The Challenges of Implementing Collaborative Governance in Hong Kong: Case Study of a Low-Income Family Community

The delivery of social services to low-income families that may be struggling with a variety of challenges often requires a high level of coordination from service providers in different fields. In Hong Kong, in particular, a series of policies and centers aimed at fostering integrative approaches have been established in order to enhance collaboration among service providers at the community level. Some of these include Integrated Children and Youth Services, Integrated Home Care Services, Integrative Family Service Centres (IFSCs), and Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness. However, families still find themselves having difficulties in muddling through the system in order to get their problems solved, and service providers find themselves facing unrealistic demands and struggling between managing caseloads and coordinating with different community actors.