MSF to roll out consolidated social service map

SINGAPORE — The Government aims to strengthen the delivery of social services through its national database and a larger network of Social Service Offices (SSOs).

However, a key challenge will be in coordinating services and ensuring that those in need ultimately benefit from easier access to its services.

In an exclusive interview with Channel NewsAsia, Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing said he envisions a consolidated social service map of Singapore in the next three years. This mapping will be done progressively as more SSOs are rolled out.

The Government’s social service map will meet immediate needs as well as serve as a forward-looking tool in planning.

In the first instance, the map will locate individuals or families in need as well as provide a directory of social services, such as Voluntary Welfare Organisations and Family Service Centres, around Singapore.

Mr Chan said the map will help identify what are the emerging needs in the next five to 10 years, and whether the Ministry of Social and Family and National Council of Social Service have to work together to start building that capacity in time to come to meet those emerging needs.

Already, when each SSO is rolled out, a local map is provided to community partners. Stakeholders are already seeing benefits in greater coordination.

For O’Joy Care Services, which provides counselling for the elderly, the map has helped the centre linked up with other stakeholders.

Mr Choo Jin Kiat, executive director of O Joy Care Services, said: “With the map, we now have a very visual idea where are the help available. At this moment, let’s say for example, we want to network with someone else. We know how far away it is and what’s more important is when we refer such things to our clients, we also can tell them how far they need to go.”

Grassroots organisations have also found a faster response from SSOs when getting help for the financially-distressed.

Mr James Ng, assistant secretary of Kolam Ayer Senior Citizens’ Executive Committee, said: “I think in the past, a few of the volunteers sometimes would come up with their own cash or donation to settle whatever things the needy needs urgently. While waiting, you don’t know how long it would take for them to come back to us. Currently, with such a good communication with the SSO office, we find that it makes our job easier.”

The map of social services, however, will not mean that those who need assistance will be confined to getting help only from their neighbourhood SSO.

The shared data base between SSOs will help ensure that residents will be able to go to any office, for example, one that’s near their work place. CHANNEL NEWSASIA