Caritas Social Work Services Division is committed to develop new modes of service delivery to tackle the emerging social problems and ever-changing service needs.  Tailor-made services for the deprived that are provided through a network of service units at the local community are supervised and managed by seven service departments, including Child Care Service, Youth and Community Service, Family Service, Rehabilitation Service, Services for the Elderly, Community Development Service and Other Social Work Services.

Since the establishment of Caritas – Hong Kong, the first decade was marked by relief work for the new migrants residing in Hong Kong. 

In the 1960’s, Caritas piloted the setting up of the social work professional services.  Different multi-service centres had been set up in local districts to tackle community needs.  Community development and family services were also organized for families in fishermen villages and in new towns.

During the 70’s and 80’s, there was rapid development in social work services to set up different centres to tackle the needs of families, children and youth, elderly and people with disabilities so as to enhance their functioning and ability for self-reliance.  Our service model of intervention of the deprived had been both remedial and preventive.  In addition, a number of community develop projects had been set up in the deprived and remote communities to fill service gaps.  Pilot service projects had also been established to assist the special needs groups including the industrial workers, migrant workers from South East Asia, low income women and Vietnamese refugees.  In 1983, Social Work Services had been re-organized to set up seven service departments, including Child Care, Youth and Community, Family, Rehabilitation, Elderly, Community Development as well as Other Social Work Services.

Starting from 1990, with confidence as well as the spirit of “Love in the Service of Hope”, we served those vulnerable groups identified as high risk and being neglected by the larger community.  Pilot projects had been set up to cater the needs of drug addicts, party goers, the mentally ill, people with chronic stress, couples with marriages at risk, the unemployed and the new arrival families.  Owing to the changing welfare policy, our services had adopted the integrated service model to provide community-based and one-stop service for different target groups in the community.

Entering into the 2000’s, we continued to serve those disadvantaged groups, including the ethnic minority, young girls with repeated pregnancy, families in crisis and in debts, addicted gamblers, survivors of sexual abuse, sex offenders, adults with early psychosis, children with learning difficulties and hidden people.  

As to provide quality service, our service units had established various partners including parents, employers, health workers, legal profession, educators and business enterprises to serve the community.  In view of the multifarious needs of the changing society, our staff also strived to promote cross-professional and cross-departmental collaboration to tackle the needs of the deprived in a holistic way.

We look forward to the mission of community care, of community building and the promotion of integral human development.  Our vision is to advocate social responsibility, social inclusion, social cohesion and social capital.  Service users are exhorted to take up the social responsibility to promote mutual care, mutual support and volunteerism.  It is the goal of social inclusion, to include all disadvantaged groups within our reach and transform them into active participants and contributors towards community building.

In our aspiration for social cohesion, it is our hope to enhance collaboration with the “third sector” including the business groups, church groups and the general public to set up community networks to give support to social services and to be involved in the process of community building.  For service delivery, we have adopted the model of “social enterprise” to set up training and support employment projects for the deprived.  Those projects that have been launched include Computer Recycling Project, Second Hand Recycling Shop, La Vie Bakery Workshop and Retail Shop, Artland, Oasis Café and City Farmers. 

We are particularly grateful to all our supporters, with whom we have established a trusting relationship, for their material, spiritual, and moral support and encouragement.  Without them we would never have attained such quality service delivery.  As Caritas is preparing for the new era, we renew our pledge to help build a harmious society with a heart full of love in the spirit of Caritas.