Department of Social Welfare Malaysia, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development

Contact Details

Director-General
Department of Social Welfare Malaysia
Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development
Tingkat 21-24
Menara Tun Ismail Mohamed Ali
Jalan Raja Laut
50562 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel : 603 - 2697 1090
Fax : 603 - 2694 1248
Website : www.jkm.gov.my

Introduction

The Social Welfare Department Malaysia (JKMM) was established in 1946 and has been through several structural changes since. The department started with its involvement in managing problems that stemmed from World War II. From there, its roles and functions have expanded to preventive and rehabilitative services in social issues and the development of the community. It is one of the agencies under the administration of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

Vision

A caring and harmonious society

Mission

Towards a society that is socially harmonious

Motto

The Blessings of Good Deeds

Objectives

To provide protection and rehabilitation to the department's target groups
To develop a community through attitudinal change and building capacity towards self-reliance
To create a caring society
To enhance the community's well-being through professional social welfare

Department's Target Groups

Children (according to the Child Act 2001)
People with disabilities
Older persons
Destitute persons (according to the Destitute Persons Act 1977)
Family (women and girls, single parents, victims of domestic violence, the poor and people with problems)
Victims of natural disaster
Voluntary welfare organisations

Programmes and Activities

For Children
The Department is responsible for the provision of care, protection and rehabilitation of children to ensure their well-being. Programmes are institutionalbased as well as community-based and implemented with the cooperation and participation of the community and voluntary organisations. The activities provided by the institution under the Department include guidance and counselling, formal education, religious and moral education, recreational activities, as well as health and medical services. Other services undertaken by the Department include:

Protection and Rehabilitation for:
- Children in confl ict with the law
- Children who are beyond control
- Children exposed to prostitution
- Urgent protection for children forced into prostitution/illegitimate pregnancy
Rehabilitation Programmes for Juveniles:
- Preparation of probation reports
- Supervision of probation cases
District Child Welfare Committees
- Supervision of probation cases
Care and Protection
- Management of child abuse cases
- Neglected and abandoned children

• "Teledera Hotline"
• Adoption
• Foster Care Application
• Child Protection Teams
• Child Activity Centres
• Celebration of International Children's Day

Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities
The objectives of the rehabilitation services for People with Disabilities (PWDs) are to assist PWDs to be self-reliant and to achieve their full potential.

Services provided include:
• Registration
• Artificial Aid and Assistive Devices
• Launching Grants
• Disabled Workers Allowance
• Work Placement
• Institutional Training and Medical Rehabilitation
• Community Based-Rehabilitation Programmes
• Group Homes

Malaysia is fully committed in improving the welfare and development of its disabled population. This is evident in the signing of the Proclamation on Full Participation and Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific region on 16 May 1994; and the ratification of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. The government has also endorsed the "Biwako Millennium Framework for Action Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for PWDs in Asia and the Pacific" to enable them to enjoy equal opportunities and to participate in the mainstream development of the country. The national Advisory and Consultative Council for People with Disabilities was established to coordinate the implementation of this framework.

Domestic Violence
The department provides assistance in domestic violence issues through:

Managing cases of domestic violence in accordance with the Domestic Violence Act 1994
Protection for victims of domestic violence

For Older Persons
The care and protection for older persons through institutional service provides health care, guidance, counselling, recreation and religious teachings. In addition, other programmes that have been established to ensure the well-being of older persons include:

Financial Assistance
Day Care Centre for Older Persons
Homes for Older Persons without Next of Kin
Programmes and Activities Undertaken by Non-Governmental Organisations
Celebration of National Day for Older Persons

For Destitute Persons
The Destitute Persons Act 1977 provides for the protection of destitute persons or vagrants from public displeasure. Through Desa Bina Diri, the department provides the following activities:

Care and Protection
Skill Training
Counselling
Integration into Society

Management and Disaster Aid
Services that provide assistance to victims of natural disaster have been in existence since the inception of the Department in 1946. The roles and responsibilities of the Department include various stages i.e. before, during and after the occurrence of disaster which covers:

Management of Evacuation Centres
Assistance in the Form of Food, Clothing and Other Necessities
Registration of Victims
Guidance and Counselling

Financial Assistance to the Needy
The main objective of the Financial Assistance Scheme of the Department of Social Welfare is to lessen the financial burden of the less fortunate and needy individuals/ families. Financial assistance will be rendered until such time when their financial situation has improved and they have become self-reliant.

The general objectives of the Financial Assistance Schemes are:

To provide adequate income for meeting the basic needs of the family
As an incentive aimed at motivating certain target groups, e.g. PWDs to remain in employment
To enhance the quality of life of the community especially the older persons, needy children and single mothers so as to ensure that they have access to better quality of life and basic services

Types of Financial Schemes:

Aid for Needy Children
Aid for Older Persons
Disabled Worker's Allowance
Launching Grant
Foster Child Scheme
Apprenticeship Allowance
Aid Assistance
School Aid
Aid for Procuring Assistive Devices/Artificial Appliances

Counselling Service
Provides counselling services to staff, inmates of institutions as well as community which includes:

Rehabilitation - intervention programmes such as Interactive Workshops, Individual, Group, Family and Community Counselling
Prevention - to carry out programmes such as workshops, courses and seminars related to individual capacity-building in the Department's organisation and community. It includes occupational interest, stress management, interpersonal skills, family skills, motivation and many more
Outreach - identify community members who are at risk and develop intervention programmes for children who have to deal with parents' divorce, stress and others
Advocacy

Legal and Advocacy Division
The Legal and Advocacy Division is responsible for ensuring that all services of the department are carried out in accordance to the existing legal provisions, rules and regulations. Their services include:

Registration of Child Care Centres in accordance with the Child Care Centre Act 1984
Registration of Care Centres in accordance with the Care Centre Act 1993
Advocacy and legal literacy
Review of Acts

Consultancy and Community Services
Focus of this service is towards encouraging active participation of local community members, volunteers, private sectors and non-governmental (welfare-related) organisations in the development and rehabilitation of the target groups through attitudinal change and capacity-building towards self-reliance. Implementation of various programmes is undertaken through smart partnerships that are in line with efforts to inculcate a caring society. Programmes and services provided are:

Community Organisation Projects
Development of Voluntary Welfare Organisations
Development of Volunteerism - National Welfare Bridge
Consultancy and Advisory Services

Socio-Welfare Institutions and Children's Activity Centres

Besides carrying out activities and programmes to help the targeted groups, JKMM has set up various Socio-Welfare Institutions to provide social services to the public.

They are: