Another Week Beyond – 2334

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Family

Dear Friends, In 1991, we operated the Bukit Ho Swee Family Service Centre which was one of the first 4 pilot FSCs in Singapore. The FSC was conceptualised as a one-stop facility in response to the existing and emerging social needs of a locality. A few years later, the FSC focused on promoting the well-being of families as the basic building block of society and work with young and older people were regarded as support programmes. Today, there are 48 FSCs positioned as community-based social work entities that provide casework and group work to address personal, social, and emotional challenges. …

Another Week Beyond – 2322

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Community, Family

Dear Friend, Many years ago, a mother with 3 very young children came to our door seeking assistance. An older colleague who used to work elsewhere took me aside and heaved a sigh. She told me that she was the caseworker for this woman’s mother at her previous place of employment and it pains her to see this woman in the same situation as her mother. She also told me that I should be prepared to deal with alcoholism, violence, child neglect and perpetual crises. What I heard sounded like stereotyping but as a young worker, I took it that this …

Another Week Beyond – 2319

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Family, Women

Dear Friends, I was mistaken that last Sunday was Mother’s Day and I sent out our greetings a tad too early. Nonetheless, the mistake has given me the opportunity to hear a single mom speak about her motherhood experiences. After listening to her, I started thinking that when Mother’s Day is celebrated in the media with stories of exemplary mothering, how would such stories affect mothers who are stressed out by their responsibilities and do not feel very good about themselves. “As my son is taking PSLE this year, I worry for him constantly. Besides struggling with his academics, my …

Another Week Beyond – 2318

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Family, youth

Dear friend, 20 months ago, a colleague was knocking on doors to meet students taking their “N” Level examinations and to wish them well. It was her way of establishing a relationship with young people in the neighbourhood that she had not met and reconnecting with those already on our database.  Amy, 16 years old, was not at home but she was already in our database and a day later, my colleague sent her a short message asking if she was well. “I am coping but it is not a good day!” was her short reply and the conversation ended …

Another Week Beyond -2303

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Family

Dear friends, Tomorrow evening, many families marking the Chinese New Year will be having a reunion dinner. This is considered the most important family dinner of the year that honours the virtues of family togetherness and harmony, filial piety, and respect for the hierarchy in familial relationships. This was explained to our children at our child development centre as we introduced what red packets, oranges and some cookies symbolised. Importantly, we also impressed on the children not to open their red packets in the presence of the giver after receiving them. Festivals are enjoyable occasions to reflect on values and …

Another Week Beyond – 2153

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Community, Family

Dear friends, 2 brothers who lost their mother suddenly have been in the care of their father the past month (AWB – 2146).  Dad’s exclusion order from the family home was lifted, and he is currently supporting his family by working as a safe-entry inspector at a hawker centre. The hours are long, but he is allowed to leave his post in the late afternoon to pick up his younger son from the students’ care centre. Last week, we facilitated a planning meeting to strengthen the support around the family. There were 2 items on the agenda. One was that dad should …

Another Week Beyond – 2146

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Children and youth, Family, Restorative Justice

Dear friends, About 3 weeks ago, we received the sad news that 2 brothers who come to our programmes lost their mother suddenly. The social worker who is supporting them arranged for the 17-year-old to live with an aunt, and for his 11-year-old brother to stay with a friend of their late mother. But the 11-year-old’s living arrangement was soon terminated. It was brought to the social worker’s attention that there were allegations that the boy had previously been abused by a member of that household. So, he tried to persuade the aunt to also take in the younger brother, …

Another Week Beyond – 2145

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Family

Dear friends,  Hope you had a good Deepavali holiday and may the festival of lights bring you many blessings, healing, and love. I started writing this weekly message in 2005 as a way for my team and I to reflect on our work, and where possible, celebrate a small success that energises us for the week ahead. This routine has taught us to view situations through different lenses and a key perspective would be that of the people who are the primary reason for our existence. I learnt very early in my training that empathy is walking a mile in …

Another Week Beyond – 2026

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Family

Dear Friends, Faced with charges relating to rioting, mischief, causing hurt, failure to comply with the conditions of a provisional driving licence and riding a motorcycle without insurance, Morris, 19 years old believes that he is heading for jail.  A report filed in March, by a probation officer assessed that Morris is not suitable for probation. Following which, a pre-sentencing assessment recommended that Morris be sent to the Reformative Training Centre (RTC). Unlike Morris, his mother believes that he should be heading home instead of the RTC so that she can keep an eye on him.  His older brother also feels that …

Another Week Beyond – 2025

Comms Team Another Week Beyond, Family

Dear Friends, Today, Singapore moves   another step toward a new normal which is COVID-19 Safe. Eateries will be opened for dining-in and I know several of my colleagues will be going out for a meal.  “Takeaway food is just not the same,” they tell me and eating out is one thing they have missed since 7 April 2020.  Small group social activities will also be allowed and so, we will gradually be meeting our members face to face once again. However, we hope these meetings will be as efficient and sincere as those which we have been having online.  Over the past 11 …