Observed Trends that Led to New Guidelines on Healthy Family Boundaries

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what was the process for formulating the Guidelines on Healthy Family Boundaries on caregiving boundaries between parents and children; (b) which groups and individuals were consulted to determine these guidelines; (c) whether these guidelines take into account different social and cultural norms within Singapore's multi-racial and multi-religious society; and (d) how do these guidelines address the challenges of single parents with children of the opposite sex, or large families living in small spaces.

My response will also cover questions filed for subsequent Sittings by Dr Wan Rizal and Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim on the Guidelines on Healthy Family Boundaries. I would invite them to also seek clarifications if need be. If Dr Wan Rizal and Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim are satisfied with the response, they may wish to withdraw their questions for the 8 and 10 January 2025 Sittings, respectively, after this session. [Please refer to "Promoting Public Understanding of Daily Caregiving Boundaries in New Guidelines on Healthy Family Boundaries", Official Report, 8 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 149, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) initiated the development of the Practitioners' Resource Guide on Guidelines on Healthy Family Boundaries. In the course of child protection work, MSF and professionals have come across parenting practices that, while not illegal, can place children in uncomfortable situations. These children have said so to the professionals. If a child represses their discomfort and tries to normalise the behaviour that makes them uneasy, it may inadvertently increase their vulnerability to harm in other contexts, such as outside the family or in social settings. Our starting principles as stated in the Guidelines are that every child has the right to feel safe and that no child should be subjected to unsafe touches or told to keep quiet about inappropriate actions.

A workgroup consisting of members from MSF's Child Protective Service, Clinical and Forensic Psychology Service, Family Life Group and the Office of the Director-General of Social Welfare came together to develop the Guidelines in consultation with subject matter experts, such as paediatricians from the National University Hospital and KK Women's and Children's Hospital, as well as the Ministry of Education's Guidance Branch which oversees school counsellors and student welfare officers. To ensure the Guidelines reflect Singapore's social and cultural context, representatives from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore, Hindu Advisory Board, Catholic Family Life, AMP Singapore and National Council of Churches were also consulted. The recommendations of the workgroup are backed by research with references cited in the guidelines.

The Guidelines were developed to support professionals in the child protection system who work with at-risk families, including children experiencing or are at risk of abuse or neglect. These professionals include social service practitioners, paediatricians, medical social workers, school counsellors and student welfare officers. The Guidelines are being disseminated progressively starting from end December 2024. To enhance application, the Guidelines will also be incorporated into existing training for these professionals in the child protection system.

MSF recognises that every family is unique, and some may face special circumstances. The Guidelines are, thus, not intended to be rules to be enforced or prescriptive in nature across all parenting contexts but rather to serve as general principles to help professionals working with diverse family situations.

For instance, for families with unique circumstances, such as single-parent households, the parent may need to bathe their child of the opposite sex. But when the child becomes independent, they should allow the child to bathe on their own. If necessary, the parent can verbally guide the child when bathing. For families with financial struggles or limited living spaces, co-sleeping in the same room may be unavoidable. However, parents should strive to provide privacy for children of the opposite sex, especially those who have already reached puberty, whether it be a separate sleeping mat, a bunk bed or similar alternatives. In my ward for instance, we have provided bunk beds to families who want to create safe sleeping spaces for their children.

The Guidelines encourage professionals to explore strategies that foster safe, respectful and empowering environments for children. They also include practical tips and advice, such as examples of red flags and case scenarios, to help identify situations requiring additional attention or collaboration. When professionals encounter situations that are inconsistent with the Guidelines and identify red flags, professionals would assess whether the case involves suspected child abuse. Such cases would be reported to the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline, where further screening and assessment will determine whether abuse is involved.