To help build a more harmonious society, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has invited the School of Public Health of The University of Hong Kong to collaboratively launch a project entitled the FAMILY Project in 2007, with a HK$250 million funding. In order to promote 3Hs, the project comprises of three main components, and these include community-based intervention projects, family cohort study and public education.
A range of community-based participatory mega-projects involving multiple partners and multi-targets and integrated the principles of “Best Science”, “Best Practice” and public health approach were organized. The community partners included non-governmental organizations, local bodies, schools, housing blocks, government departments and community leaders, with beneficiaries ranging from parents, children and students, new immigrants, rehabilitees and many more. The impacts are far-reaching and significant. The projects involved improving communication and fostering 3Hs in families. The projects also contributed to capacity building and enhancing service quality of social service sector through trainings, co-learning and promoting evidence-based and evidence-generating design with rigorous evaluation.
Family cohort study was another important component of the project. The study was characterized by surveys which were conducted territory-wide involving all 18 districts. A total of 20,964 households (with 46,002 individuals) were successfully enumerated. A wide range of data was collected: personal and family particulars, lifestyles (such as eating and physical activities), physical and psychological health, happiness, family harmony, religious beliefs, neighbourhood relationships, work status, and use of medical and social resources. During the six-year survey period, two household visits and in-between telephone follow-ups were conducted. The study investigated the status of 3Hs in families and identified sources of domestic problems. The results can act as a social barometer and provide evidence for the Government and other organizations for the formulation of long-term family polices and social services.
The FAMILY Project also actively participated in district health promotion events, such as several healthy city festivals and carnivals. The project also carried out various modes of knowledge transfer and results dissemination which were conducted through TV programmes, media interviews, press conferences, publications (e.g. practice manuals, booklets on family communication and research reports) as well as our FAMILY Project’s website.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the participants, survey respondents and community partners for supporting us in the past few years. Our achievements would not have been possible without your support and enthusiasm. Moving forward, the FAMILY Project will take another step further with the promotion of Family Holistic Health – an integration and interaction of physical and psychosocial health. We look forward to collaborate with you so as to strengthen the fundamental unit in the society – our families.
FAMILY Project video showing the project’s features and community stakeholders’ views.
