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Better coordination ‘the key to better help community’

SINGAPORE — Improved organisation and co-ordination are needed to provide better help for communities, and it is not about pouring in more resources or headcount, Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said on Sunday .

Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan Jin takes a wefie during his community visit to Toa Payoh East-Novena Division. Photo: Toa Payoh East-Novena Media Team

Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan Jin takes a wefie during his community visit to Toa Payoh East-Novena Division. Photo: Toa Payoh East-Novena Media Team

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SINGAPORE — Improved organisation and coordination are needed to provide better help for communities, and it is not about pouring in more resources or headcount, Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said on Sunday (March 26).

To this end, Members of Parliament and grassroots leaders should take the lead in pulling together various stakeholders, from merchants to voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), he urged.

Improving the coordination of help to vulnerable groups has been a priority of Mr Tan’s since he became the Social and Family Development Minister in 2015, when he pledged to enhance coordination among public agencies in offering assistance to those who need it before their problems worsen.

Speaking to reporters at a ministerial community visit to the Toa Payoh East-Novena division yesterday, he said efforts to make a difference in the community are not the Government’s alone. It takes the “whole kampung” or community, including grassroots leaders, VWOs, local schools and religious organisations, to band together.

“I want to encourage the (grassroots) advisers to play a lead role because some agencies aren’t always funded by the Government, so they operate very much independently,” Mr Tan said. MPs double up as grassroots advisers in their wards.

For instance, residents may apprise general practitioners who have practised in an area for many years on issues beyond medical ailments.

If doctors detect “something not quite right” at home, “who do you connect (them) with ... the FSC (family service centre), the SSO (social service office) or the local VWO?” Mr Tan questioned.

Then there are groups keen on helping underprivileged children, for example, in nutrition or schoolwork. They can be brought together, he said, adding that he has been encouraging grassroots leaders to take the lead in his own ward in Marine Parade GRC.

He said: “Sometimes... you know each other’s organisations exist but — you’ll be surprised — we’re a bit reluctant to share information because it’s a bit confidential or we’re not sure, (on) the other side, what they’re doing.”

But when groups collaborate and forge relationships, a deeper sense of trust is established, and the ensuing exchange of information is “very valuable”. Collaboration and coordination between agencies that engage in similar activities is key, said Mr Tan.

For instance, there could be several groups, ranging from mosques and churches to hawkers, handing out free meals to low-income residents in a certain area.

They could extend their outreach if they spread it across different days of the week or parts of the year, instead of only at the year end, or if they coordinate to fan out to different blocks, especially those served by fewer groups.

“Just by (this) simple effort, the help can go a very long way,” said Mr Tan.

Stakeholders should converge to discuss the areas they want to be involved in and the community’s various needs. The Government, he said, would explore how to support this, be it on the organisational front or in sharing more information. 

It could also support training, since many groups are engaged in a slew of activities. Feedback from the ground is welcome, so that the Government can support the work of these groups, he added. es. Feedback from the ground is welcome, so that the Government can support the work of these groups, he added.

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