CARing Kids is the first canine-assisted programme in Hong Kong to combine social and emotional learning with humane education.
According to the World Health Organization report, about 10%-20% of children and adolescents around the world suffer from mental and emotional problems to varying degrees. According to the statistics of the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong, the number of cases of child and adolescent psychiatric services has been increasing, from 28,800 in 2015/16 to 40,350 in 2018/19Note, reflecting that the mental health problems of children in Hong Kong are of great concern.
Note: The data from 2018/19 covered wider parameters than previous years, and is therefore not directly comparable to previously announced figures. (See press release by HKSAR government: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202103/24/P2021032400314.htm?fontSize=1）
Meet our Reading Canines
All our reading canines have been assessed by our partner organisations to ensure that they can remain at ease among a large crowd when serving in our programmes. Also, our reading canines are friendly and happy to meet people. They are known to have converted many children with fear of dogs into dog lovers!
Every session in this programme includes Q&A and discussion sections to improve the communication and social skills of students, so that they can learn how to be at ease with other people.
This programme also includes reading canines to encourage students to look at things from alternative perspectives, to learn to discern the emotions of other people and dogs, and to make appropriate responses.
This programme, accompanied by picture books based on true stories, offers different scenarios to encourage students to consider how to solve problems and to assist friends to deal with difficulties in daily life.
Every session in this programme is complemented by a thematic picture book, richly illustrated with real-life pictures of the main characters to raise the interest of students and their parents.
Host Institution
Funded By
Collaborating Partners
