There has been a growing awareness of evidence-based practice (EBP) in the social service sector in Hong Kong. Voices in support of it are not only from the funders and the general public but also from the sector.  They are all concerned with how the social impact of the works of NGOs on our society can be demonstrated with evidence. However, not many practitioners know how to go beyond individual research projects on services and build a strong institutional foundation EBP to take root. 

 

In view of this, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (the Council) will be now organizing the first Social Service Evidence-based Practice (EBP) Month. By organizing a series of conferences and workshops in November this year, the Council will bring together the overseas and local experiences and wisdoms to give the participants important insights of effecting deeper changes at different levels.  At the organizational level, ideas and actions bringing about structural and/or process changes will be shared.  At the sectoral level, the events will try to explore viable ways to effect institutional and cultural changes for long term development of EBP. 

 

In particular, we shall illustrate how social impact assessment (SIA), the latest trend in evidencing and articulating the impact of any social interventions, can be one of these ways.  SIA?focuses not only on how a particular project or organisation has influenced individual clients and the community by measuring and forecasting the broad and long-term effectiveness, but also on how it ultimately brings about social impact that leads to policy changes.?

 

Welcome to the Social Service Evidence-based Practice (EBP) Month 2011 website for more details of our events. Thank you very much!