The involvement of families in the youth offending landscape is a critical component in fostering positive outcomes for young persons in conflict with the law. This presentation explores the family engagement strategies adopted by two agencies within MSF that support the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth offenders. By examining the impact of familial involvement on promoting accountability, fostering a sense of belonging and reducing recidivism, this session aims to offer useful insights on the importance of collaborative efforts between MSF officers, the community, and families of youth offenders.
Through insightful discussions and sharing on practical strategies, this presentation seeks to share the belief that by prioritizing connection before correction, we can guide families to build trust, understand and develop positive relationships with their youths, which lays the foundation for sustainable rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society. This presentation hopes to inspire participants to recognize the transformative power of family partnerships in the youth offending landscape and ignite innovation within participants to create new ways of engaging families.
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Rouisanna Wong
Assistant Director, Youth Residential Service / Ministry of Social and Family Development, Singapore
Rouisanna Wong received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (Honors) from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and a Masters in Counselling from Monash University. She has extensive experience of more than 10 years in working with youth offenders and their families in correctional setting through her previous vocations as a Probation Officer and Caseworker in both the Boys’ Home and Girls’ Home. She currently leads the Therapeutic Casework Unit (TCU) in Singapore Boys’ Home and oversees the enhancement of family work within YRS. She is interested in using systemic and attachment-based approaches to explore the underlying function of the offending behaviour and to increase their desistance. She is also keen to learn about family engagement practices adopted by other correctional settings within Singapore and overseas.
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Ru Ting Tham
Senior Manager, Probation and Community Rehabilitation Service, Ministry of Family and Social Development, Singapore
Tham Ru Ting graduated with a Degree in Psychology (Honors) and took on her first job at Child Protective Service (CPS). She worked at CPS for 8 years before receiving a postgraduate scholarship to deepen her practice. After graduating with a Masters in Social Work, she switched from protection to rehabilitation work and joined the Probation and Community Rehabilitation Service (PCRS) in 2022. She is particularly interested in understanding the intersection between juvenile justice and child welfare systems – for example, the impact of welfare issues on youth’s offending attitudes/behaviors and vice versa, similarities in the challenges and needs of youths known to both systems – and looks forward to applying her child protection knowledge to enhance rehabilitation practices.
