By MEDIA RELEASE
Oldest Children’s Home in Singapore Celebrates 110th Anniversary
New Teens’ Annex Planned – Expansion to care for Teenage Girls
Children’s Aid Society (CAS) is one of the oldest charities in Singapore – its present name was established in 1902 – this year, we are celebrating our 110th Anniversary.
CAS manages Melrose, the oldest children’s home in Singapore – a “home away from home” for children in need of care and protection. Operating from its premises at 503 Clementi Road, Melrose provides a supportive environment for children between the ages of 3 to 18 years old, who require care and protection in a residential setting. These are children whose parents or family members are unable to provide care or to supervise them. In recent years, the Home saw its residential muster grew from average of 36 residents in 2009, to 42 residents in 2010, and 52 residents in 2011, a year-on-year increase of about 20%.
To cope with the increased muster and to offer better quality of care and rehabilitation, we expanded both our professional and care staff. Melrose is one of the children’s homes to be CANS accredited – CANS, which stands for Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths – a case management methodology promoted by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports.
In 2008, CAS saw the necessity of a teenage wing following a needs analysis exercise of the staff and management – expanded and opened a teens’ wing – reaching out to offer care and protection for teenage girls. In 2010, noting the synergy with our current programmes and services for teens and pre-teens, we began to take in Beyond Parental Control (BPC) cases. By 2011, the Home had maximized the existing capacity of its teens’ wing.
CAS will be expanding its existing facilities – Ascendas had kindly committed to donate $500,000 for the construction of the new Teens’ Annex, and also help us oversee and manage the construction project. The construction works started this month, and is expected to be completed by Feb 2013 – doubling our capacity from 16teens to 32 teens.
For enquiry: Choy Weng Leong
Executive Director, Children’s Aid Society
Email: [email protected]
HP: 94874338