Enhance School Social Work Management System and Staff Capacity to Provide Quality Online Service

Under the pandemic, social workers were able to work from home with the technical support from School Social Work Management System. Service could be delivered smoothly as usual. In order to enhance staff’s knowledge and skills regarding online programme implementation, staff training was conducted. We attempted to conduct online

counselling and share this experience in a forum for school social workers organised by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. A new Instagram (IG) account “hkfws.teenslife”

has been set up to connect youngsters and cheer them up during the pandemic.

Adopt Multimedia in Providing Integrated Youth and Life Goal Planning Services and Support Parents in Getting Familiar with the Cyber World

Although some of the services in Youth Square were suspended temporarily due to the pandemic, we tried to deliver our services through multimedia and online platform in the past year. We produced videos relating to life goal planning, including interview skills and self-understanding. This helped to eliminate physical boundaries with the students, providing alternative ways for them to learn from home. As picture books were popular among parents and children, we integrated drama and picture books to promote moral education. We also attempted in launching our summer carnival through online under the theme of “Accompanying each other and being together” to connect our service users under the pandemic.

Promote Peace and Mediation Education in Schools, Families and Communities

Mediation education was promoted through the three-year “Family Constructive Dispute Resolution Centre” and “Peer Mediation Project”. Over 270 peer mediators were trained to resolve daily conflicts in a rational and peaceful manner. We collaborated with the Education Bureau, The Education University of Hong Kong, Peer Mediation Alumni and the Hong Kong Mediation Council to promote mediation education from schools and families to the community. We also organised the Mediation Online Carnival attracting more than 550,000 participants and viewers. With the overwhelming success of the carnival, we also launched the Parent Mediation Network to reach more beneficiaries.

Enhance Adolescent Mental Health Development through Diversified Dimensions

We promoted the holistic wellbeing of young people through Positive M.I.N.D. Project this year. The theme was “Reconnect” for advocating re-connection to five core life elements, including emotion, care, understanding, gratitude and hope. With the use of different interventions, adolescents and stakeholders were engaged to enhance their resilience and problem- solving skills. For building supportive network, Joint-school Mental Health First Aid Training and Wellness Day were launched to enhance the peer support in campus. Two joint-school parent seminars were also held with the attendance of 500 parents.

Adopt Evidence-based Intervention Model to Tackle Net Addiction Problems of Youth

Under the pandemic, students engaged in online learning throughout the year. Parents showed their concern for the risk of internet addiction and resulted in frequent parent-child conflicts. The monthly incoming calls for seeking help in the Healthy Net Hotline service increased from over 200 to over 360 calls, and online consultation exceeding 1,000 per month. Since this academic year, we collaborated with Chinese University of Hong Kong to study the impact of internet gaming disorder on students and the effectiveness of using cognitive behavioural therapy groups as treatment. We provided over 100 parents groups and workshops by adopting our research-based “ICC (Involvement, Parental Confidence, Cohesive Family Relationship)” parenting model. We collaborated with the Education Bureau to conduct training for teachers and new teachers.

Support Students with SEN and Their Carers, and Enhance Their Wellbeing under the New Normal Brought by the Pandemic

Executive skill, mental wellness and life goal planning were launched for SEN students, with integration of new innovative elements like LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, SoulCollage® and Expressive Art. In order to help SEN students to adapt new normal gradually, further online training was rendered to them to explore their potentials with better utilisation of idle time at home. As to the wellbeing of their parents, online parental workshops were also conducted for them to seek companions release their stress and to learn effective parenting.