Annual Report 2021-22

10 Fight the Epidemic The Society has gradually adapted the challenges brought by pandemic, although our social services encountered quite a challenge especially amid the 5 th wave of COVID-19. For example the hostel service, our staff need to take care of the diagnosed residents with limited medical support while looking after the other residents with limited space and resources. We greatly appreciated our co-workers to serve with dedication and perseverance. In light of the latest epidemic situation, our social services units resumed normal operation and continued to conduct activities in hybrid mode which are coherent with the agency strategic plan. We aim to provide more flexible services, and hence service users have more opportunities to participate in physical and mental health activities, enhancing the process of identity transformation. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all various benefactors who generously donated the anti-epidemic materials, including masks, Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), food, etc. which immediately alleviated the pressures faced by service users and their families during the pandemic. With The Love for Our Service Users The society strives to support ex-offenders and their families by providing multifarious and one-stop solutions from the perspectives of service users across the journey of judiciary including being arrested, waiting for trial, post-sentencing and leaving the custody. We have explored different funding and resources to support the service need, to provide not only basic welfare services, but also counseling, training, career and life development, etc. to help them reintegrate into the society. As the coronavirus pandemic continued, it increased the difficulties of livelihood for underprivileged and depressed the persons in mental recovery. The Society changed the individual and group activities to online format due to the social distancing measures of the Government. In order to support the physical and mental needs of service users, phone communication and video conferencing with service users were maintained frequently and anti-epidemic materials were distributed to people-in-need. In addition, picture books and puppets were created with an assistance of service users and distributed in the community carnival and music day to raise the awareness towards mental wellness. 跨遇疫境 在疫情持續下，本會已逐漸適應新的運作模 式。雖然在第五波疫情來襲期間，社會服務面 對重重挑戰，特別是宿舍服務，既不能關閉處 所，更不能讓舍友徬徨無措。感謝我們的同工 堅守崗位，在有限的資源下盡力隔離確診的舍 友，也盡力照顧他們的起居飲食及情緒輔導。 隨著疫情漸緩，本會的社會服務在配合政府及 社會福利署指引下回復正常，也繼續兼用線上 線下活動模式，回應本會五年策略發展計劃， 務求靈活多變，讓服務使用者有更多機會參與 身心健康的活動，更能把握轉化身份的時機。 在此我也要感謝各界捐贈各類抗疫物資包括口 罩、快速抗原測試 (RAT) 、食物等予本會，讓我 們得以迅速回應服務使用者及其家庭的需要， 幫助他們渡過疫下艱難的時刻。 從服務使用者出發 支援更生人士及其家人一直是本會的服務核 心。本會各社會康復及支援綜合服務中心發展 不同特色項目，支援更生人士融入並貢獻社 會。本會亦積極尋求資源延續服務至更多更生 人士家庭成員，包括其子女及照顧者。總括而 言，本會整合不同單位從服務使用者角度出發 提供一條龍服務，務求讓有需要的人從被捕開 始、至經歷漫長的司法程序期間、被判刑後或 離開院所後，均有不同單位社工或義工陪伴、 提供專業輔導、培訓、生涯發展及職涯規劃服 務等，協助他們重新融入社會。 疫情持續除了令基層生活百上加斤，也令精神 復元人士倍感壓抑。過去一段時間政府收緊社 交距離的措施，本會調整活動為網上模式進 行。為了支援服務使用者於疫情期間的身心需 要，同工以電話保持緊密聯繫和慰問、透過視 像會議形式提供輔導和小組服務、收集坊間不 同機構捐贈的防疫物資再轉送給他們。本會亦 藉此機會，籌備了兒童繪本並在會員協助下製 作手偶，於社區分享，並在疫情相對緩和時在 社區舉辦嘉年華會和社區音樂交流會等，以提 升市民對精神健康的關注。