Lee: "We shouldn't just focus on boosting their literacy and numeracy skills. Research shows that their socio-emotional skills such as impulse control and persistence and grit are as important for success."

Thoughts:

1. It is of increasing importance that service providers and institutions see themselves not as a silo, but as an ecosystem that can work together to bring tailored help for the client and the family members. Who's first? Somebody has to start somewhere!

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

2,600 kids helped through early intervention scheme last year

This post came out from The Straits Times (29 May 2016)

The number of young children with developmental problems enrolled in a government subsidised therapy programme has almost doubled in the last five years, and more places will be added later this year.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development said 2,600 children benefited from the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) last year, compared to 1,400 children in the programme in 2010.

The number of centres offering the programme has also increased from 11 in 2010 to 17 last year. The ministry spokesman said three new EIPIC centres, offering an additional 400 places, will open later this year to cater to projected demand for the service.

The SPD, a charity helping people with disabilities, now has 200 children enrolled in its EIPIC centres in Tiong Bahru and Jurong. It will open two more in Bedok and Tampines later this year.

AWWA, another charity, is setting up a new EIPIC centre in Hougang in July and plans two more next year. It now runs two centres with 230 children. When its new centres are up, it will be able to cater to about 500 additional children.

With more children diagnosed with developmental problems, the demand for a place in the EIPIC programme has shot up. The average waiting time for a place is now six months, the ministry said.

EIPIC provides developmental and therapy services tailored for children suffering from developmental problems - from physical, intellectual and learning disabilities to autism spectrum disorder. The programes cater to children under the age of seven with moderate to severe developmental problems, and aim to help them overcome their problem or at least prevent it from deteriorating.

All Singaporean children get a base monthly subsidy of $500 for the EIPIC programme, and a base subsidy of $300 a month for the Development Support Programme (DSP). Families qualify for further subsidies, depending on their per capita income.

The DSP which helps children with mild developmental needs overcome their conditions and improve in areas such as in their language, literacy and social skills, was rolled out by the ministry in 2012. Some 1,200 children were on the programme last year. It is offered in 300 pre-schools, and some 30 more will offer the programme this year.

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Sex assault victims to get aid more easily

This post came out from The Straits Times (23 May 2014)

Faced with more appeals for help from rape and molest victims, the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) now has a social worker on hand to counsel victims immediately.

From Monday, women can drop in at the gender equality advocacy group's office from 10am to 7pm on weekdays, without calling first. "Having to wait for an appointment can be very discouraging for women who have gone through a traumatic experience," explained Aware support services manager Sheena Kanwar. "It may delay their getting the help they need, and sometimes discourages them from seeking help altogether.

The organisation has, since 2011, run a befrienders' service, which provides counselling and legal advice to victims of sexual assault. But appointments were needed. The service will not be replaced by the new Sexual Assault Care Centre at the association's Dover Crescent headquarters. The centre is the first of its kind here. To extend its help further, Aware is also lengthening the operating hours for its helpline for sexually assaulted women, who can call on 6779 0282. Starting on Monday, it will run from 10am to midnight, instead of closing at 9.30pm.

More help is sorely needed for sexual assault victims, said Aware. The group's sexual assault befrienders' service received 192 calls and emails last year, up from 132 in 2012. Outrage of modesty cases here have also been on the rise, from 1,273 in 2009 to 1,420 in 2012. And while rape figures have fallen in recent years - from 202 five years ago to 132 in 2012 -help agencies say this is just the tip of the iceburg because many cases go unreported.

Those who need help can also send an email to Aware at sacc@aware.org.sg.

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Caregivers sleep easy, thanks to new service

This post came out from The Straits Times (16 December 2013)

In the middle of the night, Mr Kenny Wee was woken up by his elderly mother knocking on the door, calling for her grandmother. To Ms Pearly Chia, 86, Mr Wee is her grandmother - and this was happening every night for years. Mr Wee has been taking care of her for the past 12 years since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

But after sending his mother to attend the Dusk to Dawn service at St Joseph's Home, Mr Wee has less to worry about her and he can finally sleep peacefully. Held on weekdays from 7pm to 8am at St Joseph's Home in partnership with Lien Foundation, the service, which began in May, supports caregivers who care for their loved ones with dementia.

Two full time staff who are trained in therapy work at the centre every night, taking care of up to eight patients. They oversee the patients who may play games, watch television or do physiotherapy exercises at night. The service is timely given the rising number of people with dementia here. Data from Alzheimer's Disease Association in Singapore cites 28,000 people above the age of 65 living with the condition, with the number estimated to rise to 53,00 in 2020.

Mr Lee Poh Wah, chief executive of Lien Foundation, said: "Uprooting the elderly into institutions could be traumatic for them (dementia patients), and this often undermines their independence and health." Therefore, there was a need for a specialised service, he added.

Sister Geradine Tan of St Joseph's Home conceived the idea for the service, which is supported by a three year grant given by Lien Foundation. "They do what they need to do - have a hot drink, read the papers. Then they ask to go back to bed. That's when they really sleep, because it's their choice," she said.

Ms May Wong, programme director of Dusk to Dawn, said the service also helps ease the burden of caregivers who are at risk of burnout. But to make sure the service can help them, she interviews caregivers to assess the needs of their loved ones. "Through the interviews, they realise that they can tap other services, or maybe they want to hold out a little bit more," she said. St Joseph's Home hopes its service can be a model for eldercare support at nursing homes here.

Thoughts:

1. I believe that there are a number of needy Singaporeans who are either not aware of the help available or do not wish to seek help for what so ever reasons.
2. For those who are not aware of help, the challenge is for the Government to make the information on social assistance available to them, but yet not portraying a state of social welfare-ism.
3. 
   

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

More kids getting help with dyslexia

This post came out from The Straits Times (14 March 2016)

Few people in Singapore would have heard of dyslexia, which affects how a person reads and writes. But, with growing awareness of the condition over the years, more people are seeking help for it.

Last year, a record of 3,012 students enrolled in the Dyslexia Association of Singapore's (DAS) main literacy programme - run at its 13 centres - up from 2,465 in 2013. The programme, co-funded by the Ministry of Education (MOE), aims to improve students' reading, comprehension and writing skills, and help them differentiate between phonemes, or sound units.

About 280 pre-school children sought help last year, thrice the 89 in 2013. DAS will also start a programme later this year for post secondary dyslexic students. These students will have support from a pool of 30 DAS alumni who will be their mentors and buddies.

People with dyslexia have difficulty reading, writing and spelling. The condition ranges from milk to severe forms and often occurs alongside other learning disabilities such as attention deficit disorder. About 4 per cent of each cohort of students suffer from dyslexia in a severe enough form to warrant intervention.

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

More going online for counselling help - Rise due to more people becoming tech-savvy, say welfare groups

This post came out from The Straits Times (20 September 2014)

More people have been turning to online counselling and e-mail befriending services for help in recent years. At least four such online services have registered more users or help requests.

Welfare groups which run such services said the increase is likely due to more people being tech-savvy and feeling more comfortable with talking about problems online.

The e-Counselling Centre (www.ec2.sg) set up in 2004 by Fei Yue Community Services mainly for young people aged 12 to 25 has 134 new users last year, up from 108 five years ago. Users are chatting more often too: There were 1,219 chat sessions last year, up from 427 five years ago. An appointment has to be made for one-on-one sessions with a counsellor in a virtual chatroom.

Over at the Marine Parade Family Service Centre, users can log on any time from 3pm to 7pm on weekdays in its virtual counselling chatroom, called "metoyou". Nearly 2,500 chat sessions were held last year, up from about 2,270 five years ago.

The Health Promotion Board also has an online peer support network, called Audible Hearts, which is for the young and run by the young. The network had more than 1,600 queries last year, a 22 per cent rise from the figure the year before.

Suicide prevention agency Smaritans of Singapore (SOS) whose service is for people of various ages, has also seen more people using its e-mail befriending service. Started in 2003, the service invites distressed individuals to write in anonymously to an e-mail address and promises a reply in 48 hours.

Last week, The Straits Times learnt that the authorities had piloted an online counselling service for problem gamblers at www.nams.sg. The live webchat was set up by the National Council on Problem Gambling and National Addictions Management Service, and adds to the council's 24 hour helpline.

Help groups said the prevalence of online platforms has made it easier for people to seek help online. They feel safer with the possible anonymity and are more open as a result, the groups added. "When it's done face to face, some young people may find it difficult to express themselves," said Fei Yue programme executive Joel Neo. "But online, they seem to be more comfortable in sharing and they come ready to share."

SOS executive director Christine Wong said: "When people are comfortable about getting emotional support via writing, it generates more openness and interest towards getting professional support when necessary."

Thoughts:

1. Help agencies tapping on the internet platform to reach out, engage, and help people in need. I think this might be suitable for people who are not so keen to meet in face. But I personally prefers face to face interaction as there is more human touch! 
2. It is helpful to think how agencies tap on the internet for other uses as well, for example, gathering donations, finding volunteers etc. 

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Scheme expanded to help at risk pre-schoolers

This post came out from My Paper  (3 March 2016)

When you are a pre-schooler from a disadvantaged family, living in a rental flat, attending classes may not be a top priority. But a three year old scheme piloted at two pre-schools has shown that such children can be brought back into the fold, with their parents getting more involved in their development.

So encouraging were the results that the Circle of Care scheme - piloted by philanthropic group Lien Foundation and welfare organisation Care Corner - will be extended to another seven pre-schools and two primary schools this year. This is so that children will have a smooth transition from kindergarten to primary school.

Care Corner and Lien Foundation said yesterday they will partner anchor pre-school operators MY World Preschool, PAP Community Foundation, Singapore Muslim Women's Association as well as Lakeside Primary and Gan Eng Seng Primary School to extend the scheme. The model was piloted at two of Care Corner's Leng Kee and Admiralty childcare centres in 2013.

Teachers, social workers, education therapists and community partners worked as a steam to identify the rot causes of a child's difficulties and to help on different fronts. For example, a six year old boy lagging behind was taught how to focus better and given help to develop his reading and math skills. His mother learnt effective parenting techniques including how to coach her son.

Of the 76 at risk children at the two centres, 95 per cent came from families with household incomes of below $3,000 a month and most lived in HDB rental flats. Many had jobless parents and money troubles too. The Circle of Care team raised their average attendance from about 30 per cent to 70 per cent by working closely with their families. But without formal collaboration between pre-and primary schools, some of the hard-won progress made by these at-risk children can be lost.

To prevent this, the team will organise workshops and school visits for the children and their parents to prepare them for Primary 1. Social workers will also collaborate with the schools' counsellors, class teachers and allied educators and follow the child and his parents until Primary 3.

Thoughts:

1. I am quite surprised that there is the element of continuity of help for the children from pre-school to primary school that is formalised! Isn't it great to know that the children are 'handed over' properly with the primary school knowing that these 'at risk' children needs more attention to ensure that the hard work of getting them to school does not collapse after the transition.

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Funds for VWOs reaching out through arts

This post came out from My Paper (21 May 2014)

Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) can now take arts to the less privileged, with the launch of a $1.5 million fund. Called the WeCare Arts Fund, each VWO can receive a maximum of $5,000 per project and up to $10,000 per year to pay for the arts programmes it aims to introduce.

The money can go towards the fee for hiring an artist to teach beneficiaries arts and crafts or material costs, for example. The WeCare Arts Fund is a partnership between the National Arts Council (NAC) and the five community development councils (CDCs). Over the next three years, it is expected to reach out to some 2,500 beneficiaries. The CDCs will administer the fund and match interested VWOs to artists to develop arts programmes.

VWOs can apply for the fund online, and project proposals will be accessed by the NAC and the respective CDC based on criteria such as the ability to create a high level of engagement among the targeted beneficiaries.

Thoughts:

1. Nice to introduce art to the less advantaged community. Gives them the opportunity to try things that they never been able to afford to. I remembered speaking with a friend from the disability sector, and shared that the arts sessions they had (recycling art) increased self esteem of the beneficiaries because it allowed them to see how they can help the environment and raise funds for the centre by selling them at a charity bazaar! 

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

More help for children who need protection

This post came out from The Straits Times (21 February 2016)

A charity that deals with family violence wants to help more children who have witnessed or experienced abuse. Pave will run a new child protection service centre for the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and, although a suitable site is still be located, it is expected to be ready next year.

The organisation currently helps around 40 children a year, most of whom have been referred via the courts through personal protection orders or because of mandatory counselling for parents. It's executive director, Dr Sudha Nair, said yesterday: "Children can hear what is going on even though the door is closed, and they can see the aftermath of violence - everything broken, their mother's bruise - it is traumatic for them."

Pave works primarily with adults involved in family violence, and saw cases of spousal violence rise to 217 from April to December last year, 11 more than in the same period in 2014. The number of people referred to it or requesting information went up  by 22 per cent in the financial year ending in March last year, although not all of them required any follow up.


Thoughts:

1. There is this recent shift in taking a look at things from the children's perspective, for example also is to consider the child's feelings and voice during the divorce proceedings of his/her parents. Child abuse/ violence is a very real thing, which can be transferred to the child now as trauma, and also might be an accepted way to deal with things when they grow old. Tackling this from young is important to stem the circle from going on. 

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Charity's thrift stores sell their wares online

This post came out from The Sunday Times (24 January 2016)

Thrift stores shopaholics in Singapore no longer need to trawl through racks of clothes or shelves stocked with electronics or accessories to get a good deal. Instead, they can browse through them from the comfort of home.

The Salvation Army's social enterprise arm, Red Shield Industries, which operates five physical thrift stores here, recently started listing some of its items on the Lazada website. Bargains include a brand new coffee machines for as little as $60, and a second hand, refurbished iPhone 4 for $180.

"The sphere of influence of an online store is much wider," said Mr Nicholas Tan, retail and marketing manager at Red Shield. "Brick and mortar stores draw in people who live in the neighbourhood, but with the internet, the reach is global."

He told The Sunday Times that the charity eventually hopes to sell items directly from its own website, www.redshop.com, which currently acts as a catalogue for its store, as it lacks the resources and manpower to sell goods online. Visitors can find out which items are available for sale at the stores, but must visit the shop itself to make the purchase.

The Salvation Army has been operating the physical thrift stores for about 20 years. It now hopes that using e-commerce will attract young shoppers, "the next generation of customers". Currently, most people who visit the thrift stores are expatriates, families and seniors.

Lazada Singapore last month donated 10,000 items of clothing, shoes and bags. A Lazada Singapore spokesman said: "We are keen to ensure that we give back to the community and were excited to be able to do this through The Salvation Army". Profits from The Salvation Army's thrift stores contribute to 40 per cent of its revenue stream.

The money is used to fund the charity's social services programmes, including a nursing home and a youth development centre. The Salvation Army's new thrift shopping site can be found at www.lazada.sg/the-salvation-army/


Thoughts:

1. The private-public sector has seen a great collaboration in this project - by tapping on its expertise to help a voluntary welfare organisation maximise its revenue which in turn will help those in need! 

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Domestic issues? Families can turn to new centre

This post came out from The Straits Times (26 November 2015)

More help is on the way for families at the Family Therapy Institute (FTI), a centre focused on nipping domestic issues in the bud. Aside from marital counselling, specific goal, more open-ended therapy could help couples better address their issues.

A space for the institute, which serves people of all races and religions, was carved out of PPIS' premises, with the cosy chairs and warm earth tones of the decor designed to make clients feel at home. FTI has seen more than 200 cases since starting in April this year.

Besides couples facing marital problems, the institute's four full time therapists have also aided parents who need help managing their children, and working adults.

Also launched yesterday was the Temasek Cares - PPIS Family and Marriage Counselling Programme, which will provide comprehensive marriage counselling services to Malay/Muslim couples.


Thoughts:

1. It is always nice to see VWOs providing services for all races. Marital problems happens to all races and I think the expertise can be used for benefit for all couples going through this tough period. 

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

New Minds facility to offer caregivers relief

This post came out from The Straits Times (19 September 2015)

Caring for his intellectually disabled son and a mother with dementia was so stressful for Mr Liew Chong Pow that he suffered heart problems while his wife was left on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

Five years ago, their then 26 year old son Jonathan had to return home to be looked after full time after he began beating up his peers at a sheltered workshop. This arrangement was especially trying because he hoarded things, had an obsession with the telephone and used a chair to bang on the door every night.

To give more support to caregivers like Mr Liew, the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (Minds) yesterday opened a new facility in Jalan Ubi. The two storey building at the Kembangang - Chai Chee Community Hub will house a dedicated Caregivers Support Services Centre and Minds largest day activity centre.

Parents and relatives can use the centre's respite care services if they need a break. Counselling, support group sessions and referral services are also provided.

The new day activity centre, which equips those with intellectual disabilities with daily living skills such as personal grooming and hygiene, can take up to 100 clients.

While Minds already has four day activity centres, the waiting list for a place can stretch up to two years.


Thoughts:

1. I like that we are building up more facilities to support people with disabilities and their family members. More often than not, caregivers experience a lot of stress that they do not readily share with others, and do not know where to seek help from. With more of such centres coming up, I do think that the awareness of such services will increase, and directly helping such families. 

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

NKF scheme matches patients with jobs

This post came out from The Straits Times (25 November 2015)

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) officially launched a programme to help patients with kidney failure to find jobs that can accommodate their three times a week dialysis schedules.

The Patient Employment Rehabilitation Programme, sponsored by a $2.3 million grant from the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, aims to find suitable jobs for unemployed patients, both within the NKF and with other employers.

The programme aims to have 50 patients employed by NKF by the end of next year, and 120 by the end of its third year in specially created positions such as patients relations officers and exercise specialists. It also provides career guidance and job matching services through collaborations with external employers.

The launch event, held at the NKF centre in Balestier, also hosted a job fair. Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin presented Courage Awards to six patients with long service to their companies and Extraordinary Awards to their employers, which included DBS Bank and the National Environment Agency.

Thoughts:

1. While it is nice to note that NKF is taking the lead to create jobs for these patients, I do think that there must be more firms that will be able to support it as well. Currently there is a donation grant to help foot the pay of these patients, what happens if the donation has dried up few years down the road? 

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Enabling the disabled

This post came out from The New Paper (19 September 2015)

The Infocomm Accessibility Centre Certificate in Office Skills (Icos) programme is a four month programme that equips job seekers aged 18 and above with physical, sensorial or developmental disabilities with office skills for administrative positions.

It was started by SPD, formerly known as Society for the Physically Disabled. Finding jobs for those who finish the programme is still a challenge. Only 25 out of 53 of them have been hired since the programme was launched in July 2013.

Mr Jeffrey Chin, 41, deputy director at SPD said: "When employers hear they need to accommodate, they will not be as willing as compared to a candidate that can do everything. For instance, a wheelchair bound person will need a lower table."

While SPD is looking for more companies to come on board, Mr Chin told The New Paper that they were not disheartened. He said: "We are not here for the numbers but for the clients. At least we're making a difference to one person." But some companies have come forward to help. More than a hundred companies, mostly Small Medium Enterprises, work with SPD to place disabled workers.


Thoughts:

1. There's been more and more talks about helping the disabled live in dignity, and getting them employment is one good way, for some of them to prove their worth.
2. I'm going to explore the Enabling Masterplan one day and share more!

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Need to replace volunteer? Charity can turn to app

This post came out from The Sunday Times (23 August 2015)

Some charity food items have to be delivered urgently, but what if some regular volunteers are not free? What does a charity do?

At Food From The Heart (FFTH), it can turn to a new mobile app that can broadcast messages to hundreds of volunteers at one go when a replacement is needed. It is similar to taxi booking app GrabTaxi and said to be one of the first such apps for the social sector.

The app, which was launched yesterday, comes weeks after calls to involve more people in volunteerism and better engage them. At FFTH, about 100 volunteers are needed to collect unsold bread from 100 bakeries and deliver them to beneficiaries at some 150 locations islandwide each day. But a volunteer may not be able to make a delivery because of other commitment. This means a staff member has to find a replacement from its huge pool of 1,700 volunteers. The challenge is compounded when up to 40 replacements are needed in a day.

But with the charity's new Volunteer Broadcasting System app, multiple replacement requests can be managed. If a volunteer cannot make his delivery, he "de-registers"from the route through the pap, and an alert is sent to other available volunteers whose home addresses are in the same area as the bakery. Volunteers can also see other assignments if they wish to deliver from bakeries, for example, near their offices. Ms Carol Wee, senior executive for special projects at FFTH, said: "Sending push notifications is much more efficient than broadcasting a message via Facebook or e-mail."

The app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and, soon, the Apple App Store too. For details on volunteering with FFTH, go to https://foodheart.org

Thoughts:

1. Reporting about abuse and now on getting a volunteer replacement online - Good ways to tap on the new ways of technology to help manage issues. 
2. Regarding volunteerism, one main problem would be that of keeping volunteers meaningfully engaged, one of which is to keep them abreast of things/ activities that they can work on. 
3. This app, through its push notifications, will then make it easier for the organization to update available activities that its volunteers can work on. Win-Win situation. 

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Helping those with acquired disability

This post came out from The Straits Times (24 August 2015)

People who acquire disabilities halfway through life and can no longer do the same job may draw comfort from two schemes set up in the last year or so to help them.

The Transitional Programme for Employment was piloted in June last year and aimed at people below 50 who have spinal cord injuries or strokes. The scheme is delivered by the SPD - formerly the Society for the Physically Disabled - and puts clients through rehabilitation, job training and counselling, and then job matching. It has since taken in 63 clients and matched nine to jobs.

The other programme, iEnable, was launched in April last year and is helmed by SG Enable, a government-established agency formed to provide services for people with disabilities. iEnable attaches a case manager to each client to help repair clients' confidence, support them emotionally, prepare them for job interviews, and get them a new job with an employer who understands their needs. It has taken in 51 clients and helped 19 get jobs.

While there are no national figures on people with acquired disabilities losing employment, SG Enable said there are about 300 patients suffering from spinal cord injuries and amputations discharged from hospitals every year. Acquired disabilities can arise from severe stroke, traffic accidents, or diseases such as diabetes, which may require amputation. Those with new disabilities sometimes cannot carry out the same jobs. There were 6,567 stroke cases in 2013 and studies done in other countries show that only 20.7 per cent remained employed after a stroke, with half of these having had a change of jobs.

Depending on a person's financial situation, iEnable can help him get aid for his daily basic needs and offer pre-employment assistance such as buying new work clothes and helping with transport fees, training and job interviews. iEnable currently relies on medical social workers from 10 public and community hospitals to refer clients with acquired disabilities.

Thoughts:

1. Nice to hear more about employment support for the disabled. It is heartening to hear that other than employment, the psychological and financial support comes along with it as well, thus reducing the burden/ strains which these people and their families are facing over the loss of employment and income. 
2. Next step is to even make such schemes known further! As reported about seven thousand stroke cases in a year where only 20 per cent remained employed in their job. These agencies can do more with publicity and reach out to those in need! Besides, the disabled can also be meaningful contributors to the society, and need not be always on the receiving end!

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big