Beat Drugs Fund invites grant applications for 2016 Funding Exercise of the Regular Funding Scheme
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The Beat Drugs Fund (BDF) is inviting grant applications for the 2016 Funding Exercise of the Regular Funding Scheme (RFS) from today (August 5) until September 15.
The BDF aims to promote worthwhile anti-drug projects that can help address the problem of drug abuse. For the 2016 Funding Exercise of the RFS, the Beat Drugs Fund Association will accord priority to projects that address the prevalent drug situation. Projects meeting one or more of the following areas will be accorded priority:
On the treatment and rehabilitation (T&R) front, priority consideration will be given to:
- projects that take into account the latest demographic characteristics of drug abusers and cater for their varying needs (e.g. young adults aged 21 to 35, female drug abusers including those pregnant and ethnic minorities (EMs)). The pilot projects could be community or residential based, or may involve treatment in a hospital setting;
- projects that support family members of drug abusers, which could serve as a means of engaging hidden drug abusers in families, providing motivational support for handling emotional distress, as well as preventing inter-generational drug abuse patterns;
- projects that promote/strengthen collaboration among various sectors and service modes to tackle the increasingly complex psychotropic substance abuse cases, and to facilitate a continuum of services for drug abusers. Key players may involve community-based service units, residential drug treatment centres, medical services, law enforcement agencies, and other service units in the community;
- projects that facilitate early identification of drug abusers and intervention, including but not limited to peer snowballing and closer collaboration with parties which may have contact with drug abusers in their services for case referral;
- projects that strengthen aftercare services for those who have successfully quit drugs so as to minimise relapse and facilitate reintegration into society. Examples include counselling at the post-treatment stage, occupational therapy, vocational training, provision of job placement opportunities, job counselling; and
- projects that provide structured training or platforms for experience sharing among anti-drug workers and related personnel to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge in handling increasingly complex psychotropic substance abuse cases.
On the preventive education and publicity front, priority consideration will be given to:
- projects that provide preventive education targeting high-risk youths or young adults who fall outside the school network (e.g. working adults) who are at-risk of drug abuse, particularly in enhancing perceptions of risk and harm associated with drug abuse, and promoting attitudinal change towards drugs;
- projects that provide preventive education for and raise awareness of families, especially at-risk families (e.g. teenage mothers, parents or family members who are ex-drug abusers, and family members such as high-risk youths), to reduce the risk of drug abuse among members of the families and to render support;
- projects that provide preventive education and promote awareness of drug harm, especially in respect of "Ice", ketamine and cannabis, among youths, young adults, EMs, employers, and/or business operators to reduce the risk of abusing these types of drugs; and
- projects that promote community acceptance of T&R services and facilities.
On the research front, priority consideration will be given to:
- research on the characteristics of psychotropic substances abuse, in particular those psychotropic substances which have gained prevalence in Hong Kong such as "Ice", ketamine and cannabis, to provide more information about these drugs' harm and to identify suitable treatment methods; and
- research on the behavioural patterns, including relapse patterns, of different groups of drug abusers (e.g. female drug abusers, pregnant drug abusers, working drug abusers, and drug abusers among ethnic minorities).
The application form and guide for applicants are available on the website of the Narcotics Division, Security Bureau (www.nd.gov.hk/en/beat_drug_fund_2016.htm). Briefing sessions for interested applicants will be held on August 22 and August 24 at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre. Enrolment form for the briefing sessions is also available from the same website.
Enquiries are welcome by telephone on 2867 2737 or 2867 2286; by fax on 2810 1790; or via e-mail to bdf@sb.gov.hk.
The results of applications for the 2016 Funding Exercise are expected to be released in the first quarter of 2017. Applications for the next round of funding exercise will tentatively be invited in the third quarter of 2017.
Ends/Friday, August 5, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:08
Issued at HKT 19:08
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