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A Study to Evaluate the New Dawn (ND) Project of Single Parents/Child Carers under CSSA Scheme. Research team Dept. of Social Work & Social Administration, Policy21 Limited The University of Hong Kong. Purposes of study.
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A Study to Evaluate the New Dawn (ND) Project of Single Parents/Child Carers underCSSA Scheme Research team Dept. of Social Work & Social Administration, Policy21 Limited The University of Hong Kong
Purposes of study Studies the characteristics of the targeted participants, their job-seeking behaviour, barriers to and factors in promoting employment, outcome of employment and the impact on themselves and their children.
Study design • Main Surveys(1685, ½ year after first contact, response rate 75%) • EA/IEAP (ND) group (1034 persons) • Employed group (206 persons ) • Refusal group (445 persons) • Before & After Comparison • Pretest Survey (348, persons, immediately after initial contact, response rate 78.6%) • EA/IEAP (ND) group (274 persons) • Employed group (33 persons) • Refusal group (41 persons) • Posttest Survey (84, ½ year after first contact, response rate 48.6%) • EA/IEAP (ND) group (53 persons) • Employed group (21 persons) • Refusal group (10 persons) • In-depth Interviews(9 categories, 28 persons) • Focus Group • NGO staff administering ND IEAP (2 groups, 12 persons) • SWD staff administering ND EA (3 groups, 19 persons) • Employers (1 group, 6 persons) • International Comparison
Summary of findings • 50% in ND found jobs, 39 % were working during interview • Half of those working wanted to work full-time, a third wanted to work longer hours to increase income. • Earn around $3,000; work around 100 hrs/ month • Being self-reliance and having better income were the main reasons for taking up employment • Children were very supportive to their parent/carer’s employment • Relationship and family atmosphere remained good and changed little because of employment
Summaries (Cont’d) • Before and after comparison: both parents and children’s self-esteem improved for those who were employed after joining the ND Project. • These employed parents spent less time with children during weekdays (Monday to Friday) but there was no difference in weekends (Saturday & Sunday). • Factors affecting the chance of employment – being female, single parent, < 45, having more family members, stronger support from children, more active in job seeking, smaller amount of CSSA, not living in Tin Shui Wai • Focus group findings: success depends on motivation, employment opportunities and personal/family factors • Work requirements for single parents are common in many countries; usually compulsory and start early. Sanction, incentive, clear requirement are important
Recommendations • Continuation with the ND Project (i.e. EA & IEAP), more sharing of good practices are helpful • Sanction on those refused to participate in the ND Project can be increased gradually (e.g. doubling every half a year) • Participants can be required to participate in job attachment or training to increase their employability • Work hour requirement can be increased gradually (to 80-100 hours) • Extend to single parents/carers with youngest child in full-time primary school with less work hour requirement • Special arrangement for Tin Shui Wai