ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 4/F, Prime Mansion, 183-187 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong | T 2849 6138 | www.cdchk.org CONTENTS 3 ABOUT US 4 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN 6 MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE 7 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR 2018/19 9 DELIVERING GROWTH 12 SUPPORT FOR PARENTS & FAMILIES 17 SHARING EXPERIENCE & INSIGHT 21 STAFF & ORGANISATION DEVELOPMENT 23 LOOKING AHEAD 25 GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE 27 THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 28 ORGANISATION STRUCTURE 29 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 30 HONORARY AUDITOR’S REPORT 33 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2 ABOUT US The Child Development Centre (CDC) is a not-for-profit organisation, informally set up in 1976 and officially constituted in 1978. For over 40 years, the CDC has provided support to a wide spectrum of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in English and Chinese. Our staff members adopt an interdisciplinary approach to facilitate children’s development taking into account the children’s individual needs. We provide services such as a variety of assessments as well as group or individual early intervention, including speech therapy, occupational/motor therapy, sensory processing and/or social skills training, as well as attention and behavioural support to ignite the children’s learning journeys. Aside from providing educational services for children, the CDC is also committed to serving their families as well as the whole community. We help empower parents as well as child-care professionals through family support and counselling services, professional school support and child development training. Igniting Learning Journeys - One Child at a Time Vision For every child to succeed in their unique learning journey. Mission To provide quality learning experiences for the individual child and empowering their families. 3 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN The Child Development Centre (CDC) enjoyed another fruitful year in 2018/19. This year, we continued to maintain and review our successful programmes; explore and cultivate close partnerships with different communities; and adapt our services in response to the ever-changing education environment. In order to promote a more inclusive society, we were determined to strengthen the connection between ourselves and other early childhood education facilities. Hence, last November, the CDC launched its first school-based integration programme - “Bright Start”, which aimed to work collaboratively within two mainstream preschools. We hope the professionally-guided intervention strategies provided by our teachers and therapists will be utilised and carried forward in the preschools. Whilst investing in the essential services and programmes for our children, we also explored an innovative way to enhance parent engagement. As a result, with the support of a corporate sponsor, we were excited to launch a parent-oriented mobile application to promote efficient communication with parents, thus providing them a comprehensive understanding of their child’s learning progress. At the beginning of 2019, we were delighted to announce that Dr. Yvonne Becher, a long-term member of staff at the CDC, was appointed as our Chief Executive. I am confident that with her valuable professionalism and experience, Yvonne will lead the CDC to greater heights. 4 I was very honoured to receive the Directors of the Year Award 2018 from the Hong Kong Institute of Directors in the Statutory/Non-profit-distributing Organisations category as a first time participant. This award is an acknowledgement of the effectiveness of the CDC’s governance, accountability and transparency, as well as recognition of the immense contribution made by the Executive Committee and staff past and present and all different stakeholders who have been supporting us unconditionally throughout the years. Empowering children with additional needs and their families by providing them with a holistic learning experience, is always our first priority. Facing the changes in the city, our hope for the future lies in the belief of the potential of our children, the power of families and community, and the distinguished work of the CDC, in pursuance of building a more inclusive society together. I am most grateful to our generous community partners, donors, Executive Committee and passionate staff members for their much appreciated contribution to another remarkable year at the CDC. We will continue to uphold our vision, and stand by our children to help them flourish. Sabrina Ho Chairman 5 MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE Since joining the CDC in 2004, I have witnessed the continuous growth of the organisation – from serving less than 150 children annually, when we were housed on the Peak, to serving more than 450 children and their families at our Wan Chai centre now; from providing English programmes only, to providing bilingual services catering for a wide range and different types of abilities. I am deeply honoured to have been appointed as the Chief Executive of the CDC and wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Executive Committee for their trust in and support for myself and my colleagues. My sincere appreciation also goes to each staff member who, regardless of their role, contributes to a dynamic team that tirelessly strives to deliver services of high quality and with a positive approach. Over the past 40 years, apart from delivering exemplary early childhood education and therapies for children with additional needs, we have been offering service- oriented support throughout the community to families of diverse backgrounds. I feel privileged to be given a chance to work with so many families, professionals, other organisations and the community at large towards an inclusive Hong Kong where all children have equal rights to education and feel accepted. The input of the CDC’s board members, service recipients, my colleagues and other stakeholders form an important part of my role. I am confident that together with the dedicated and transparent approach by our Executive Committee and management team, the CDC will sustain reliance and stability, enable positive decision-making, and pave the way forward. I believe that together we will make strides in cultivating an inclusive society for all children! Dr. Yvonne Becher Chief Executive 6 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR 2018/19 FLY PROJECT From Jun 2018 Two CDC pschologists were appointed as trainers in this earl intervention programme to carr ot varios services. DADDY DAUGHTER BALL 2018 9th Jun 2018 Over 480 dads and daghters attended the 9th DDB and helped raise essential fnds. OPEN HOUSE & PARENT ORIENTATION 18th Aug 2018 Parents and visitors joined the event to get a etter nderstanding of or dail work. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OUTREACH SERVICES From Oct 2018 Or occpational therapists provide sensor integration screening and training grops for stdents at an international school. FUN DAY AT HOLIDAY FARM 14th Oct 2018 It was great to spend a fn-filled da with 12 families at the Holida Farm! FLU VACCINATION PROJECT 22nd Oct 2018 Or first inflena vaccination project provided for or stdents, staff and respective families. 7 BRIGHT START PROGRAMME From Nov 2018 First school-ased integration programme which provides intervention strategies within two mainstream kindergartens. FAMILY FUN SPORTS DAY 2018 4th Nov 2018 Jmping, climing, oncing and racing, 26 families had a great da at the sports da. DIRECTORS OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2018 29th Nov 2018 Sarina Ho, Chairman of the CDC, received the Directors of the Year Award 2018 as a first time participant. CHRISTMAS PARTY 14th Dec 2018 43 families came to celerate the seasonal festivities together. NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED 1st Jan 2019 Dr. Yvonne Becher was appointed as Chief Eective. FAMILY FUN DAY AT DISNEYLAND 20th Jan 2019 52 families enjoed a magical da at Hong Kong Disneland! CDC’S APP LAUNCH 12th Mar 2019 We lanched or first moile app “CDC Connects”, sponsored FWD Hong Kong, for parents to track their child’s goals! 8 DELIVERING GROWTH Programmes & Services We believe that partnering with educational organisations, whether they be early childhood, primary, secondary or tertiary level, will help us gain more comprehensive knowledge in relevant areas to improve our programmes and services; likewise, this allows us to share our experience and collaborate with other SEN and non-SEN professionals and expand our network. This year, we continued to develop effective ways to connect with other schools and organisations, successfully delivering an integrated support programme through existing and newly launched projects. SERVED INCREASED 473 by 10% children Delivered Delivered 1,666 4,802 hours hours of early intervention of individual group programmes therapies 4% increase 279 in the number of cases individual assessments in total of financially-assisted INCREASED GIFTED services to support 876.5 families in need by 178% HOURS 9 Bright Start Programme The CDC was delighted to receive a private donation to launch our first school- based integration programme called “Bright Start”, which worked collaboratively with mainstream kindergartens. Since November 2018, we have partnered with two pre- schools. The programme provides all-round intervention for the children involved, supporting their academic and social learning, the parents’ journey, and the teachers’ capacity to implement inclusive practices and differentiated instructions. We work collaboratively with over 20 childhood educators and provide school-based integrated support to the students. We share classroom strategies to empower teachers with the tools and skills to support the