MCYS strives to provide a safe and supportive environment for youth in residential care. Children and young persons are placed in residential care for various reasons, such as rehabilitation - as they may be a risk to others or have committed offences - or for protection and treatment due to abuse and neglect. As part of continuous efforts to improve rehabilitation for youth, MCYS will be introducing more programmes in the juvenile homes, enhancing existing infrastructure, providing more targeted assessments and developing new post-care services for youth who are discharged from its programmes.
New Programmes and Services to be introduced at the Boys’ Complex
New programmes and more services will be introduced at the Boys’ Complex. There will be a wider and more engaging range of academic, vocational and therapeutic programmes to cater to the evolving and diverse needs of the residents. To accommodate these programmes and services, the existing Complex will be expanded to include a vibrant learning centre and to provide the residential blocks with facilities such as better equipped workshops, classrooms, counselling rooms and multimedia rooms. MCYS expects to spend about $60 million on the infrastructural developments to the Boys’ Complex.
The learning centre will allow youth to have more opportunities to pick up new skills in areas such as multi-media, hospitality, sports and wellness, and to develop their potential. Additional classrooms and laboratories will allow more classes to be conducted for more subjects and at different academic levels, as well as enable the youth to take part in major national examinations.
A joint MCYS-MOE workgroup, with members from MCYS, MOE, WDA and Prisons has been set up to improve the educational and vocational content and structures for the youth in the Homes. The workgroup will look at the needs of these youth and develop recommendations on how to better address the needs.
MCYS will introduce a more targeted and standardised assessment to identify the level of risk and needs of youth in residential care with a greater degree of accuracy. This will enable the Ministry to better tailor and provide the residents with the required intervention.
Enhancing vocational and reintegration support for discharged youth
MCYS will be putting in place new programmes to support the reintegration of these youths and help them rebuild their lives in society.
In June 2010, the new Vocational and Reintegration Support Unit became operational and provides youth in the Homes or under Probation with more systematic support in skills development, job placements and career coaching. To ensure continuity of care and services, this support will be available to youth after discharge up to age 21. A key strategy is to support the youth in gaining more clarity in their career plan. Youth can participate in relevant programmes coordinated by the Unit, which include learning journeys, career talks, and industry taster workshops. The Unit also works with industry partners to provide internships, apprenticeships and job placements to the youth. For youth who need more support in transiting to society, MCYS will also extend case management services to help them. These will help youth obtain vital skills and work experience that will enhance their employability and contribute to their successful reintegration into society. Over the next three years, MCYS will be spending $2.5 million on vocational and post care initiatives to enhance the employability of these youth and support them in reintegration, such as through working with supportive employers to provide opportunities for youth.
As of end January 2011, close to 300 participants have participated in these programmes. Employers such as Secret Recipe, Adrenalin Events & Education, NK Hairworks and Aleoca Pro have been offering job exposure stints and opportunities to our youth for many years. They have also played an important role in mentoring and guiding them to turn over a new leaf, learn skills and earn an honest living.