It used to be called alcoholism. Today we know better. We know that drinking problems do not come in one form, but can take any of a number of forms.

Some people who abuse alcohol start drinking heavily early in life and develop longstanding dependence. Others start using regularly following a setback— such as losing a job, or losing a family member. Still others engage in binges that may last for days, but are spaced weeks or months apart.

Child maltreatment can be categorized as neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Almost 3 million children are harmed or endangered by maltreatment each year. While girls are four times more likely to be sexually abused, boys are slightly more likely to be neglected and 24% more likely to be physically abused.

ex is an ingredient activity in the life of couples, but studies have shown that nearly half of Chinese married couples are not satisfied with their sexual relationship. This workshop will present and demonstrate the common causes for couple’s sexual problems, the basic skills to identify, prevent and manage them. The workshop will include didactic lecture, video presentation of case demonstrations, role play exercises, group discussions and a questions and answers session.

Adoption is a normal way to form a family, and it occurs far more often, and is more complex than people realize. These were the messages spread last November by Hong Kong-based charity Mother’s Choice and its 10 partner NGOs and universities, 16 speakers, 18 events across Hong Kong, and a dozen media articles.

It is an exchange forum co-organized with the HKU Family Institute by Prof. NG Man-lun on case sharing and demonstration of sex therapy. Special discount would be offered to CIFA members. Please mark the date on your diary and take note of the registration procedure in due course.

I met Gin, a Malaysia young man who has devoted his
much effort in social services especially the children and
youth work at the CIFA conference last Jan 2008.

On April 28th, 2009, twenty participants joined in on the visit to different agencies in Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long. The visit was organized by CIFA’s Promotion and Fundraising Committee with the intention of deepening members’ understanding of Hong Kong’s latest family service model. In the

SWD (Social Welfare Department) Tin Shui Wai Integrated Family Service Centre, the District Social Welfare Officer gave everyone a comprehensive introduction on the district’s profile, service needs, challenges, and the strategies used to balance the needs of various sectors.

The Master degree program is a 3-year part-time program under the HKU Department of Social Work and Social Administration. It is the first of its kind in the region, modeled after the highest standards set up by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
(AAMFT), facilitating graduates to seek professional accreditation through the course of their career development.

As a follow up on the first forum on the captioned subject held on 9.2.09, the part 2 of the CIFA forum on Family Reconstruction after the Financial Tsunami will be held in April. We have identified families which have been affected by the financial tsunami and survived through the crisis, becoming stronger to cope with future challenges to share their personal experience. Please take note of the registration procedure in due course.

Through dialogue with family service practitioners, to understand the district profile and service needs and to explore the challenges and opportunities in Yuen Long & Tin Shui Wai, the

Consortium of Institutes on Families in the Asian Region is organizing a local agency visit to the Social Welfare Department Tin Shui Wai Integrated Family Service Centre and Tung Wah Group of

Hospitals Jockey Club Tin Shui Wai Integrated Service Centre. Details of the visit are as following: