Hong Kong Social Welfare Department set up a 24-hour crisis
hotline on Monday to improve coordination among government
departments and professionals.
The new service model, which comes into operation Monday,
includes a crisis intervention and support center to be set up in
2008.
The Lotteries Fund has allocated 20 million Hong Kong dollars
(US$2.56 million) to support the project. It will run on a pilot
basis for three years.
Operating round-the-clock throughout the year, the center
provides immediate intervention and support services for victims of
sexual violence.
To help victims seek immediate help, the center operates a
24-hour crisis hotline which is manned by registered social
workers. It also has a 24-hour designated referral telephone line
to help professionals such as police and medical officers and
social workers to make timely referrals for follow-up.
An important feature of the new service model is the designation
of the same social worker as case manager to render assistance. The
new model also features improved co-ordination of services among
different departments and units to provide victims with a one-stop
service.
To implement the new model, the department collaborated with
related social service units, the Hospital Authority, the Hong Kong
Police Force and the Department of Health's Forensic Pathology
Service, which has stipulated an effective workflow and revised the
procedural guidelines for handling adult sexual violence cases.
(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2007)