Department of Social Work
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
About The Conference
YIA, CUHK
18-19 October 2018
08:45 am
The Conference titled “Social Welfare Policy, Practice, Research and Education: Public Engagement and Social Impact” aims to provide scholars and practitioners with a platform to share and promote research impact and public engagement in the field of social welfare and social work education.
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We are honoured to have Professor Geraldine Macdonald from University of Bristol, Professor Guan Xinping from Nankai University, Professor Aron Shlonsky from University of Melbourne and Professor Steven Ngai Sek Yum from Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong to act as our keynote speakers to share with us their expertise on public engagement and social impacts. In the two plenary sessions, the Research Centres/programs of Social Work Department at CUHK will share their projects and its impacts and we are more than glad to have Mr. Hoi Wai Chua from The Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Mr. Timothy Ma Kam Wah from Hong Kong General Chamber of Social Enterprises, Mr. Charles Chan from The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong and Ms. Irene Leung from Hong Kong Social Workers Association to act as commentators to respond to our local practice.
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Another highlight of the conference is the interactive workshops. We are glad to have representatives from Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong Kong, Harmony House, Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Caritas Hong Kong, New Life Psychiatric Association and Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service, together with our faculty members, to conduct six workshops and to share their practice wisdom on their collaborative projects with the following topics:
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Group Intervention for Chinese Elderly Adults with Insomnia using Cognitive-behavioural Approach and Strategies and Skills Learning and Development
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Project HE- Healing and Empowerment for Male Victims of Domestic Violence: Service Experiences and Reflections
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Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship of Social Workers in Hong Kong
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“Otaku”, “Geeks” and “Socially Withdrawn”- How they are being excluded
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Transfer of Knowledge from the University to Agency Social Workers: An Evolving Process of Developing Multiple Family Therapy for Chinese People in Recovery of Depression and Training
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An Existential Approach to Substance Abuse Counseling and Treatment: Making the Familiar Unfamiliar
I myself very much look forward to learn from the speakers and your presence will certainly contribute to the success of the conference. Looking forward to seeing you at the conference.
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Lam Ching Man
Chairperson of Conference Organizing Committee
Professor, Department of Social Work
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Organizing Committee
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Lam Ching Man (Chairperson)
Vice-Chairperson and Professor, Department of Social Work
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Ngai Sek Yum Steven
Chairperson and Professor, Department of Social Work
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Chen Ji-kang
Associate Professor, Department of Social Work
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Leung Suk Man Grace
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work
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To Siu Ming
Associate Professor, Department of Social Work
Welcome message from the Department Chairperson
Welcome to the International Conference on “Social Welfare Policy, Practice, Research and Education: Public Engagement and Social Impact”! This Conference means a lot to the Department of Social Work as we are celebrating our 55th anniversary this year and this is our first celebratory event.
Rundown
Oct 18, 2018 (DAY 1)
8:45 - 09:00
Registration
Welcome Address & Photo Taking
Dr. Chi Kwong LAW, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, The Government of the HKSAR
Prof. Chi Yue CHIU, Dean of Social Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Steven NGAI Sek Yum, Chairperson of Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
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09:00 - 09:15
09:15 - 10:05
Keynote Presentation 1:
IMPACT – what works, how can we tell, and how can we evidence our role?
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Prof. Geraldine MACDONALD
Professor of Social Work, School of Social Policy, University of Bristol
Moderator: Prof. Joyce MA Lai Chong (CUHK)
10:05 - 10:55
Keynote Presentation 2:
The general orientation and main issues in the development of Social Policy in Mainland China’s “New Stage”
Prof. Xinping GUAN
Professor, Department of Social Work & Social Policy, Nankai University
Moderator: Prof. Steven NGAI Sek Yum (CUHK)
Tea Break
10:55 - 11:15
Plenary Session 1:
Policy, Education and Research for Public Engagement and Social Impact
Speakers: Prof. Yu Cheung WONG, Prof. Ching Man LAM, Prof. Mary ZHOU Huiquan &
Prof. Minseop KIM (CUHK)
Commentators: Mr. Hoi Wai CHUA (The Hong Kong Council of Social Service) & Mr. Timothy MA Kam Wah (Hong Kong General Chamber of Social Enterprises)
Moderator: Prof. Haijing DAI (CUHK)
11:15 - 12:40
Lunch
12:40 - 14:15
14:15 - 15:40
Service and Intervention for Public Engagement and Social Impact
Speakers: Prof. Mooly WONG Mei Ching, Prof. Siu Ming TO & Prof. Minyoung KWAK (CUHK)
Commentator: Mr. Charles CHAN (The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong) &
Ms. Irene LEUNG (Hong Kong Social Workers Association)
Moderator: Prof. Wallace CHAN Chi Ho (CUHK)
15:40 - 16:00
Tea Break
16:00 - 17:30
Prof. Timothy LEUNG Yuk Ki, Ms. Cecilia CHEUNG Man Sze & Prof. Grace LEUNG Suk Man (CUHK), Ms. Sally SIN Fung Yee & Ms. Vega YEUNG Yuen Yee (Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong Kong)
Oct 19, 2018 (DAY 2)
Prof. Ji Kang CHEN (CUHK) ), Ms. Fiona WU & Mr. Gabriel CHAN (Harmony House)
Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship of Social Workers in Hong Kong
Prof. Hung WONG (CUHK), Mr. Chun Kit HO (Hong Kong Council of Social Service), Ms. Wendy WONG Pui Yin (St. James' Settlement) & Mr. Andrew YUN (Fantastic Dream Ltd.)
8:45 - 09:00
09:00 - 10:00
Registration
Keynote Presentation 3:
Evaluating Complex Social Interventions: New challenges and opportunities
Prof. Aron SHLONSKY
Professor and Head of Department (Social Work), Monash University School of Primary and Allied Health Care
Professor of Evidence Informed Practice, University of Melbourne School of Health Sciences
Moderator: Prof. Ching Man LAM (CUHK)
10:00 - 11:00
Keynote Presentation 4:
Enhancing Helping Professionals’ Competence in Anti-Drug Work through Cognitive-Behavioral Integrated Therapy (CBIT) Training
Prof. Steven NGAI Sek Yum
Chairperson and Professor, Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Moderator: Prof. Mei Chun CHEUNG (CUHK)
11:00 - 11:15
Concluding Remarks
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Prof. Ching Man LAM
Professor and Chairperson of Organizing Committee, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
11:15 - 11:30
Tea Break
11:30 - 13:00
“Otaku”, “Geeks” and “Socially Withdrawn” -How they are being excluded
Prof. Steven NGAI Sek Yum (CUHK) & Mr. Wai Leung CHAN (Caritas Hong Kong)
An Existential Approach to Substance Abuse Counseling and Treatment: Making the Familiar Unfamiliar
Prof. Siu Ming TO (CUHK) & Mr. Hiu Fai CHAN (Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service)
Prof. Joyce MA Lai Chong, Mrs. Monica YAU, Dr. Lily XIA (CUHK) & Ms. Cindy YIU (New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association)
Abstracts
DAY 1
Keynote Presentation 1
IMPACT – what works, how can we tell, and how can we evidence our role?
Prof. Geraldine Macdonald
Professor of Social Work, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol
18 Oct
9:15 am
Abstract
In this presentation Professor Macdonald will review those factors thought to ensure that social science research has the impact desired by researchers, before considering the challenges that nonetheless beset research teams whose findings may not find immediate favour with funders, policy makers or practitioners. Drawing on examples from her own research, Professor Macdonald will discuss some of the ways in which she has sought to maximise the impact of her own research, with varying degrees of success, and share the ‘lessons learned’ on the way.
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Biography
Professor Geraldine Macdonald was appointed to the Board of Trustees in September 2017. Geraldine qualified as a social worker in 1979 and worked in children’s services until 1987, when she moved into academia. She was first appointed to the Chair of Social Work at Bristol in January 1998. She returned as Professor of Social Work in October 2015, after working first as Business Director (Information and Knowledge Management) at the Commission for Social Care Inspection (2004-2006) and then as Director of the Institute for Child Care Research in Belfast.
Geraldine’s research interests focus on how we can best determine ‘what works’ in the complex field of social interventions, and on how best to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people. She is currently a Director of CORAMBAAF, and a Trustee of the Foundling Museum.
Geraldine’s motivation for wanting to join the University’s Board of Trustees stems from a desire to assist the University in a particularly exciting time in its history.
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Keynote Presentation 2
The general orientation and main issues in the development of Social Policy in Mainland China’s “New Stage”
Prof. Xinping GUAN
Professor, Department of Social Work & Social Policy, Nankai University
18 Oct
10:05 am
Abstract
After fundamental reform and rapid development for four decades, now China is entering into a new development stage, in which the economic and social conditions are becoming quite different from the precious decades. The political leadership has proposed a sum of new goals for the comprehensive development in the new stage. Social policy will definitely play an important role in fulfilling these new grand goals, as mentioned in the Report of 19th CCP’s National Conference. However, some significant theoretic and practical issues still need to be discussed, including the new economic and social challenges for social policy development, the relationship between social policy development and social welfare in the “new stage”, and what are the main tasks for China’s social policy in the new stage. This paper will discuss current government’s social policy orientations and analyze scholars’ disputes around these significant issues. There will be four parts: I. The new economic and social conditions for China’s social policy in the current “New Stage”; II. Government’s social policy orientation and agendas; III. Scholars’ disputes around social policy issues; IV. A possible synthesizing analysis: towards a social policy balancing economic development and people’s wellbeing.
Biography
Prof. Guan Xinping is a professor at Nankai University, PR China, where he is the Dean of the Department of Social Work and Social Policy; the Director of the Institute of Social Development and Administration, Nankai University; and the Co-Director of The Nankai-CUHK Joint Research Centre for Social Policy.
Prof. Guan earned his PhD in Economics and MA in Sociology at Nankai University. Now, his main academic areas are in social policy, social security, social work, and social demography. Since the 1990s, his research has been in the areas of China’s social policy transition in the background of market transition and globalization; comparative social policy, poverty, and social assistance in urban and rural China, etc. In recent years, he has focused more on social policy for rural migrant workers in urban China; social policy issues in the new economic and social transition in China; social policy for elderly care in China, etc. He is the author of the books of “Urban Poverty in China”(1999) and “Introduction to Social Policy” (2003, 2009, 2014), and more than a hundred academic papers published in Chinese or international journals.
Prof. Guan is now Vice-Director of China Association of Social Work Education; Vice Director of China Association of Sociology; and Vice Director of China’s Academic Association of Social Work.
Plenary Session 1
Policy, Education and Research for Public Engagement and Social Impact
Prof. Yu Cheung WONG, Prof. Ching Man LAM, Prof. Mary ZHOU Huiquan & Prof. Minseop KIM (CUHK)
18 Oct
11:15 am
This session will focus on the topics of policy practice, social work education and programme evaluation. Professor Wong Yu Cheung will talk about policy research projects conducted by the Research Program of our Department and its impacts. Professor Lam Ching Man from the Research Programme for Social Work Education will share their research projects on education, while Professor Mary Zhou and Professor Kim Minseop from the Research Programme for Social Service Development and Programme Evaluation will present projects on programme evaluation. Our commentators, Mr. Chua Hoi Wai and Mr. Timothy Ma Kam Wah, will respond to the presentations and give recommendations from agency and user perspectives.
Plenary Session 2
Service and Intervention for Public Engagement and Social Impact
Prof. Mooly WONG Mei Ching, Prof. Siu Ming TO & Prof. Minyoung KWAK (CUHK)
18 Oct
2:15 pm
This session will focus on the topics of youth, children and family and ageing. Professor Mooly Wong from the Family and Group Practice Research Center will share her research projects on family practice. Professor To Siu Ming will present his project on youth work on behalf of the Youth and Childhood Research Programme, while Professor Kwak Minyoung from the Research Programme for Ageing and Disabilities will share her research findings related to the issue of elderly. Our commentators, Mr. Charles Chan and Ms. Irene Leung, will provide feedback by focusing on research center’s/programmes’ engagement in practice.
Workshop 1
Group Intervention for Chinese Elderly Adults with Insomnia using Cognitive-behavioural Approach and Strategies and Skills Learning and Development
Prof. Timothy LEUNG Yuk Ki, Ms. Cecilia CHEUNG Man Sze & Prof. Grace LEUNG Suk Man (CUHK), Ms. Sally SIN Fung Yee & Ms. Vega YEUNG Yuen Yee (Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong Kong)
18 Oct
4:00 pm
Abstract
Many elderly people are disturbed by insomnia. Insomnia leads to higher incidences of depression, heart disease, and accidents in older adults. This workshop will introduce a group treatment on insomnia-stricken elderly people using cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) as well as strategies and skills learning and development (SSLD). Other than introducing the theoretical framework, the presenters will share the strategies and techniques in modifying insomniacs’ dysfunctional beliefs and behaviours related to sleep, and in enhancing insomniacs’ awareness of their underlying needs. After the workshop, participants’ can understand the essences of sleep hygiene education, stimulus control therapy, sleep restriction therapy, mindfulness exercises and use of mandala in the intervention. The evaluation demonstrated that the intervention led to positive changes in night-time insomnia symptoms, daytime distress, dysfunctional beliefs toward sleep, and depression.
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Presenters' Introduction
The team is composed of LEUNG Yuk Ki, Timothy (Associate Professor of Practice, Department of Social Work, CUHK), CHEUNG Man Sze, Cecilia (Professional Consultant, Department of Social Work, CUHK), SIN Fung Yee, Sally (Regional Supervisor, Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong Kong), YEUNG Yuen Yee, Vega (Project Officer, Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong Kong, and LEUNG Suk Man, Grace (Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, CUHK). They are social workers who have rich experience in practice and in conducting practice research. The team is knowledgeable in the application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Strategies and Skills Learning and Development (SSLD) in casework and group work practice.
Workshop 2
Project HE- Healing and Empowerment for Male Victims of Domestic Violence: Service Experiences and Reflections
Prof. Ji Kang CHEN (CUHK) ), Ms. Fiona WU & Mr. Gabriel CHAN (Harmony House)
18 Oct
4:00 pm
Abstract
In this workshop, we would share our service experiences and practice wisdom with our male survivors of domestic violence. We would share our skills in working with male victims and case formulation in these cases. We would further elaborate how ideas of narrative practice could be used in our therapeutic groups. Besides, the macro aspect of social context with these clients, including masculinity, gender stereotype, help-seeking behavior, etc., would be also covered in the workshop. The aims of the workshop are to raise the participants’ knowledge on the issue of domestic violence, especially male victims of IPV, and gender sensitivity in working with male service users.
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Presenters' Introduction
In Hong Kong, it is difficult for male victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) to find adequate supportive services for themselves. Starting from October 2016, Harmony House, with the sponsor by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, implemented a three-year pilot project, namely “Project HE-Healing and Empowerment”, to provide support for them. The aims of this one-stop service are to help them to face their difficulties, tackle their problems, and rebuild their own life. Their traumatic experiences from domestic violence can be healed in the process.
Workshop 3
Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship of Social Workers in Hong Kong
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Prof. Hung WONG (CUHK), Mr. Chun Kit HO (Hong Kong Council of Social Service), Ms. Wendy WONG Pui Yin (St. James' Settlement) & Mr. Andrew YUN (Fantastic Dream Ltd.)
18 Oct
4:00 pm
Abstract
Social entrepreneur brings about new ways of responding to social problems, with dynamism, personal involvement and innovative practice. Social enterprises is an associative and cooperative form of the social entrepreneurs to use social innovation intervention to bring impacts to the society. We would like to invite three social entrepreneurs in Hong Kong to share their vision, experience and reflection in their social innovation practice in social housing and positive youth development in Hong Kong.
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Presenters' Introduction
Ho, Chun Kit, Charles is the Project Director of Community Housing Movement at Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Through research and overseas fieldworks, he has long advocated for alternative affordable housing for grassroots families including affordable private rental housing, modular housing, social rental intermediaries and collaborative housing. He is also interested in integrating various social functions including neighborhood network, community building and health into housing space.
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Wong Pui-yin, Wendy graduated from Bachelor of Social Work in 1990. She is the Senior Manager (Family & Counselling Services) supervising both Integrated Family Service Centre and Street Sleepers Services of St. James' Settlement. In 12/2017, she started to operate 14 units of social housing in Mongkok under HKCSS' Community Housing Movement.
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Andrew Yun graduated as a Bachelor of Engineering in Information Engineering. He is a YouTuber with 100,000 subscribers, who established Fantastic Dream Ltd. in 2015 to advocate positive energy on the internet and helped the youngsters to see and realize their potential. He was presented the Hong Kong Youth Service Award 2017 by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.
DAY 2
Abstracts
Keynote Presentation 3
Evaluating Complex Social Interventions: New challenges and opportunities
Prof. Aron SHLONSKY
Professor and Head of Department (Social Work), Monash University School of Primary and Allied Health Care
Professor of Evidence Informed Practice, University of Melbourne School of Health Sciences
19 Oct
9:00 am
Abstract
Social work is at a major crossroads. The evidence-based practice movement has firmly taken hold, and governments and other funding bodies are demanding that we provide solid evidence that the services we offer are both effective and efficient. This requires that we, as a discipline, must build and use evidence to a much greater extent than we have in the past. Yet the types of populations we serve, their circumstances, and the limited resources at our disposal mean that the challenge of evaluation is considerable. This lecture will use real-world examples to discuss some of the new ways that evaluations of complex social interventions are being conducted, specifically focusing on making use of different types of information to answer different types of questions, the integration of implementation and impact, the use of practical trials, and the importance of university partnerships with government and service providers to improve the effectiveness of practice and policy.
Biography
Aron Shlonsky
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Professor and Head of Department, Monash University, Dept of Social Work (incoming)
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Professor of Evidence Informed Practice, University of Melbourne, Dept of Social Work
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Ph.D. in Social Welfare, University of California at Berkeley
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MPH, Interdisciplinary, University of California at Berkeley
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MSW, Child and Family, University of California at Los Angeles
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BA in Sociology, University of California at Los Angeles
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Aron Shlonsky is Professor and Head of Department (Social Work) at Monash University School of Primary and Allied Health Care School (incoming) and is currently Professor of Evidence Informed Practice (Social Work) and Director of the Centre for Applied Research on Effective Services at University of Melbourne School of Health Sciences; He is also the Editor of the Campbell Collaboration (social science analogue of Health’s Cochrane Collaboration) Knowledge Translation and Implementation Coordinating Group and is an Associate Editor at Children and Youth Services Review. After graduating from UC Berkeley with a doctorate in social welfare and a master’s degree in public health, Shlonsky was an Assistant Professor at Columbia University School of Social Work and was then Factor-Inwentash Chair in Child Welfare at the University of Toronto Faculty of Social Work. Shlonsky is known internationally for his work in child welfare, particularly in the generation and implementation of evidence to inform practice and policy as well as longitudinal data analysis in the child and family services field. Professor Shlonsky and Colleagues have completed four evidence syntheses for the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse; a Cochrane Collaboration systematic review of educational programs for preventing child sexual abuse; and a number of high quality rapid evidence assessments and scoping reviews for a range of Australian governments. He is Co-Author with Rami Benbenishty of From Evidence to Outcomes: An international reader (Oxford University Press, 2014), one of the first books to integrate Common Elements / Core Components and Implementation Science with more standard approaches to evidence-based practice. Shlonsky has authored and co-authored numerous other books and peer-reviewed articles in the child protection and family services areas including risk assessment in child welfare and domestic violence services, the predictors and effects of sibling separation in foster care, issues surrounding kinship foster care, and the teaching and implementation of evidence-informed practice.
Keynote Presentation 4
Enhancing Helping Professionals’ Competence in Anti-Drug Work through Cognitive-Behavioral Integrated Therapy (CBIT) Training
Prof. Steven Sek-yum NGAI
Professor and Chairperson, Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
19 Oct
10:00 am
Abstract
This keynote speech seeks to demonstrate the importance and impact of enhancing the competence of helping professionals’ anti-drug work through cognitive-behavioral integrated therapy (CBIT) training.
CBIT has been widely adopted in anti-drug work due to its systematic guidelines for rehabilitation of drug abusers. However, it has been conducted primarily in residential settings, which may exclude many drug abusers from receiving professional help, as most of them are unwilling to receive treatment in an institution. Hence, community-based treatment services by anti-drug professionals play an important role, and providing training to these professionals is necessary to enhance their services. Moreover, the effectiveness of CBIT training had not previously been evaluated rigorously. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of promoting the competence of helping professionals’ use of CBIT treatment by systematic training and evaluation, funded research led by Professor Steven Ngai and his research team since 2009 has provided empirical analysis that has narrowed the gap.
The evaluation was first conducted in 2009. Of 28 social workers, half were randomly selected to attend the training, including a five-day workshop and case consultation sessions. The remaining 14 comprised the control group. The findings revealed that the trained social workers provided more CBIT interventions to their service users than the social workers in the control group. Consequently, the service users who were seen by the social workers in the experimental group experienced a reduction in their misunderstandings about drugs and an increase in their numbers of drug-free days. These findings showed that CBIT training could effectively enhance anti-drug professionals’ competence. Following the proven effectiveness of building competence through CBIT training, a total of three research and development projects supported by the Beat Drugs Fund of the Hong Kong Government were launched in 2013–15, 2014–16 and 2016–18 for over 1,800 practitioners and students of the social work, healthcare and teaching professions. Subsequently, evaluations of the completed funded projects indicated that over 90% of the participants showed improvements in anti-drug knowledge and skills.
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Given the positive impact on the participants, the Beat Drugs Fund Association evaluated and recognized this research as “the highest level of effectiveness in the area of improving frontline workers’ intervention skills and knowledge among other projects approved” in August 2017.
Biography
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Dr. Steven Sek-yum Ngai is Chairperson and Professor of the Department of Social Work at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Director of the CUHK-Nankai Joint Research Center of Social Policy, Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Urban Renewal Fund of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Adjunct Professor of the School of Social Sciences and Psychology at Western Sydney University, Visiting Professor of the School of Philosophy and Social Development at Shandong University, and an appointed member of a number of professional bodies and governmental advisory committees. His current research interests are in the areas of social exclusion and youth citizenship, mutual aid and youth empowerment, and service-learning and leadership development. In total, he has published over 180 articles on these areas, including 135 refereed publications in journals, books and conference proceedings. Since 2000, he has conducted 32 research projects. Among them, four are funded by RGC Competitive Earmarked Research Grant (CERG) or RGC General Research Fund (GRF), and another 25 commissioned by government bureaus/NGOs in Hong Kong or Macau. Given his ongoing efforts and remarkable performance in teaching and research, he received CUHK Faculty of Social Science Exemplary Teaching Award in 2000, CUHK Research Excellence Award in 2011, and CUHK University Education Award in 2014.
Workshop 4
“Otaku”, “Geeks” and “Socially Withdrawn” - How they are being excluded
Prof. Steven NGAI Sek Yum (CUHK) & Mr. Wai Leung CHAN (Caritas Hong Kong)
19 Oct
11:30 am
Abstract
This workshop is to critically review our work with young people who are strongly labelled by the society in different terms, like "Geeks", "Otaku" or "Socially Withdrawn" (毒，宅，隱). Not only the community will label this group of young people, but also the young people themselves often use these terms to name themselves. What happen?
These young people often yell in the Internet world. But what are they looking for? Does the cyber youth work reinforce the stigmatization or educate them to follow the dominant culture? The workshop will review our cyber youth work in the past few years, and examine what happen in working with these young people.
Workshop 5
Transfer of Knowledge from the University to Agency Social Workers: An Evolving Process of Developing Multiple Family Therapy for Chinese People in Recovery of Depression and Training
Prof. Joyce MA Lai Chong, Mrs. Monica YAU, Dr. Lily XIA (CUHK) & Ms. Cindy YIU (New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association)
19 Oct
11:30 am
Abstract
Transferring knowledge of multiple family therapy (MFT) to the targeted social service agency is one of the objectives of a collaborative clinical research between the Family and Group Practice Research Center of the Department of Social Work in our university (FGPRC) and the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (the agency), in addition to assessing the treatment efficacy of MFT in helping Chinese families of an adult member in the recovery of depression. The process of knowledge transfer evolved along with and was integrated as part and parcel of the research while providing MFT services to these families. It was a co-construction between our research team and the agency social workers. There were five stages in the process of knowledge transfer: 1) equipping the social worker team with the theoretical knowledge underpinning MFT through a one-day workshop; 2) co-constructing the MFT knowledge specific for the target clientele with the FGPCR research team as the leaders of two MFTs and the social worker team as participatory observers; 3) consolidating the knowledge through video review and discussion and transferring the knowledge to the agency social workers through a two-day training workshop; 4) leading the MFT by the agency social workers with regular on-site coaching and supervision from the second presenter, an experienced research team member of FGPRC; and 5) assuming leadership in the group by the agency social workers, to be assisted by periodic clinical supervision. The social workers’ view in regard to the process of knowledge transfer was discerned from the focus-group interviews as well as their reflection. The social workers described their learning experiences of MFT using the metaphors: “a journey of exploring the unknown treasures with the encouragement and accompany of the colleagues and the scholars”.
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Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will achieve the three learning outcomes: (a) to be informed about our novel way of knowledge transfer from an academic department to a community-based agency; (b) to identify the process of adapting the MFT for Chinese families of an adult member in recovery of depression; and (c) to learn about the results of our qualitative study, which aimed to identify the social workers’ learning experiences of MFT.
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Acknowledgement
This project was commissioned by New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust financially supported the project.
Workshop 6
An Existential Approach to Substance Abuse Counseling and Treatment: Making the Familiar Unfamiliarnd training
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Prof. Siu Ming TO (CUHK) & Mr. Hiu Fai CHAN (Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service)
19 Oct
11:30 am
Abstract
From an existential point of view, substance abuse is a manifestation of a way people confronting the risks and challenges arising from some fundamental concerns that are a part of their existence. This workshop will provide an introduction to an existential approach to substance abuse counseling and intervention. It will discuss how an existential approach contributes substantially by rethinking the meaning of substance abuse and supporting practitioners to delve into the lived experiences of people involved in problematic substance use. Furthermore, this workshop will highlight the significance of understanding the existential concerns and anxieties of people with substance use problems. The goals and key components of this approach, intervention strategies, case examples, program designs, and some practical skills will also be discussed in this workshop.
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Presenters' Introduction
Mr. Chan Hiu Fai, Officer-in-charge, Cheer Lutheran Centre, Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service
Mr. Chan Hiu Fai has been devoting himself to the field of substance abuse counseling and intervention for 20 years. In recent years, he has had invaluable experience in engaging in the development of anti-drug service in Mainland China, and providing training and supervision for social workers to enhance their competence in anti-drug work.
Prof. To Siu Ming, Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. To Siu Ming’s research interests include parent support and education, youth work, and program evaluation. Recently, he has partnered with the Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service to jointly develop a holistic parent counseling, support, and education project for pregnant women and parents with substance use problems.