Singapore Children's Society to focus on early support for families in new five-year plan

It will increase support to involve parents as well; new hub to open in 2026

- Elisha Tushara Correspondent

Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee, seen here flanked by Singapore Children's Society chairman Seah Chin Siong and CEO Ang Boon Min at the society's gala dinner on Nov 21, said families today face "increasingly complex" challenges, and addressing these issues requires upstream, family-centred approaches.

(ST PHOTO: GIN TAY)

The Singapore Children's Society has updated its service strategies for the next five years, with stronger focus on protecting children and supporting families earlier.

The refined plan, for 2026 to 2030, aims to help families in stress by detecting problems and offering support more quickly, and strengthening the capacity of caregivers.

The society also announced the launch of Thriving Families @ Children's Society, a new one-stop hub at City Square Mall. Set to open in early 2026, the centre embodies the direction of the Children's Society's new five-year plan.

Ms Ang Boon Min, the society's chief executive, said that while previous strategies mostly focused on helping children and youth directly, the new plan aims to expand its support to involve parents as well.

"We've come to realise that if we want to support children and youth sustainably, it goes beyond just working with them directly. Sustainable change could come if we also support their families, to become better caregivers for them," she said.

This shift, she said, is based on the society's years of experience and its belief that parents who are well can parent well.