Youth GO! The Singapore

Experience

Ms Lim Sok Ngin, Central Youth Guidance Office

Mr Benjamin Yeo, Fei Yue Youth GO! Team

Mr Martin Chok, Care Corner Youth GO! Team

Scope of presentation

• Policy perspective

• Development of Singapore Street Outreach Service

• Street-Involved Children & Youth in SG

• Localised outreach strategies

• Special Programmes

• Impact of Outreach Service

• Future Considerations

• Q&A

2

Youth GO! – Policy Perspective

State of Youth At Risk in Singapore

4

In mid-1990s, an inter-ministry

committee was formed to tackle youth

crime using an integrated and holistic

approach

Youth arrest

rates doubled

from 1980 to

1990

Youth arrest

rates continued

to rise in early

1990s and

2000s

Youth crime

concerns:

Secret society

involvement,

drug abuse

Youth arrest

rates sharply

declined from

2005 to 2015

Youth arrest rates

stabilised

School drop-out

rates reduced to

below 1% at

present

Risk Concerns Remain…

Drug Abuse

About 40% of drug

abusers arrested in

2018 were first-

time offenders.

About 2/3 of them

were below 30

years old

Teen Suicides

(10 -19 years old)

13 cases in 2014

27 cases in 2015,

22 cases in 2016,

12 cases in 2017

Cyber Addiction

Behavioural problem,

e.g. aggression and

social withdrawal

from addiction to

video gaming, social

media or internet

porn

5

Policy Owner

NCPR CYGO

National Committee on

Prevention, Rehabilitation

and Recidivism • Oversees national efforts to

prevent offending and re-

offending

Central Youth Guidance

Office• Co-secretariat to NCPR

• Inter-ministry office

• Early intervention strategies

• Overview of

programmes/services

6

Key Approaches

ComprehensiveConvenient

and Coordinated

Upstream and Preventive

Evidence-based/

informed strategies

7

Youth-At-Risk Engagement Framework

Use of Risk Assessment Tools

Trained youth workers(Skills Framework for Social Service)

Use of Evidence-based/ informed programmes

Evaluation Tools (ACT! SG)

8

ACT! SG Programme Evaluation Framework

9

Scan QR code to

visit CYGO’s

website to

download the User

Guide and Tools

ACT! SG Programme Evaluation Framework

10

Skills Framework for Social Service

• A SkillsFuture initiative developed for the

Singapore workforce to promote skills

mastery and lifelong learning

• Officially launched on 12 Jan 2019

• Provides useful information on:

To find out more, scan this

QR code to visit

http://www.skillsfuture.sg/

skills-framework/social-

service

Sector

Information

Career

Pathways

Occupations &

Job Roles

Existing &

Emerging Skills

Training

Programmes for

Skills Upgrading

& Mastery

The 5 Career Tracks

11

Youth GO! Programme

What is

Youth

GO!?

Youth workers reach out to youths on the

street

A multi-faceted youth engagement approach

Partnerships with relevant community partners

To support youth-at-risk so that they will be:

a) Meaningfully engaged either in studies/work;

b) Crime-free; and

c) Able to problem-solve and be resilient

individuals

Targeted

outcomes

of YGP

12

Youth GO! Milestones

2012 2015

YGP

continues…

2019

Conceptualisation

of YGP

Appointment of 2

teams – North

East and North

West

2014Appointment of

3rd team – South

West

Completion of

Phase 1

Evaluation

Phase 2

Evaluation

begins

2018

Completion of

Phase 2

Evaluation

13

Where are the Youth GO! Teams?

Service Boundaries

Three Youth GO! Teams: North East, North West and South West

14

Policy Considerations for Youth GO!

Addressing needs of

stakeholders

Addressing needs of youths

Capability of Youth

GO! Workers

Need for evaluation

to understand processes & outcomes

15

Youth Outreach – Distinct Service Model

Youth

outreach

Case

management

Drop-in Centre Befriending &

mentoring

Client selection By outreach

workers

Varied referral

channels

Self-selected

clients

Varied referral

channels

Service

objectives

Focused Focused Broad Broad

Service setting Non-agency

with community

integration

Agency-based,

with community

links

Agency-based Non-agency

settings

Service model Explicit,

flexible,

sustained

engagement,

in situ

encounters

Planned

intervention

through

scheduled

sessions

Unstructured

leisure

activities, may

be supervised

by

professionals

Through loosely

structured

encounters

16

Evaluation of YGP – Key Findings

Educational disruption

Anti-social & criminal behaviour

Smoking & substance abuse

Family and financial problems

Youths present a range of risks including

17

Evaluation of YGP – Key Findings

Greater parental involve-

ment

Greater interest in

studies

Attitudinal changes

Reduced risk

behaviours

Improved relation-

ship & life skills

More engage-ment in

structured activities

18

The Development of Singapore Street Outreach

Service

Learning from Hong Kong

20

Street-involved Children & Youth (SICY) in Singapore

22

SICY Surveys

1) Multi-Racial

Total SICY: 183

23

2) Age Range

1 3 47 6

16

34

40

28 26

14

3 10

10

20

30

40

50

7 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

No. of

Part

icip

ants

Age

Total SICY: 183, Mean = 14.8 , Median = 15

24

25

2) Age Range

Peak Hangout

Duration:

3.30pm to 9pm

Reasons:

1. Hotter weather

2. Schools are ending

later

3. Lights off at 10pm

4. Youth Hangout Late

Letter

88, 48%

67, 36%

14, 8%

14, 8%

Average hours = 5hrs 32mins per day

< 5 hrs 5-10 hrs > 10 hrs Invalid

26

3) Hangout Duration

#1 #2

#3 #4 #5

27

4) Favourite Hangout Spots

#3

5) Activities on the streets

#2

28

6) People they hang out with

9

29

42

71

73

0 20 40 60 80

CCA Friends

Social Media Friends

Childhood Friends

Schoolmates

Street Friends

No of Votes

29

7) Social Media Survey

-

90% of SICY used social media while hanging out

0

78.57% of SICY got to know at least a few of

their street friends first through social

media

0

95% of SICY added at least a few of their street

friends on their social media

30

Localised Outreach Strategies

The 5-stage Street Outreach Model

Stage Hong Kong

(Lee, 2013)

Singapore

1 Observation Observation

2 Initial Contact Assessment

3 Social Relationship Positive Engagement

4 Working

Relationship

Therapeutic

Engagement

5 Termination Graduation

32

Stage 1: Observation

Picture of Community Scan

Drift efficiency in 2016

33

Strategies to find SICY

• Rely on formal & informal intel

• Focus on depth work (Snowballing)

• Make appointments

• Using activities

Drift efficiency has increased to about 50% in 2019

34

Observing SICY

35

Observation Matrix

Designed by Fei Yue team to facilitate street engagements that are:

• Safer

• More efficient

• More effective

Stage 2: Assessment

37

Street Education & Preventive Work

38

R.A.I.N Conceptual Framework

Risk

Behaviours InterestsAssets Needs

39

Stage 3: Positive Engagement

40

The 5 Levels of Activity

(Dynamo International –Street Workers

Network)

Spontaneous Activities(Level 1)

Engagement Tool Activities(Level 2)

Set Activities(Level 3)

Projects(Level 4)

Community Events(Level 5)

Definition

Activities initiated by SICY at their

hangout spots that street outreach workers join in.

Activities that street outreach workers

initiated with engagement tools at SICY hangout spots.

Independent and once-off activities

that street outreach workers organised with a selected group of

SICY.

A series of activities that

street outreach workers

organised with a selected

group of SICY.

Community activities that involve a few

selected groups of SICY and

community partners.

Purpose Uncover R.A.I.N

Uncover Specific R.A.I.N

Street Education & Preventive work

To address Risks and build Assets

Engage Parents

To address Risks and build Assets

Engage Parents

To promote community involvement

To address Risk Trends and build

Communal Assets.

Stage Assessment Positive Engagement

OwnershipYouth Street Outreach Worker Community

Min. Appointment Level

Casual ContactInformal

AppointmentFormal Appointment

Relationship Fostered

Social Relationship Working Relationship

SPARK PROGRAMME

42

43

Stage 4: Therapeutic Engagement

Stage 5: Graduation

44

Youth GO!

Special Programmes

SEPAK TAKRAW COMPETITION

46

Visiting drug awareness booths to score additional competition points

47

Gameplay

Drug Prevention Talks

5748

Friendly matches

49

Youth Trends

Extensive

Social Network

Chat with

Online

Strangers

Sexting

Cyber Bullying Exposure to

Drugs

Romanticisation

of Suicide

50

Changing Landscape

51

LAUNCH OF CYBER SERIES

52

@youth.go

Key Focus

Psychoeducate & raise awareness

Spark conversations & challenge misconceptions

Provide information on helplines and assistance

Link and refer youths to services

53

MENTAL

MAP SERIES

54

55

Debunking Myths

56

Spark Conversation

57

Share Resources

“I learnt more

about mental

health, like the

symptoms, and the

support that I can

turn to.”

Increased

knowledge and

awareness

towards topic

discussed

58

Practice Outcome

• Increased number of youths reached

• Enable follow-up and intervention,

especially with youths of transient

location loyalty or group

membership

vs 178 active cases

59

Practice Outcome

• Increased accessibility to

support via direct

messaging

• Enhanced service users’

impression & proximity

60

Practice Outcome

USE OF GAMINGFrom Cyber Engagement to

Group Intervention

61

Multiplayer Online Battle

Arena Game

5 vs 5

◦ Two opposing teams fight to

destroy enemy’s base, while

defending their own

◦ Key: Teamwork, Strategy,

Choice of Character &

Gameplay

62

Mobile Legends

When will all

of you be

coming down

again?

63

Effective Engagement Tool

Within six days,

50 existing and

new youths

expressed interest

to participate.

Snowballing:

youths screenshot

post and shared

among peers

64

Effective Engagement Tool

Integrating digital game-based learning into

existing mental health intervention shown to increase

user engagement and knowledge of mental health

(Huen et al., 2016; Shum et al., 2019).

Gaming

Context

Real-Life

Context

65

Platform for Psycho-Education

Consequential thinking

Decision-making

Self-efficacy

Teamwork

Risk-Taking

Perseverance

Boundaries

Setbacks

66

Lesson Plans

Consequential Thinking

Real-life context: Weighing pros and cons of choices and its

impact on self and others is a responsible conduct

Gaming Context: Chasing after a ‘kill’ within strongholds of

enemy with low health runs the risk of ‘dying’ without gains

67

USE OF THE ARTSwith street youths

68

DURATION

✓ 10-week curriculum

AIM

✓ Create opportunities for street youths to gain

confidence in building positive and supportive

relationships, and express themselves through art

69

Case Study: Embracing Together

70

Case Study: Embracing Together

● Youths not committed / regular to structured sessions in agency

● Youths deemed painting unsuitable as they are "not good at

it”

● Stakeholders frustrated with street youths' poor commitment

WEEK 1-3

71

Challenges

Pause and Review

WEEK 4-5

72

Challenges

1. Brought activity out to void deck where youths hang out

WEEK 6-9

Number of youth participants: 8-12 per session

73

In-Programme Changes

2. Modified programme to one-off sessions reaching

wider youth community

WEEK 6-9

74

In-Programme Changes

3. Engage different known groups each time

WEEK 6-9

Street youths expressed that they were more

comfortable sharing in-depth amongst their peer group

75

In-Programme Changes

WEEK 10: EXHIBITION

76

"I get to be creative and paint whatever I like and

want, I get to express myself through painting and

there was no right or wrong."

"It was something different from what I usually do, it

was fun."

"The volunteers were very encouraging when I felt

‘stuck’ on what I could paint."

77

Impact

“I got to understand the youths’ worldviews and

feelings after they explained the stories behind their

art work.”

Resilience in youths, and concerns that surfaced

served as topics for follow-up during casework

"I felt very low at one point due to the youths’ no-

show... However, I learnt to trust everyone in the team

to fulfill different roles."

"I saw the importance of adaptability, perseverance

and being flexible."

78

Impact

Reflected on the need for flexibility in

conducting arts programme to appeal to and

serve street youths effectively.

Reminder to look beyond the surface, and

start to see how they play a part in supporting

and building youths

79

Impact

● To reframe and promote art-making as a form of self-

expression, emphasising on the youths' unique stories, rather than

aesthetics

● Need for flexibility in curating the programme delivery

● Necessity to understand street youths and rally all parties to

focus on common goal

80

Lesson Learnt

8 – 12 youths per week

Figure 1: Community Organisation Framework Guiding

Stakeholders Engagement

81

Impact on Practice Development

Youth GO!

Impact of Programme

Impact of Youth GO!

Video of Interview

83

Impact of Youth GO! Programme

Youth GO!

Future Considerations

• How can we identify the at-risk children and youths early?

• How do we work effectively with at-risk children?

• How can we better address youth mental health issues, addictions and substance abuse?

• How do we outreach to hidden youths?

• How can we better embed technology into our work?

85

Future Considerations of Youth GO!

Q&A

Thank you

References

Boeve, E., & Toussaint, P. (2007-2013). The role of

group action in street work. European Commission,

Dynamo International Street Workers Network.

Lee, F. (2013). Effective Intervention with Youth-at-Risk

in Hong Kong. Journal of Social Work Practice, 27(1),

33-46.

88