Caritas-Hong Kong
Sep 2021 – Apr 2024
80-120 pairs of parent-and-child service users with risks of family violence in 10 primary schools and 3 children & youth centres
The project adopts a parent-child based, psycho-educational approach to provide parent-child art therapy group sessions for primary school children and their parents with signs/risks of domestic violence or single/reconstructed family referred by the school or the Integrative Children and Youth Service Centre. The project includes:
The project makes use of the arts to provide a joyful, self-directed and safe platform for children with risks of family violence to release their inner feelings through creative activity, facilitate effective counselling, and promote developmental growth.
At the end of each series, the children and the parents will show improvements in expressiveness, engagement, social interaction and teamwork.
Dr Sophia Law will document and write up a handbook in using the arts in social services for families with domestic violence, “train-the-trainers” is a core part of the project for future sustainability. Ms Sarah Tong, the art therapist will adopt a co-working approach in training the social workers on the value of art facilitation, and how to implement the activities, so that beyond this programme, they can continue to use art with children and their parents. The collaboration of school social work and community centre will render holistic support to the families with risks in various aspects.