Multidisciplinary collaboration provides holistic support for disadvantaged children and families

City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has actively contributed to the development of young children from disadvantaged backgrounds during their formative years by becoming a partner of KeySteps@JC Phase Two.

The project, launched by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (the Trust), aims to foster a stimulating and child-friendly environment in school, home and community by integrating efforts from the health, education, and welfare sectors. With a funding of more than HK$84 million from the Trust, CityUHK leverages its strengths in parent education and social research to contribute to the welfare aspect of the five-year project from 2022 to 2027.

“CityUHK is dedicated to nurturing the development of our future generations. We are very grateful to the Trust for its indispensable support in the upbringing of underprivileged young children, and we are pleased to become one of the project partners in Phase Two of KeySteps@JC,” said Professor Chan Chi-hou, Vice-President (Community Engagement). “Through the multidisciplinary collaboration in the project, we hope to strengthen a child’s foundation during the crucial early years, which will lead to improved life outcomes, enhanced family functioning, and increased social capital.”

An official opening ceremony of the five KeySteps@JC Hubs was held on 11 April. KeySteps@JC Hubs are the first of their kind in Hong Kong built for children, by children and with children. The hub’s growth from two to five districts—Kowloon City, Sham Shui Po, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long—marks a significant milestone in providing a more extensive platform for offering extended learning and comprehensive support to children, their families, schools and the community.

KeySteps@JC Hubs are specifically designed with a child-friendly approach, providing a diverse range of activities and learning spaces to support primarily the developmental needs of children aged 6 and under and their families.

Professor Anna Hui Na-na from the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences (SS) is the project’s Co-Principal Investigator. The CityUHK team collaborates with the five community hubs to improve responsive care and raise the social capital of children and their families in these districts. The team has developed strength-based parenting support programmes for young children and their families, including non-Chinese speaking families, and families with infants and toddlers. The programmes have been delivered by social workers based in kindergartens and the hubs.

“I’m delighted to lead the team, which has extensive expertise in positive psychology and professional social work training, in applying our knowledge and practical experience in the project, taking a key step towards empowering children and families,” said Professor Hui.

“Community play is a unique feature of a child-friendly city. By promoting play-based learning, KeySteps@JC Hubs are providing stimulating and secure play spaces for children and helping make both children and play more visible in the community,” Professor Hui added.

KeySteps@JC Phase Two aims to benefit more than 70,000 children and their parents, as well as about 280 kindergartens and over 900 early childhood professionals, by 2027. The project will also serve as a model for the sector and provide a reference for policy planning on child development.

KeySteps@JC is created and funded by the Trust and co-created by CityUHK, The Education University of Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong, The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Christian Service, The Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong Social Service and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals.

KeySteps@JC’s project management in CityUHK is overseen by the Office of the Vice-President (Community Engagement), and project implementation is carried out by Professor Hui and five other SS faculty members: Professor Sylvia Kwok Lai Yuk-ching, Professor Wong Wing-kuen, Professor Chan Siu-ming, Professor Kwan Chi-kin and Professor Kwok Kim.