Strengthening families is vital to maintaining the social fabric of Singapore, as the family unit is the fundamental building block of society. Recognising this, the Singapore Government has introduced two marriage mentoring/befriending programmes to reinforce marital bonds: Journey with You (JoY) and Bersamamu (With You).

Journey with You (JoY) is an initiative by the Registry of Marriages (ROM) and Families for Life, administered through marriage mentors consisting of Families for Life volunteers and Licensed Solemnisers; while Bersamamu, overseen by the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM), involves solemnisers (Kadi and Naib Kadi) providing guidance before the solemnisation (nikah) and for up to 2 years post-solemnisation. Evaluating the impact of JoY and Bersamamu is crucial, given the substantial resources and efforts invested by both the government and the community. This presentation will focus on the proposed methodologies for assessing the effectiveness of these programmes. It will also discuss the expected contributions of this research in enhancing marital health and, consequently, strengthening the foundation of Singaporean families.

Associate Professor Razwana Begum Bt Abdul Rahim is the Principal Investigator for this project. Razwana holds a PhD in Business Ethics and Restorative Justice from Monash University, Australia. She also possesses a Bachelor of Law, a Master of Law and a Master of Counselling. Additionally, she has a Graduate Diploma in Social Work from the National University of Singapore. Currently, Razwana is an Associate Professor and Head of the Public Safety and Security Programme at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and President of Singapore Muslim Women's Association. Before joining SUSS, Razwana worked as a Social Worker in a Children’s Home and spent 18 years with the Probation and Community Rehabilitation Service at the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), working with children and families in contact with the Criminal Justice and Child Protection systems.

Dr Sheryl Chua is the Co-Principal Investigator for this project. She holds a PhD in Psychology from Nanyang Technological University. She teaches undergraduate courses in assessment and selection, crisis management, and research methods. Additionally, she supervises research projects for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Dr Sheryl is trained in the field of behavioural sciences and is currently a senior lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), where she is the Deputy Head of the Public Safety and Security programme. She is an industrial-organisational psychologist with experience in public and private sectors, specialising in leadership assessment, selection, and employee engagement. Her research interests are organisational psychology, crisis leadership, well-being and understanding the dynamics of the ageing workforce.

The KidSTART initiative aims to give children aged 0-6 years old from lower-income families in Singapore a good start in life by supporting their parents and caregivers in parenting and child development. This presentation discusses the evaluation findings and insights gained from assessing the KidSTART initiative. Key aspects include impact on parenting and child outcomes and how findings informed the scale-up of the initiative.

Dr Cheryl Seah, PhD, is a developmental psychologist and a researcher with expertise in the area of child development, childhood disorders, mental health, early intervention for children and families and implementation science. Dr Seah has extensive knowledge and experience coordinating, supporting family-centred program design, as well as the implementation and management of large-scale evaluation projects, such as the 5-year KidSTART outcome evaluation. She has over 20 years of experience gained in clinical practice and advocacy work that aims to improve the quality of lives for vulnerable children and families. She teaches early childhood educators on inclusion at Singapore University of Social Science (SUSS), and recently received the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) Award for Teaching Excellence 2022. Dr Seah leads the implementation work in the Centre for Holistic Initiatives for Learning and Development (CHILD) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). She has worked closely with teams from government agencies, social service agencies, foundations, hospital and university settings.

Mdm Rahayu Buang has 30 years of experience in the social service sector. Mdm Rahayu holds a Master's Degree in Public Policy from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. She has worked on policies and programmes for young offenders, persons with special needs, family support, women's development and early childhood development within the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). Between 2017 and 2020, Mdm Rahayu was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Yayasan MENDAKI, the pioneer self-help group that focuses on education upliftment of the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. Since then, she has been helming the KidSTART programme as CEO of KidSTART Singapore Ltd.

Under the leadership of Mr Ishak Ismail, the Families for Life Council, is dedicated to engendering a “Families for Life” mindset and value among Singaporeans, through building strong and resilient families. This makes for stronger communities and better individual well-being.

At the forefront of the Council’s initiative is the Families for Life @Community, a recent effort to provide comprehensive support for families within their local communities across the life stages. Through establishing local partnerships and collaborations, the initiative provides families the convenient access to a wide array of Families for Life programmes, including marriage, parenting, and grandparenting workshops, as well as parent support groups and family bonding activities and events, near where they stay. Currently active in 18 towns, the initiative will be scaled to all towns in Singapore by 2025, to support our aim of a Singapore made for families.

This presentation will offer insights on the strategic concept and approach the Families for Life Council has adopted for the Families for Life @Community, underscoring the Council's commitment to empower families and nurture resilient familial bonds. Join us to delve into the thinking behind the Families for Life @Community in fostering a more supportive and interconnected ecosystem for all families.

Mr Ishak Ismail has been with Families for Life Council since 2015 and was appointed Chairman from 1 Feb 2020. Ishak also volunteers as a Member of Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) since 2012 and within ACCORD his focal area is in strengthening and recognising family support for National Service.

At work, Ishak is currently Principal Consultant for i-Grow Partners Pte Ltd and also Senior Advisor to Glamco Aviation Pte Ltd. His previous experiences from 2011 to 2022 were with BAE Systems Hägglunds as Regional Director (Asia), with CWT Limited as CEO Defence Services and with ST Electronics (e-Services) Pte Ltd as Senior Vice-President/General Manager. In 2011, Ishak retired from the Singapore Armed Forces(SAF) in the rank of Brigadier-General after serving more than 29 years.

Ishak also serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for the National University Health System (NUHS) from Apr 2020 and is also the Chairman of the National Maritime Safety at Sea Council from Jun 2020.

Ishak holds a Masters in Business Administration and a Bachelors of Arts (Economics and Sociology) from the National University of Singapore. He also attained a Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Organisational Development from the Civil Service College in conjunction with MIT.

In 2008, he received the Public Administration Medal Silver (Military) for his significant contributions to the armed forces.

Singapore has built an ecosystem of support in the protection landscape where stakeholders connect, work together and make forward strides to protect the vulnerable from domestic violence. Director of Adult Protective Service, Ministry of Social and Family Development (Singapore), Ms Tabitha Ong, will share recent initiatives arising from the Taskforce on Family Violence, which Singapore has implemented in the Domestic Violence landscape to empower survivors, strengthen protection and support and increase accountability of perpetrators. She will also share in detail about Singapore's experience in implementing the roll out of an emergency response service, to highlight key learning points about building strong partner networks. Looking ahead at the next steps, this plenary will outline the trends shaping the course of Singapore's Domestic Violence landscape, and how the Ministry of Social and Family Development is readying itself to stay responsive to these trends.

Ms Tabitha Ong leads MSF's Adult Protective Service (APS). MSF/APS contributes to policy and leads practices in managing vulnerable adult abuse and family violence cases. APS also provides statutory intervention where vulnerable adults have suffered harm or are at high risk of harm due to intra-familial abuse, neglect and self-neglect.

Tabitha has over 20 years of experience in social services and statutory protective services. She contributed significantly to establishing the policies on child and vulnerable adult protection work and improving the competencies of the child and vulnerable adult protection sector. She is passionate about leadership and working collaboratively across disciplines, to improve the protection landscape. She led MSF's collaboration with Social Service Agencies (SSAs) to set up community-based Child Protection Specialist Centres (CPSCs). Tabitha is a key driver in MSF's collaboration with Evident Change in the United States. Through their joint effort, Singapore's statutory protective services' reporting and work were revolutionised through the nationwide implementation of the Structured Decision Making (SDM) system in child protection and vulnerable adult practice.

Tabitha holds a Master of Social Science (Social Work), National University of Singapore (NUS) and a Master of Public Administration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS.

The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) recognises that incarceration affects not just inmates; families may also be plunged into crisis at times. Some of these families may already have experienced challenges such as financial instability, caregiving issues and/or need of practical help prior to incarceration. Community support is thus vital to help these families come out of this crisis stronger. SPS supports these families as strong families can better support the inmates' rehabilitation journey. SPS facilitates upstream efforts to link up with other government agencies to identify children-at-risk and provides multiple touchpoints to ensure assistance for families remains highly accessible to help stabilise and prevent the risk of inter-generational offending. In a local study, it was found that intergenerational transmission of criminality is evident in families where at least one parent is involved in the criminal justice system. (Loh E H et al., 2020). Children with parents serving their sentence in prison are 3.9 times more likely to get into trouble with the law (MSF & NCSS, 2020). Besides programming to promote prosocial thinking, inmates are put through programmes that help to build up their economic capital and social capital as studies have shown that these factors are key towards sustained desistance.

Mr Ong Choon Yong is helming the portfolio where he oversees the community partnerships, volunteer management, desistor network, as well as policies relating to the assistance and involvement of families in the rehabilitation of offenders. Having been in Singapore Prison Service for more than 20 years, Choon Yong had a wealth of experience dealing with offenders and the operational policies within Prisons. He has been involved in the development of new operation capabilities, planning and execution of staff training and running a prison institution for inmates who are incarcerated for serious offences.

Ms Angeline Tay leads SPS's Correctional Rehabilitation Services for Reformative Trainees (RTs) where she oversees a range of rehabilitation and reintegration services for youth offenders sentenced to Reformative Training. She had been working with the offender population since 2006, and has experience in correctional intervention with youth offenders, drug abusers, and male, adult offenders with high re-offending risk. Angeline is passionate in advancing the work with RTs and their families, addressing various criminogenic needs such as family relationships, substance abuse, youth violence and gangs. In recognition for her contribution in the implementation of the rehabilitation regime for RTs, she was awarded the Commissioner of SPS's Individual Commendation Award in 2016. In 2022, Angeline also served as a Youthwork Mentor for aspiring youth workers in Singapore.

Angeline graduated with an Honours Degree in Psychology from National University of Singapore (NUS) and a Master of Counselling from Monash University. Her professional training consisted of Post Graduate Diplomas in Solution Focused Brief Therapy and in Clinical Supervision.

Through a synthesis of theoretical frameworks and practical insights, this presentation underscores the innovation and adaptability of Systemic Multi-Family Therapy (SMFT) in tackling pressing issues by capitalising on the family dynamics and family resilience, thus demonstrating its potential to foster positive outcomes across diverse cultural landscapes. Attendees will gain a nuanced understanding of how SMFT can be tailored to meet the unique needs of Asian families struggling with drug abuse, mental health and family violence, while contributing to broader societal well-being drawing on SMFT practices from Singapore, Hong Kong and UK.

Dr Timothy Sim has dedicated nearly three decades to counselling and family therapy locally, regionally and internationally, as a social worker. Since returning from Hong Kong after two decades, he is currently advancing counselling, family therapy, and practice research at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).

Dr Sim is committed to supporting practice, research, and services for families facing challenges, particularly addiction, divorce, incarceration, poverty, and violence. He promotes transdisciplinary collaborating across various sectors and disciplines to embrace diversity and contextualize practices within local and regional's evolving landscape.

Currently, Dr Sim serves as the Head of the Master of Counselling programme at SUSS and is Vice-President of the Asian Academy of Family Therapy. He is also an editorial board member of two leading international family therapy journals: the Journal of Family Therapy and the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. Notably, he is the only Asian invited to contribute two chapters in the prestigious Handbook of Systemic Family Therapy (2020), one focusing on global directions in systemic family therapy. Recognized for his impact, Dr Sim is the most cited academic in counselling, family therapy, and social work in Singapore, according to the citation h-index in Scopus.

Ms Soh Siew Fong, Master of Social Science (Social Work) (NUS), is Deputy Director (Clinical practice) at PAVE, a specialist agency working with persons and families experiencing family violence. She was one of the three social workers who started PAVE in 1999. She heads a team in supporting survivors, perpetrators and witnesses of violence through individual, marital/ family work and group intervention.

Siew Fong was one of the primary trainers of the Management of Family Violence modules at SSI (NCSS' training academy) when PAVE was engaged to conduct the course between 2010 and 2017. Together with Dr Sudha Nair and Pang Kee Tai, she wrote a paper on “Children's Resilience in Living in Violent Families”. She was part of a team who compiled the Mandatory Counselling Practice Guide that was commissioned by the then MCYS in 2006. She also contributed to PAVE's inaugural publication “Engaging Men Who Abuse” in 2010. Since 2022, Siew Fong and her team piloted and conducted two Systemic Multi-Family Therapy groups as part of the post violence intervention for families.

The provision of informal care may adversely affect the health, daily, and social activities of the informal caregivers, but few studies have examined these effects with caregiving intensity. This study examined the predictive factors associated with the effects of caregiving roles on the health, daily, and social activities of informal caregivers, accounting for caregiving intensity. Five-point one percent of adults in Malaysia provided informal care. For high-intensity caregiving, caregivers aged 60 and over, those who received training, and those without assistance were more likely to have negative effects on health. The daily activities of those without assistance were more likely to be affected. Social activities of non-Malays, those who received training, and those providing care for 2 years or more were more likely to be affected. Caregiving, regardless of intensity, has a significant impact on caregivers. To reduce the negative consequences of caregiving responsibilities, all caregivers need assistance from the community and government, that is customised to their needs. By addressing the factors contributing to the negative effects of caregiving, a continuation of informal caregiving can be sustained through policies supporting the growing demand for informal care necessitated by an ageing population and higher life expectancy in Malaysia.

Mrs Suhana Jawahir is a distinguished researcher at the Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia. Her educational background is in pharmacy. She holds a Master's in Pharmacy Practice from Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia, and a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from the University of Bradford, UK. With a focus on health equity, she has co-authored numerous publications on health status and healthcare services accessibility of the population in Malaysia, as well as on long-term care services for older persons. Mrs. Suhana has contributed significantly to Malaysia's national health survey, the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), where she was the Principal Investigator for the NHMS 2019 intended to assess the healthcare demand of Malaysia population and played a key role in the development and revision of the questionnaires. Her expertise extends to technical consultations and data analysis, reflected in her active involvement in high impact projects and training sessions. Recognized for her research contributions, she has received multiple awards for her presentations at national and international conferences. Mrs Suhana's commitment to advancing health equity and improving public health systems are evident in her prolific research output and ongoing contributions to Malaysia’s healthcare landscape.

The COMPASS (Caregiver Orientation for Mobilizing Personal Assets and Strengths for Self-Care) program by NHIS supports family caregivers of Long-Term Care (LTC) recipients through essential resources and training. Introduced to meet increasing caregiver demands, the program has demonstrated significant benefits, such as enhanced social support, reduced depression, and decreased health risks. Participation included 2,588 caregivers during the pilot phase (2015-2018), 4,261 in 2019, and 4,580 from 2020 to 2022. Its integration within NHIS nationwide branch offices facilitates seamless identification and support for eligible caregivers. Key strategies for success included developing standardized manuals, screening high-risk family caregivers, and systematic training of program providers. Moving forward, the government plans to scale up COMPASS and enhance its framework. To address issues in screening eligible participants, including reluctance to join, the program will be made flexible and individualized to meet caregivers’ specific needs. Comprehensive support will be provided through both online and offline family programs. Additionally, to ensure long-term support, COMPASS will incorporate continued monitoring and regular check-ins, extending its positive effects on mental health and well-being beyond the initial intervention. The program’s broad dissemination aims to attract eligible participants and gain social consensus for its essential implementation, ensuring robust support for family caregivers.

Dr Myonghwa Park received a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and currently serves as a Professor at the College of Nursing and the Director of the CNU Community Care Center at Chungnam National University. Recognized for her outstanding research and educational achievements, she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) and has actively contributed to the advancement of national and global nursing.

Dr Park is currently the President of the Korean Gerontological Nursing Society, the Senior Vice President of the Korean Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, and the Vice President of the Korean Society of Rural Medicine and Community Health.

As a consultant to the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), she has contributed to the development “The COMPASS” program and the improvement of long-term care insurance services. Additionally, as an expert advisor to the National Institute of Dementia, Dr Park has participated in review, research, and educational activities to support the advancement of national dementia policies and related legislation. She developed the “Value Care” program for staged support of dementia families, contributing to its nationwide dissemination.

Dr Park also serves as a dementia education specialist for the Korean Nurses Association and as a health city advisory member for Daejeon City.

The SG Together Alliance for Action (AfA) for Caregivers of Persons with Disabilities was formed by the National Council of Social Service, SG Enable and community partners. The AfA focused on collaborative development of a sustainable community-based support model and co-creating solutions for community participation, peer support and disability case management. Through the 3i programmes, CAREconnect, CAREbuddy and CAREwell, more than 3,600 caregivers were supported in this AfA. Mixed method evaluation studies showed statistically significant improvements in social, family and community life participation, Family Outcomes, Zarit Burden Interview, Carer Well-being and WHOQOL-BREF ratings among caregivers and families who participated in the 3i programmes. The community safety net for caregivers of persons with disabilities was also enhanced through grassroot and volunteer training. With the successful proof-of-concept, the 3i programmes are being upscaled currently. In this presentation, Dr Lim shares the research findings and practical lessons from Project 3i to aid further discussion and future development of caregiver support services.

Dr Lim is a Paediatrician and Epidemiologist with special interest in disability and caregiver support. As a caregiver, she is the founder of CaringSG, a ground-up initiative for caregiver support. Dr Lim is also board member of SG Enable and co-chaired the Alliance for Action for Caregiver of Persons with Disabilities.

This presentation outlines Brunei Darussalam's strong belief that the strengthening of the Family Institution is of utmost importance in ensuring the well-being and harmony of any nation, especially in helping to address social issues. As a fundamental unit of society, the role played by strong and harmonious family institutions is crucial to the formation of an integrated and empowered society, and in line with Brunei Vision 2035 to achieve the Highest Quality of Life. It also outlines how Brunei Darussalam, in adopting a Whole of Nation Approach, and engaging various stakeholders in a concerted effort to support families in need has aligned its guiding principles and Islamic values with Brunei Vision 2035 to support and strengthen family institutions, ensuring that they are well-supported and positioned as the foundation for fostering healthy, resilient families. Brunei Darussalam believes that such efforts contribute to a prosperous and stable society, in line with the country's long-term development goals.

Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Nazmi bin Haji Awang Mohamad was appointed as the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of Brunei Darussalam on 7 June 2022. Currently, Yang Berhormat Dato serves as the Chairman of Bank Usahawan Brunei. Prior to this, he served as Permanent Secretary (Corporate Affairs and Public Administration) at the Prime Minister's Office; Permanent Secretary (Management and International) at the Ministry of Finance; Deputy Chairman of the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS); Deputy Chairman of the Employers Provident Fund (Tabung Amanah Pekerja – TAP); and as a board member of the Brunei Economic Development Board.

Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Nazmi began his service with the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in 1991 and has held various posts. He held posts as an Administrative Officer at the Ministry of Finance in 1995, at the Prime Minister's Office in 1996, at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and Ministry of Finance in 2004. He was appointed as Director of the Expenditure Division at the Ministry of Finance in 2008 and thereafter, appointed as Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2008.

Yang Berhormat Dato graduated from the University of Brunei Darussalam in 1991. He is married to Datin Dayang Hajah Binanun binti Haji Bungsu and blessed with 3 sons and 2 daughters.

Families are the cornerstone of our communities which provide support, love and stability. This presentation explores Malaysia's comprehensive approach to enhancing family well-being through targeted initiatives. The presentation will be primarily focusing on the Malaysia Family Well-being Index, a tool designed to measure and improve various aspects of family life, including family relationship, economic, health and environmental factors. It will detail out on how this index helps in shaping policies and programs aimed at strengthening family units and promoting overall well-being. Additionally, the session will also cover Malaysia’s efforts in parenting education, which provide vital support to families in nurturing and guiding the next generation. Emphasis will be placed on the strategies employed to offer parents practical knowledge and skills for effective parenting, thereby fostering healthier family environments. The presentation will also address Malaysia’s sexual reproductive health education programs which aim to equip individuals with essential knowledge and resources for making informed decisions about their health. These programs are integral to ensure that families are informed and empowered to manage their reproductive health responsibly. By highlighting these initiatives, the presentation will showcase Malaysia's commitment to building resilient families and creating a supportive framework for family well-being in a dynamic and evolving society.

Hailing from the Land of the Hornbills of East Malaysia, Hon. Minister Nancy Shukri became the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD) in December 2022. This marked her third ministerial appointment, making her the longest-serving female Federal Minister from Sarawak.

In her steadfast endeavour to helm the MWFCD, she has made significant strides; becoming the first ever Malaysian Minister of MWFCD to participate in the Constructive Dialogue Session for the presentation of the Sixth CEDAW Periodic Report and introducing the inaugural PERANTIS program to encourage more female leadership in decision-making roles. Under her purview, the Children’s Development Department was established to handle the welfare of children more efficiently.

Hon. Minister has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for nearly 15 years. Her political career took off when she was named the Political Secretary to Sarawak’s Chief Minister in 2006 before being elected as MP for the Batang Sadong constituency (2008 – 2022), and MP for the Santubong constituency after winning the December 2022 general elections. Previously, Hon. Minister served as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (2016 – 2018) and was later appointed as the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (2020 – 2022), both positions which she embraced with compassion and leadership.

Asian countries are experiencing significant demographic shifts, including low birth rates, aging populations, and shrinking workforces. In Thailand, where over 21% of the population is aged 60 and above, the country has become a Complete-Aged Society, increasing dependency on the working-age population, who support both children and the elderly.

Thailand's response includes the comprehensive and integrated policy, consisting of 5 pillars and each pillars and each pillars contains 5 measures; emphasizing intergenerational support and a strengthened social ecosystem. The 5 pillars focus on (1) workforce empowerment (2) child development (3) elderly support (4) disability inclusion and (5) enhanced family-friendly ecosystems. These efforts aim to support the working- age population and enhance family well-being, particularly for families with vulnerable members.

By promoting inclusive policies and secure environment, we aim to encourage the younger generation to build families, ensuring resilience and stability for Asian families. Collaboration across sectors and across generations will be essential in achieving these goals.

Mrs Jatuporn Rojanaparnich holds the position of Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Social Development and Social Security in Thailand. This role places her in a senior leadership position within one of Thailand’s key social welfare agencies.

As Deputy Permanent Secretary, Jatuporn plays a crucial role in the ministry’s operations, policy development, and implementation of social welfare programmes across Thailand. Her responsibilities involve overseeing various departments and initiatives aimed at improving social security and development in the country.

Notably, Jatuporn also serves as the AMMSWD Minister Representative for Thailand. AMMSWD stands for the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development.