Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports

			Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan

			Minister of State Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon

			Senior Parliamentary Secretary Mr Teo Ser Luck

			Permanent Secretary Mr Niam Chiang Meng

	2 Deputy Secretary Ms Ong Toon Hui		1 Deputy Secretary Mr Chew Hock Yong

Social Support	Family Formation & Stability	Social Cohesion	Corporate Support

ComCare and Social Support Division	Family Development Division	Youth Division	Strategic Planning, Research and Development Division

Elderly, Disability and Gambling Safeguards Division	Family Policy Unit, Women's Desk	Sports Division	Human Resource Division

Rehabilitation, Protection and Residential Services Division	Social Development Unit	Community Relations & Engagement Division	Finance and Facilities Division

Social Sector Planning Unit	Family Education Department	REACH	Emergency Preparedness Unit

	Family Services Division		Information Technology Division

			Communications and International Relations Division

Go to the telephone directory of MCYS.

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The ComCare and Social Support Division helps low income and vulnerable individuals and families facing financial problems, to have an acceptable quality of life and to be independent as far as possible through making available an adequate and accessible network of social services and resources. The Division harnesses the support of other various Government Departments, Statutory Boards, and agencies to ensure that the plans and developments for new programmes and services address emerging social needs and gaps.

The Division's focus on social support for low income families encompasses :

Social assistance policy development (ComCare Self Reliance, ComCare Enable). Details of ComCare schemes can be found here. The schemes are administered by the Community Development Councils (CDCs).

Work Support (social assistance to support employment) and social enterprises.

Preventive and developmental policies for children from needy families (ComCare Grow).

Preventive and remedial policies for families at risk.

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The Elderly, Disability and Gambling Safeguards Division drives the national effort to enable successful ageing for Singapore, build an inclusive society and put in place social safeguards for gambling. The Division is involved in formulating policies for persons with disability, conducting public education on ageing, and developing support services for problem gambling.

	Elderly Policy The Division leads in formulating and driving the implementation of the Government's response to the challenges of an ageing population. It seeks to ensure that all levels of society are well prepared for these challenges and that older people are valued as contributing and integrated members of society. The Division works with various Government agencies to drive policies and implement the recommendations of committees including the Committee on Ageing Issues to meet the needs of the ageing population. It also co-ordinates inter-ministry efforts to ensure a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach. The Division also works with Voluntary Welfare Organisations and other influencers to develop public education programmes to promote positive mindsets and attitudes towards ageing and the elderly and to inculcate a culture of active ageing among seniors.
	Disability Policy The Division formulates, co-ordinates and reviews policies and programmes that support people with disabilities and their families. It seeks to build an inclusive society where people with disabilities are integrated and have equal opportunities for education and employment. The Division works closely with other government agencies, the National Council of Social Service, Voluntary Welfare Organisations and commercial sectors to develop early intervention and education services and facilities for children with disabilities, enhance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, and provide community-based services to support families of persons with disabilities.
	Gambling Safeguards The Division coordinates, reviews and formulates policies and programmes to address problem gambling. The Division provides secretariat support to the National Council on Problem Gambling, whose task is to provide advice and feedback to the Ministry on public education programmes to promote awareness on problem gambling; decide on funding application for preventive and rehabilitative programmes; as well as to assess and advise the Ministry on effectiveness of treatment, counselling and rehabilitative programmes.

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The mission of the Rehabilitation, Protection and Residential Services Division is to build socially responsible individuals and strong and stable families by fostering a safe and nurturing environment for children, youth and families. The Division, in collaboration with its partners, sets the policy and service delivery frameworks for child and family protection and the management of juvenile delinquency in Singapore. The Division also provides statutory services for the protection of individuals/families and the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents.

Underlying the work of the Division is the belief that individuals and families are capable of overcoming their difficulties, becoming self-reliant, and should be empowered to do so. We believe that the safety and interest of children and families are of paramount importance. The family and the community are also actively engaged in the rehabilitation and reintegration of children, youth and families.

	Rehabilitation, Protection and Residential Services Policy Branch The Rehabilitation, Protection and Residential Services Policy Branch is responsible for the development and review of policies and legislations related to child and family welfare and protection and juvenile delinquency. It carries out research on these issues to ensure timely and relevant policies and services.
	Rehabilitation, Protection and Residential Services Programme Branch The Rehabilitation, Protection and Residential Services Programme Branch is responsible for the overall development, implementation and evaluation of standards and best practices in programming for the rehabilitation and protection sector. The Branch oversees the management of the National Family Violence Networking System which was put in place to support the prevention and intervention of Family Violence cases on an island-wide basis. It collaborates with social service agencies to provide rehabilitative and recovery programmes for individuals and families experiencing Family Violence. The Branch oversees the development of community engagement platforms and partnerships to promote community awareness and action for optimal service delivery in rehabilitation and protection work. It develops and co-ordinates specialised training that meets the needs of the social work positions in the Division as well as sector professionals. The Branch spearheads key public education initiatives pertaining to Family Violence, Child Protection and the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
	Family and Child Protection and Welfare Branch The Family and Child Protection and Welfare Branch provides quality service for the welfare and protection of children, young persons and families at risk or in distress. The Family Protection and Welfare Section provides casework and counselling services for individuals and families who are in distress or facing social difficulties. The Section collaborates with social service agencies to provide rehabilitative and recovery programmes for individuals and families experiencing family violence. It is also responsible for organising specialised training programmes on family violence for social workers and counsellors. The Section also processes Special Marriage License applications for persons under the age of 18 years who wish to marry. The Child Protection and Welfare Section works closely with government and social agencies to provide services for children who are at risk of delinquency and moral danger, or in need of care and protection because of abuse, neglect and abandonment. It conducts social investigations on cases relating to children beyond parental control and children involved in custody disputes. The Volunteer and Fostering Service administers the Fostering Scheme and the Enable-A-Family Volunteer Scheme. The Programmes Development Section administers the Mandatory Counselling Programme for family violence cases. In addition, it supervises the standard of care provided by crisis shelters and administers funding for this facility. The Section also undertakes research and evaluation of programmes and services under the Branch's purview.
	Residential and Aftercare Services Branch The Residential and Aftercare Services Branch is responsible for promoting, developing and providing quality rehabilitative residential and aftercare services for children and young persons, and destitute persons. The Branch administers three institutions for juveniles and young adults - Singapore Boys' Home, Singapore Girls' Home and Singapore Boys' Hostel. Through its rehabilitation programme, the Branch hopes to inculcate discipline and positive social values in young offenders and children beyond parental control. Relevant skills are also imparted to facilitate their social reintegration into society. The Branch also provides aftercare services for the children and young persons to facilitate their reintegration into society after release from the juvenile institutions. Aftercare services aim to reinforce positive values and provide the support needed to help the juveniles adjust to living with their families and in the community again. The Destitute Persons Service responds to public reports and other referrals of cases of begging, vagrancy or homelessness. Those who cannot be returned to the care of their families are placed in welfare homes. The Destitute Persons Service monitors, co-ordinate and review policies, programmes and services for destitute persons, as well as, oversees the management of 4 welfare homes and the Pelangi Village (a Social Welfare Complex) run by voluntary welfare organisations acting as managing agents appointed by MCYS.
	Probation Services Branch The Probation Services Branch aims to successfully rehabilitate and reintegrate probationers into society as socially responsible and law-abiding individuals with maximum participation of families and the community. The Branch assesses the suitability of juveniles (below 16 years of age) and selected adult (16 and above) offenders for probation or other community-based order options. It is also responsible for the supervision of probationers. The Branch fosters maximum community participation in the rehabilitation of offenders through partnerships with the people and private sectors. The Branch administers the Community Probation Service which provides an avenue for concerned individuals to serve as Volunteer Probation Officers.
	Psychological Services Unit Mission The mission of PSU is to provide comprehensive psychological assessment and therapy to children, youths and families who are RPRSD's client. PSU DOES NOT provide Psychological Services directly to members of the public. We only accept referrals from RPRSD. Background The Psychological Services Unit (PSU) was formally established as a unit in October 1998 within the Rehabilitation, Protection and Residential Division in the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS). The mission of PSU is to be a clinical forensic focal point providing comprehensive psychological services to children, youths and families who are RPRSD's client. In 2003, PSU embarked on a journey of specialisation in two core areas of work, namely Services for Trauma and Abuse Recovery (STAR) Specialises in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and trauma Forensic Health Services (FHS) Specialises in the assessment and treatment of high risk offenders

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The Social Sector Planning Unit co-ordinates and develops policies pertaining to social service provision and ensures infrastructural support for the growth of the sector. It is also responsible for co-ordinating and develop ing VWO funding policies. The Unit also co-ordinates manpower planning and development for the social services.

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The Family Development Division (FDD) spearheads preventive and developmental efforts to strengthen and support families. We strive to be proactive and forward looking in our development and implementation of family policies, services and education under the broad vision of Singapore as the best place for family life.

		Family Policy Unit Family Policy Unit formulates and reviews family policies to strengthen and promote families in Singapore. The Unit drives pro-family government policies, including pro-marriage and procreation policies, as well as children policies. The Unit also coordinates Singapore's position and represents the Government at ASEAN, regional and international forums on matters concerning women. The Unit works closely with people-sector-led committees such as the National Family Council, which advises and provides feedback on policies and programmes to strengthen families, addresses stresses faced by Singaporean families, and ensure that families receive the support they need to remain strong.
		Social Development Unit The Social Development Unit (SDU) promotes marriage among graduate singles and inculcates positive attitudes towards marriage among all singles, by facilitating social activities and matchmaking programmes for its members and through its public education efforts.
		Family Education Department The Family Education Department manages public education programmes aimed at promoting, positive attitudes on the importance of marriage, family life and the skills needed for healthy and happy families. We have built up a pool of family life education programmes and resource materials as well as quality family life educators to support and promote the implementation of family life education. We promote positive attitudes towards marriage and family through the media and the AboutFamilyLife.org.sg website. We forge partnerships with the community to work together to provide a healthy environment for our families to live and work in.

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The Family Services Division's mission is to promote a range of quality and affordable services that encourage family formation and support family stability in Singapore. The Division comprises the following departments to help fulfill its mission:

	Baby Bonus and Adoption Branch The Baby Bonus and Adoption Branch administers the Baby Bonus Scheme and the various government-paid leave schemes under the Marriage and Parenthood Package, as well as the statutory functions under the Adoption of Children Act.
	Registry of Marriages The Registry of Marriages is responsible for administering the provisions of the Women's Charter in Civil Marriages.
	Registry of Muslim Marriages The Registry of Muslim Marriages registers Muslim marriages under the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Chapter 3). The Registry also supports Muslim self-help groups and organisations which conduct pre-marital counseling and marriage guidance courses and workshops for couples intending to get married.
	Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents The Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents provides a legal channel for aged parents who are unable to maintain themselves adequately, to seek maintenance from their children. The TMP secretariat provides support and handles the administrative work for the Tribunal.

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In tandem with the renaming of MCDS to MCYS, 2004 saw the creation of a new Youth Division within the Ministry, with the responsibility of leading policy and coordinating efforts to achieve the Ministry's vision for youth, and to develop strategies and initiatives for youth development and youth engagement in Singapore.

Youth Division seeks to catalyze and facilitate youth participation in the wider community, and raise youth interest and involvement in national issues. Among our other goals are to promote the nurturing of leadership skills amongst young Singaporeans, and to ensure that the needs of youth-at-risk are adequately met.

We work with various partners to develop effective and holistic policies and programmes for our youth. Our partners include government agencies (such as the National Youth Council, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Home Affairs), as well as organisations from the people and private sectors.

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The Sports Division is a new division set up in April 2000 to set policy directions for sports development in Singapore.

Sports Development

A powerful channel for fostering national pride and community bonding in a multi-racial society, Sports transcend all segments of society. Participation in sports also promotes healthy living, builds perseverance, determination, creativity and teamwork.

A key initiative the division is embarking on is to develop the sports industry. This is to ensure the long-term sustainability of sports development in Singapore. Growing the industry in Singapore will enable sports development to proceed more rapidly as more resources are generated from industry growth. It will also create career opportunities for people with talent in the sports arena.

Singapore Sports Council

The Singapore Sports Council (SSC), a statutory board under MCYS, is responsible for the promotion of sports in Singapore.

The SSC's objectives are:
	To promote sports as a way of life among Singaporeans.
	To promote sporting excellence by identifying and nurturing athletes with high potential.
	To ensure that quality sports facilities are accessible and affordable to all.

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The Community Relations and Engagement Division aims to foster a caring and active community by developing strategies to foster professional and well-governed voluntary welfare organisations (VWO) and active volunteering and charitable giving. The Division also ensures that resources (land/premises, funding and manpower) required for the provision of social services are planned and provided for and optimised. It fosters social cohesion through promoting good relations between different racial and religious groups, and among locals and foreign talent. The Division also regulates co-operative societies and mutual benefit organisations (MBOs).

The Division provides secretariat support to the "Remaking Singapore" Committee and administrative support for Syariah Court.

The Division comprises the following sections:

	Voluntary Sector Development The Voluntary Sector Development Section works closely with the National Council of Social Service, the umbrella body of VWOs, and National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, the national volunteer and philanthropy promotion centre, to promote volunteerism, and a vibrant voluntary sector. The Section also formulates policies to encourage philanthropy and charitable giving among corporations and individuals.
	Community Relations The Section works with the People's Association to promote greater multi-racial harmony and facilitates community self help groups and Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore.
	Registry Of Co-Operatives Societies And Mutual Benefit Organisations The Registry regulates the activities of co-operative societies and MBOs so as to protect the interests of members.

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The REACH was started in 1985 as part of a consultative government which wants to listen to the voices of the people. The Unit actively seeks feedback from a wide spectrum of Singaporeans, reaching out to heartlanders, ethnic communities, professionals, students, youths, women, the elderly and many others. It does so by offering Singaporeans a wide range of feedback channels to contribute their views.

If you have any ideas or views that would help shape national policies, or any heart-burning issues to raise, REACH is the right place for you to contribute feedback and ideas on national policies and issues, and to obtain a better understanding of the rationale behind national policies.

For more information, please log on to: www.reach.gov.sg

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The Strategic Planning, Research and Development Division (SPRD) drives the strategic planning process within MCYS together with the Planning Facilitation Committee. The staff also collaborates with other Divisions to conduct systematic reviews and analysis of policy implications from social research and studies to provide inputs for strategic planning.

SPRD aims to drive a hypothesis-and research-driven policy-making culture within MCYS. Working closely with other MCYS Divisions and our stakeholders, our staff identify and compile critical social issues that are prioritised into the MCYS research and policy agenda. Research papers and studies are produced to increase the awareness and knowledge of current and emerging social concerns that will shape the decisions of policy-makers.

SPRD also coordinates key strategic cross-division policies. The policy unit focuses on reviewing key strategic issues that cut across several Divisions and review emerging key strategic issues or areas. It will surface key issues and areas for review and develop new, cutting-edge capabilities.

To support the other Divisions in conducting their research studies professionally, the staff provides advice and consultancy on research methodology and project management.

As part of our research culture, our Resource Centre develops a specialised collection on social work and social issues. It has a comprehensive collection of print and multi-media resources including CD-ROMs and web-based materials. The Resource Centre networks with other information providers here as well as abroad to ensure that its information is current and topical. At the Inter-Ministry level, the Division exchanges knowledge and share research findings with our partners through seminars, publications and other platforms.

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The Finance And Facilities Division is responsible for financial administration; infra-structure project development, general administration and internal auditing.

It aims to work proactively with the Divisions of MCYS to develop and apply best practices in optimal resource management for organisational excellence. The Finance Branch strives to promote proper stewardship of the Ministry's resources through the application of best practices in resource management, the provision of professional and responsive advice on optimal resource deployment and the submission of timely and accurate management reports whilst maintaining system integrity and internal control adequacy. The Facilities Branch aims at quality infrastructure and efficient management of resources and provides excellent professional service in infrastructure development. The Administration Branch provides quality administrative and registry services to create a conducive work environment, effective office administration support and enhanced building security and fire safety. The Internal Audit Unit assists the Audit Committee and the management in their discharge of their responsibilities to evaluate and promote good internal controls through independent audits of Divisions in the Ministry.

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The Division's vision is for MCYS to be an employer of choice. The Division has positioned itself as a trusted adviser and strategic partner to the other divisions in realising MCYS' objectives.

The Human Resource (HR) Division works in close partnership with other divisions in attracting, developing and managing the potential talents of our staff. The Ministry's development plans include structured training, job rotation, attachments, skills upgrading and leadership programmes to maximise staff capability and development. The Ministry was recognised for these efforts when it was awarded the People Developer Standard (PDS) in April 2003.

HR Division is also responsible for the well-being of staff and creating a healthy, family-friendly work culture through the introduction of innovative work-life initiatives, workplace health programmes, flexi-work arrangements and other employee support schemes and services.

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The Emergency Preparedness Unit (EPU) is responsible for MCYS' contingency planning, business continuity planning and preparatory activities, overall security preparedness, and operational responses when the Ministry is involved in emergencies and incidents.

EPU coordinates, promotes and facilitates the preparedness efforts of MCYS in addressing the threats to Singapore's social well-being and resilience in an emergency. The Unit aims to be a model in Emergency Preparedness among Home-front Agencies.

On the ground, MCYS supports the Incident Manager (IM) - usually SCDF or SPF - in the management of uninjured victims and relatives of victims.

EPU drives the Ministry's efforts in contingency planning for anticipated crises and ensures that Divisional business continuity plans are updated to address the situation in these crises. EPU also co-ordinates the overall security planning.

EPU organises in-house courses to ensure assigned staff are operationally-ready, and conducts exercises to validate its plans and to ensure that staff are familiar with the plans. EPU staff also co-ordinate the MCYS participation in external exercises by MHA, SCDF and SPF.

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The role of the Information Technology Division is to harness the exploitation of Infocommunications Technology (ICT) in the provision of Community and Social Services. The Information Technology Division envisions that ICT will transform MCYS into a learning Ministry with ICT-savvy officers delighting our customers in the delivery of electronic community services.

As the ICT consultancy and implementation arm of the Ministry, ITD will drive and lead the various ICT initiatives in line with the missions and visions of the various Divisions.

ITD will work closely with the Ministry users to empower them to go beyond automation of business processes; to see and realize possibilities; to value-add through business process re-engineering; and to bring about a change in their work and the delivery of excellent customer services through the use of ICT.

Six strategic thrusts have been identified to help us fulfil our vision:
a)	Raising IT literacy through ICT education
b)	Creating a Knowledge-based workplace
c)	Improving Operational Efficiency
d)	Building an adaptive and robust infrastructure
e)	Delivering electronic services
f)	Experimenting new ICT

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The Communications and International Relations Division seeks to proactively work with all MCYS staff to position the Ministry as a widely respected, excellent and dynamic partner in community development, and to effectively communicate and convey clearly MCYS policies to the public and our stakeholders. It also strives to build and enhance the international profile and image of the Ministry and Singapore's social policies through working with partners on a bilateral, regional and international basis.

The Division plans and coordinates media relations efforts for the Ministry. It is also involved in planning and execution of pulic education for MCYS' ongoing programmes and management of national level campaigns.

Corporate visits are arranged for local and foreign visitors throughout the year. Updates are also given on international obligations from conventions and regional meetings. The Division produces corporate materials such as the MCYS Corporate Book, publications such as newsletters, and maintains the MCYS Homepage: www.mcys.gov.sg Feedback and queries via the media and the homepage are also monitored by the Division. It also oversees the development of eCitizen's Family Town www.familytown.gov.sg, a one-stop portal which provides integrated information and services on the family.

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