Review of Funding Criteria for Cases Handled by Family Service Centres

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what are the criteria for a case handled by a Family Service Centre (FSC) to be considered as an active case and eligible for funding from the Ministry; and (b) whether the Ministry is reviewing these criteria.

Family Service Centres (FSCs) serve individuals and families who need help addressing their social needs. FSC cases are considered active and eligible for funding when they have registered at least one 20-minute casework session within each quarter. These sessions could take various forms, including home visits, case conferences involving other agencies, and telephone and video conversations with the client or other help agencies.

From April 2021, MSF revised the criteria for "active" cases taking into account the COVID-19 pandemic, to also fund cases with case sessions conducted by remote modes of communication, such as phone text exchanges and emails.