Happenings

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NEWS

ssld mooc is now live on coursera!

You can now enroll in the SSLD open online course on Coursera -- The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs!

May 21

2020

May 21, 2020 Online Discussion for MOOC learners on Strengthening Relationships Under Covid-19

An online live discussion was organized and hosted by Professor Tsang and his team to address questions from learners of the Coursera MOOC on relationships. The event was extremely well received and attended. More than 800 learners registered for the event and learners from all over the world participated in the live discussion. .

May

2020

May 2020 Coursera MOOC enrollment spike in increase

In the past few months, the total number of enrolled learners of our MOOC - The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs has reached more than a quarter-million people, and enrolled over 70,000 learners. We are very excited about the enthusiasm and support.

May 31

2019

PID Workshop for faculty and students of Renmin University, Beijing

Lots of positive energy. Participants got a clear sense of the creative potentials of PID.

May 15-16

2019

Introducing PID to Social Workers in Taiwan

Attended by Ping Tung (Pingdong) area service providers as well as colleagues from other parts of Taiwan, this program is part of a tour introducing the SSLD System. We have got positive response from the participants, and a plan has already been drawn up for SSLD training activities in May 2020.

May 7

2019

Report Back Session on the PID Project at Yan Oi Tong (HK)

The event was extremely well-attended. The R&D team (Ka Tat Tsang, Daphne Cheung, Kit-lin Au, Bingyu Li) reported favourable outcomes and encouraging observations from PID programs.

Feb.

2019

SSLD Website Arabic Intro

Please click on SSLD Website Arabic Intro

Summer

2017

Summer seminars

Professor Tsang and his team delivered and presented many workshops and seminars from May to July in China and Hong Kong.

July 8

2017

Online conferencing about children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Professor Tsang had the opportunity to speak with researchers and physicians from a children’s hospital in Jinan via online conferencing about children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

July 7-8

2017

SSLD’s role in community development and governance

A two-day policy forum about city governance, urban planning and policy took place in Tianjin. Many government departments, organizations, and international researchers were in attendance. Professor Tsang presented a paper on SSLD’s role in community development and governance.

Late June-Early July

2017

PID, lifeworld and ASD

In late June and early July, Professor Tsang met with a number of organizations in Hong Kong to speak about PID, lifeworld and ASD.

June 23-25

2017

Workshop on Dating and Intimacy

Professor Tsang delivered a workshop on Dating and Intimacy at Guangxi Normal University in Guilin, China, hosted by the Chinese Psychological Society. Around 60 psychological counselors and professionals were in attendance.

June 4

2017

Beijing SSLD Core team training

The Beijing SSLD Core team held an internal training session.

June 2

2017

Application of SSLD to Community Building

At Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, the conversation revolved around the application of SSLD to Community Building in a post-professional manner. The seminar focused on trans-disciplinary integration of humanistic values and practices with architecture and urban planning to create a new and improved living space.

June 1

2017

Introduce SSLD

The team was invited to introduce SSLD to Beijing’s Xicheng District social work practitioners, professors, and graduate students. The introduction emphasized the needs and expectations of the attendees to strengthen their understanding of SSLD.

May 29

2017

Visiting Lianhuashan (Lotus Hill) Funeral Home

Professor Tsang and his team visited the (visiting) Lianhuashan (Lotus Hill) Funeral Home in Jinan and provided consultation to its management and social work team. China is the first country to have social work teams in funeral homes. Previously, all homes were state-owned by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, only recently have some programs and services been privatized. Lianhuashan is now planning to provide psychological and social services for grieving families, as well as life and death education for the public.

May 25-27

2017

Three day training on SSLD method to Core Direct Practice Skills

A three-day training took place at Shandong University, which focused on applying the SSLD method to Core Direct Practice Skills: interview, engagement, assessment, case formulation and intervention. The workshop emphasized experiential learning and used plenty of simulations and case studies. Participants included social work faculty and students, practitioners, field instructors, managers, and interns from universities and social service organizations within Jinan, Shandong.

May 17-18

2017

Group dynamics, student leadership, and conflict resolution from the SSLD perspective

Professor Tsang and his team were invited to Beijing Jiaotong University to conduct a two-day workshop on group dynamics, student leadership, and conflict resolution from the SSLD perspective. There were an estimated 50 people in attendance, including psychological counselors and student guidance officers from different universities in Beijing.

Feb 20

2017

PID UPDATE

The following is a summary of recent developments:

CANADA
William Leung of Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care is given a SPARK Award (Canadian Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation) to develop program material for caregivers based on the PID model.
Professor Ka Tat Tsang has made several presentations on the PID, (e.g., Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto; Seminar on Aesthetics and Aging at the Hong Kong Baptist University; Behavioral Support Rounds at Baycrest Health Sciences Centre).

CHINA & HONG KONG
The PID has been piloted in three organizations in Hong Kong: Yan Oi Tong, HKMLC Wei Kei Hostel, St. James Settlement. Dr. Daphne Cheung, a nursing professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University recently obtained a grant to study the PID program at St. James.
Au Kit Lin, Cecilia Man-Sze Cheung, and Bingyu Li are key members of our training team in Hong Kong. Au Kit Lin and Cecilia Cheung are experienced social work practitioners who have been associated with the development of the SSLD ever since. Bingyu Li was originally part of the Toronto PID team and participated in our 2014 pilot run at the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care. She is now pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Hong Kong. Earlier this year, Kan Cheong Li joined our team as an associate.
We are getting encouraging results from the various test sites. Benefits have been observed in gross-motor functions, bilateral coordination and integration, speech, reasoning, memory, fine-motor dexterity, sensory-motor coordination, emotional regulation, mood, and affect, interpersonal synchronization and engagement, social participation, agency, autonomy, self-assertion, etc. Feedback from caregivers and family members, staff and volunteers is generally positive. Objective measures such as the Fuld Object Memory Evaluation, Modified Fuld Speech Fluency Test, and Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) have also recorded statistically significant positive changes.

Dec 29-30

2016

SSLD Workshop at Beijing University of Technology

On the last two work days in 2016, Prof. Ka Tat Tsang delivered a two-day SSLD workshop on relationship management at the Beijing University of Technology. More than 40 participants including university faculty members and staff from psychology, counselling and other disciplines attended. The workshop introduced the basic SSLD concepts, such as N3C and Six Domains of Life World, to facilitate the understanding of human needs, intimate relationships and quality of life. The participants also enjoyed a series experiential learning activities to improve communication skills and develop more effective strategies to address issues and challenges in building and managing relationships.

Ongoing

SSLD study group for senior service practitioners

The SSLD study group for senior service practitioners is a peer sharing and learning community created by and for senior service practitioners. Please see this page for details.

Jan 22-23

2016

Next Generation Social Work Practice SSLD Symposium

On January 22 and 23, 2016, Next Generation Social Work Practice SSLD Symposium will be bringing a series of three SSLD workshops to Hong Kong! This symposium is first of its kind social work practice symposium preparing colleagues for the Next Generation. Please see the attached flyer for more details on the following three workshops!

Dec 17

2015

first session of case conference on managing sexuality and intimacy issues among seniors on December 17th

The first session of case conference on managing sexuality and intimacy issues among seniors will be held on December 17th, 2015 2pm - 4pm! There will be case consultation on challenging situations, sharing and learning of experiences among professionals and peers, and understanding what un-met needs are motivating client behaviours. For more information, please see the attached flyer.

Dec 07

2015

Next PID Volunteer Training on December 7th

Did you enjoy our first PID volunteer training program in October? Or did you miss it? This will be good news for you! Our next PID volunteer training day will be on December 7th, 2015. For more information, please see the attached flyer.

Oct 29

2015

First Official Volunteer Training Program for Play Intervention for Dementia (PID)

On October 29th, 2015, we had our first official volunteer training program for Play Intervention for Dementia (PID)! Congratulations to 30 participants from different parts of Ontario who completed the training program! For more information, please see the attached flyer.

Sep 25-26

2015

SSLD Advanced Training Specialized in Play Intervention for Dementia

Another SSLD Training specialized in Play Intervention for Dementia (PID) will be held on September 25th (Friday) and 26th (Saturday). This program will focus on:
Program Design: Personalized Multiple Contingencies Analysis
Systemic Intervention: Caregiver Education and Beyond
R&D and Quality Improvement
Training hours in this course can count towards the 30-hour requirement for certification as a SSLD Practitioner. For more information, please see the attached flyer.
Primary Facilitator:
Linus Fan Ip, MSW, RSW, SSLD Trainer
with Professor A. Ka Tat Tsang, PhD, Founder of the SSLD System

Sep 18-19

2015

first SSLD basic course offered by the centre for learning and change ltd (Hong Kong) successfully completed

The first SSLD Basic Course offered by the Centre for Learning and Change Ltd (Hong Kong) was successfully completed on September 19, 2015. The two-day program with over 50 participants was filled with so much learning, sharing and inspirations! For more information, please see the attached flyer.

Sep 01

2015

Speech on the Potential Contribution of SSLD at IFPHK Financial Planning Conference 2015 at Hong Kong

On September 1st, 2015 (Tuesday), Prof Ka Tat Tsang addressed the IFPHK Financial Planning Conference 2015 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, talking about the potential contribution of SSLD.

August 20

2015

SSLD study group for senior service practitioners

The SSLD study group for senior service practitioners is a peer sharing and learning community created by and for senior service practitioners. In this meeting, we will discuss how we are going to support one another to learn and apply SSLD in a practical manner to enhance our work, professional and personal lives. For registration, please click on this link.

Date and time:Thursday August 20, 2015 6:30 PM

Venue:Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto Rm 702, 246 Bloor Street W, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1V4

Jun 19-20

2015

SSLD Basic Training Specialized in Play Intervention for Dementia

This is a two-day training program focuses on the application of SSLD in play intervention for seniors with dementia. Training hours in this course can count towards the 30-hour requirement for certification as a SSLD Practitioner. Please see the attached flyer and registration form.

Feb 27-28

2015

Two-day Basic SSLD Module

There will be a Basic SSLD Module offered (as part of the Play Intervention for Dementia Program) at the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care on February 27 (Friday) and 28 (Saturday). This two-day module will be delivered by Linus Ip and Hanna Kim, and carries full credit for qualifying hours for the purpose of SSLD certification. Colleagues interested in getting certified as SSLD practitioners can take this module even when you are not planning to work in the dementia area. This Basic Module will cover fundamental knowledge and skills, and does NOT only use dementia examples. Please see the attached flyer and registration form.

Jan 20-21

2015

Two-day Workshop – Managing Sexuality and Intimacy Issues among Seniors

On January 20 and 21, 2015, Dr. Tsang will introduce the basic principles and methods of the SSLD System, with a special focus on managing sexuality and intimacy issues among seniors at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (please see flyer). Experiential and interactive learning will be heavily utilized, and active participation is expected. Training hours of this program will be recognized by the Centre for Learning and Change (Canada) as part of the prerequisite for licensing examination in SSLD practice.

Dec 05

2014

Managing Sexuality and Intimacy Issues among Seniors
– Practical Application Training Workshop

Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care is holding a one-day workshop on managing sexuality and intimacy issues among seniors, in partnership with Dr. Tsang of Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. The purpose is to prepare seniors service professionals for handling common situations involving sexuality or intimacy issues.
Date: December 5, 2014 (Fri.)
Time: 9am to 5pm
Place: Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care – Scarborough Finch (Room: Peace Corner)
60 Scottfield Drive, Scarborough, Ontario M1D 5T7
For more information and registration, see flyer.
Participant Testimonials:
1. Hazel Sebastian, MA, MSW, RSW
Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant,St Michael's Hospital Watch video
2. Jacqueline Lyn, MSW RSW
Clinician, Community Behavioural Support Outreach Team, Baycrest Hospital Watch video

Oct 18

2014

Presentation on Body Sensor Network

Prof. Dongyi Chen from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China visited the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work to present his research on the Body Sensor Network. After the presentation, Prof. Tsang and Prof. Chen discussed the possibilities for future multi-disciplinary cooperation as well as future plans to develop a wearable sensor device based on the goals and principles of SSLD.

September

2014

New SSLD Publications Available

Two SSLD books are now available for purchase! Managing Sexuality and Intimacy Issues among Seniors: The SSLD Approach is a comprehensive and engaging exploration of sexuality among seniors and, using practical concepts and skills, seeks to create a positive environment for the clients, staff, and institution. Settlement Practitioner's Handbook: The SSLD Approach is a practical and procedural guide to settlement practice using SSLD, complete with helpful exercises, worksheets, and invaluable resources. Visit our SSLD Publications page for more information and to make your purchase.

Sept 26 -27

2014

Advanced Certificate Program in Settlement Practice
– Specialized Module on Special Clinical Issues

Prof. Tsang is holding a small class on the application of SSLD to special clinical issues in psychotherapy and mental health. This module is offered through the Continuing Education Program of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, listed under their Advanced Certificate in Settlement Practice.
Dates: Sept. 26 (Fri.) to Sept. 27 (Sat.), 2014
Time: 9am to 4pm
Place: Room #100, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Training hours will be recognized for SSLD Practitioner certification purpose.

Aug 23

2014

Play Intervention for Dementia Debriefing Session

The Play Intervention for Dementia (PID) program hosted by the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric CareYee was completed on August 16 with great success. On August 23, Ka Tat Tsang held a debriefing session for the caregivers of the participants in the previous PID sessions, explaining and demonstrating how SSLD has been applied in the PID program.

Aug 13

2014

One-day Seminar – SSLD and Women Offenders Settlement

On August 13, Hiroko Goto PhD, a law professor at Chiba University and advocate for women offenders’ rights, visited the University of Toronto to attend an academic seminar hosted by Dr. Ka Tat Tsang on his comprehensive counselling method, SSLD (Strategies and Skills Learning and Development). Dr. Tsang proposed methods for applying SSLD in the women offenders settlement to Dr. Goto and several other professionals.

July 3

2014

Humanity and Rationality in Personal Financial Planning: Empowerment through SSLD

Ka Tat Tsang will be speaking to professional financial planners in Hong Kong on July 3, 2014. The application of SSLD will lead to more comprehensive financial planning that matches the needs of clients. (please check details)

July 4-5

2014

Two-day Workshop—Application of SSLD System in Elderly Service

On July 4/5, 2014, Ka Tat Tsang, Ph.D. will introduce the basic principles and methods of the SSLD System, with a special focus on working with clients living with dementia at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. (please see flyer). Experiential and interactive learning will be heavily utilized, and active participation is expected.

May 23-24

2014

Dementia Workshop in Hong Kong

A two-day workshop on how to work with clients and families living with dementia will be delivered by Ka Tat Tsang at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on May 23/24 (please see flyer). This is part of the many exciting developments of SSLD practice in this area. Stay tuned.

April 01

2014

Play Intervention for Dementia Workshops in Toronto

Research Based Intervention for Individuals Living with Dementia Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, in partnership with Dr. Tsang of University of Toronto Factor- Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, has created a new interactive play-based intervention for older adults living with dementia. This intervention is going through extensive trials and experimentation. It aims at promoting health and wellness among seniors and has been found to improve day-to-day functioning of individuals living with dementia. Caregivers are encouraged to join the sessions to learn the necessary steps to bring the procedure and its beneficial effects home. For more information please see flyer page1 and page2.

Jan 10

2014

A New Page in Seniors Service

Working with seniors has been an important focus of SSLD R&D work in the last half year or so. Exciting developments are taking place in interventions for dementia, home support and community care, managing sexuality and intimacy issues, caregiver support, training of senior service professionals, volunteer development, etc. We have been doing consultation work for seniors service organizations with regard to their service model and program design. We are also contemplating social enterprise as a future direction of SSLD development.

Dec 5

2013

Tanzania

As the Global Community Chair, Dr. Tsang has been involved with agencies in Tanzania to develop a SSLD practice model for local social worker training.

Dec 1

2013

SHERLYN ON GRANDPARENTING

On Apr. 17, 2013, Sherlyn Hu presented her practice experience delivering a multidisciplinary, culturally sensitive community health promotion program supporting Chinese newcomer grandparents caring for their young grandchildren in Toronto.

EXPAND

News before 2013

SSLD in Vancouver, Canada
Ka Tat Tsang introduced SSLD to participants in Vancouver, Canada on October 2, 2012 at the Knowledge Mobilization Symposium: Social Work with Chinese Communities: Integration of Research and Professional Practice in a Global Context.

SSLD in Guangzhou, China
Ka Tat Tsang introduced SSLD to social workers in Guangzhou, China on May 2, 2012 at the Zhongshan University.

SSLD in Taiwan
Ka Tat Tsang introduced SSLD to social workers in Taiwan on April 21, 2012 at the Tunghai University, Taichung.

Weight Management, Sleepwell 2.0, and …
The Proactive Health Series of SSLD applications are gaining more attention. After the successful completion of a weight management program delivered by Linus Ip and Sherlyn Hu at the North Toronto Medical Arts Centre in March, 2012, we have been invited to present our Sleepwell 2.0 program at Hästens, a Swedish bed maker, at the Distillery District in Toronto on March 31. Our R&D in the health area will continue. Our latest idea is to develop applications for iPads, iPhones, or similar devices to facilitate self-monitoring of health practice.

First English Text on SSLD Learning to Change Lives: The SSLD System
The book is still trapped within the production system of the University of Toronto Press. The process reminds me of the play Waiting for Godot that I adopted for performance in Chinese when I was in high school. You will not be blamed if you’re wondering if Godot ever comes. Mr. Eric Carlson, after Mr. Virgil Duff and Mr. Doug Richmond, is now the third editor handling our book. I remember suggesting to Mr. Richmond to find another job given my assessment of UTP’s performance, and therefore its future prospects. And he did. This experience has led to some good reflection on the future of academic publication and the role of the academic presses. In any case, we will probably not see the book till 2013. On the brighter side, Setsuko Sanagawa, design artist, has come up with a book cover design using Japanese Woodblock Printing techniques.

Coaching for Change
Philip Lai, with the assistance of Cindy Choi and her team, is writing a book on coaching and change.

SSLD & Investment
Raymond Chan, who was exposed to SSLD in April 2011, believes that SSLD may offer the missing piece for people wanting to develop an effective investment strategy that will not be sabotaged by the investors own irrational thinking and unhelpful emotional responses. Raymond Chan has always found Daniel Kahneman’s Prospect Theory helpful in understanding why investors make the wrong decisions, but the theory offers little with regard to how those irrational processes can be altered. As SSLD focuses specifically on bridging the knowledge-action gap, he is optimistic that by integrating SSLD practice principles, Prospect Theory, and his own insights into investment, we will be able to develop a system that can facilitate more rational and effective investment decisions and action. He is writing a book on the topic with regular consultation with Ka Tat Tsang.

About This Website
Our organization was founded in 2009, and we had registered over 14,000 visits by the end of September 2011. If search for “SSLD” on Google, we are now the first link on the search results page with a number of our site's sub-pages listed as well. We have overtaken all the other sites using the same acronym. You may also want to know that because of the inconsistent access to our site from China when we were hosted by Yahoo!, we have now moved over to Bluehost, which is more steadily accessible in the country. We have also recruited more help to support the Chinese pages. Thanks to Steve Shi, who recommended the move, and Renee Xu, who executed the move!

Coaching for Change: Taking SSLD to the Corporate World
A few corporate training consultants attended the SSLD Practice Conference in April 2011 and were very impressed with the system. They believed that SSLD principles could be applied to design consultation and training programs for the corporate world. Together with Mr. Philip Lai, Dr. Helen Chen and Mr. Raymond Chan, Ka Tat Tsang conducted two trial runs of the new “Coaching for Change” program in Shanghai in early September. Senior executives from a number of leading Chinese and international companies attended, and the feedback was very encouraging. The team is now doing further R&D work on the program, and the plan is to deliver full programs in early 2012. Raymond Chan is now working with the idea of using the SSLD framework in understanding and changing investment behaviour and how people manage their finance, while Ka Tat Tsang is giving some serious thoughts to the idea of financial well-being. The introduction of SSLD to the corporate world is part of an attempt to transform the workplace into a more person-centered space. Philip Lai alludes to finding the soul in the workplace. Ka Tat Tsang believes that our quest for well-being has to involve this very significant domain of our life-world.

Dating Workshops in Beijing and Shanghai
Ka Tat Tsang delivered a SSLD Dating Workshop in Beijing in late August, and two more in Shanghai in early September. All workshops were sold out, and the feedback we received was great. You can go click on Voices of Practitioners and Users to watch video testimonials by some of the participants (in Mandarin).

SSLD and Weight Management
We were asked to design and deliver a weight management program for a medical centre in the York Region, Ontario. Linus Ip is now working on it. Ka Tat Tsang’s initial observations and comments on the weight issues are outlined in a PowerPoint (click here).

Look Out for the First English Text on SSLD!
After receiving very helpful comments from the reviewers, Ka Tat Tsang completed the revision of the manuscript in August 2011. We are now waiting for the University of Toronto Press (UTP) to move the book through its administrative and production sequences. Mr. Doug Richmond of the UTP has been very helpful, and is working closely with Ka Tat Tsang to publish the book. You will certainly hear more about it, as we are already planning a number of book launch activities.

MSW Student Practicum
Sophia Kim, an MSW student of Windsor University, Canada, is doing her practicum with us (through the CLC, Centre for Learning and Change) in the Fall Semester, 2011. Sophia will be involved in research and development work to help create new SSLD programs. As a native speaker of Korean, Sophia will also work to introduce SSLD programs to the Korean communities in Canada. Renee Xu, an MSW student of the University of Toronto, Canada, is doing her practicum with the China Project Office of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work during the 2011-2012 academic year. As part of her practicum program, Renee will help to manage and improve the SSLD website, and develop more SSLD content in Chinese.

SSLD at the Toronto Botanical Gardens
On Sunday August 12, 2011, Linus Ip presented her lecture on Model of Yoga (), which draws on SSLD principles, as part of a program for people with chronic pain and family caregivers. Students and instructors of yoga from Southern Ontario participated in the morning session. In the afternoon, Linus conducted a relationship workshop, again based on SSLD principles, for members of the public who were interested in improving relationships in their lives.

CLC (Centre for Learning and Change)
We registered the CLC as an organizational and executive extension of the SSLD system in July, 2011. The CLC will support the development of SSLD and other practice systems created by Ka Tat Tsang.

2011 Events and Developments

SSLD in Algeria!
Aicha Benayoune is running a training program for human service professionals in Algeria from June 2-18. This program introduces the basic principles and procedures of SSLD. This is the first SSLD Program in the Arabic-speaking World. Aicha is delivering the workshop in Arabic. Here in Toronto, a volunteer is translating SSLD literature into Arabic. We are also working on a Spanish translation.

The first SSLD paper in Korean!
A paper co-authored by Ka Tat Tsang and Hanna Kim on SSLD and Cross-Cultural Mental Health, presented at the Multi-Cultural Society and Mental Health Conference in Seoul in September 2010, has been translated into Korean and published in the Proceedings of the Conference (pp. 68-91). The Proceedings were edited by Dr. Suk Kil Min. Hanna Kim is coordinating the editing of an online version that will be posted on this website.

SSLD & the Recently Published Chinese Book Radio Interview
April 12 and 19, 2011, Hong Kong
An interview was conducted at OurRadio in Hong Kong on the newly published Chinese book on SSLD by Ka Tat Tsang & Ivan Yau. The two interviews can be found as MP3 files here, or download directly via these links:
part 1
part 2

The First SSLD Practice Conference!
April 16, 2011, Hong Kong
This is the first conference on SSLD practice. Over 120 colleagues from Hong Kong, China, and Canada (via Skype) met and shared their practice experience. Both the morning presentations and afternoon workshops were very well received. (Learn more).

There will be a book launch at the SSLD Practice Conference: Ka Tat Tsang & Ivan Yau co-edited a book on SSLD foundation and application, published in Chinese,????????????, with contributions from practitioners in Hong Kong and Toronto. We sold 130 books at the conference. Ivan and Tsang were interviewed by Adeline Lai on her internet radio program to talk about the book (the interview was conducted in Cantonese). The book is now available in major Chinese bookstores in Hong Kong, and can also be purchased online:
http://www.cp1897.com.hk/product_info.php?BookId=9789881503732
http://www.suplogistics.com.hk/bookinfo.aspx?bookid=23611
http://www.hkbookcity.com/showbook2.php?serial_no=222375

Look Out for the first English basic text on SSLD! Two independent reviewers have submitted positive reports to the University of Toronto Press. The manuscript will be revised with reference to their comments, and will hopefully go to print in the Fall of 2011.

Cecilia Man Sze Cheung, together with Cheung Ka Wan, Johanna Hen, Timothy Leung, and Sally Sin, are running a SSLD program for insomnia. Treatment for insomnia and sleep-related issues (SRI) is an ongoing R&D initiative. Ka Tat Tsang has further updated the manual for Sleep Well 2.0 with the help of Carrie Chun, an MSW student at University of Toronto.

Upon successful completion of the Seniors Sexuality and Intimacy project in the Fall of 2010, the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care (Toronto) has requested Ka Tat Tsang to train a core team of staff to get further training in this area. The purpose of the training is to prepare them to become trainers, coaches, or resource persons for their colleagues.

SSLD and Community Networking is a renewed area of interest. Ka Tat Tsang started applying social learning theory and social skills training principles to community work in Hong Kong back in the 1970s. The method and procedures are revised and updated. The Yan Oi Tong Community Service Centre (Hong Kong) is training a core team of workers to apply SSLD to a range of community-based services.

Youth Addiction and Delinquency is the focus of Ka Tat Tsang's work with the Hong Kong Christian Service. This initiative includes systematic training for front-line and supervisory staff. There are ongoing web-based consultation and case conferences with social workers specializing in this area.

The Toronto SSLD Study Group is holding regular meetings. Hanna Kim is doing a fantastic job in coordinating the group, exploring both professional and personal issues.

SSLD Sleep Well Program 2.0: The first SSLD Sleep Well Program was piloted in Toronto in 2007. Ka Tat Tsang developed the program in collaboration with Linus Ip, and Colleagues at the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto (Kwong-yuen Liu, Maria Chu, and Charles Wong). This new version will be completely re-designed, and will be piloted in the near future.

Fall 2010

SSLD broke new ground in geriatric care. A pilot program on managing sexuality and intimacy issues among seniors was designed and developed for the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care. About 100 staff members with background in social work, nursing, and other healthcare disciplines went through the program. The training team members included Ka Tat Tsang, Kwong Y. Liu, Linus Ip and Maria Chu.

Upon the request of Dr. Tang Yong of Shenzhen University, a program for palliative care was developed in the Fall of 2010. A manual as developed with active input by Linus Ip and Sherlyn Hu.

Ka Tat Tsang presented on SSLD and Cross-Cultural Psychotherapy in Seoul in September, 2010. The paper will be published both in English and Korean. Special thanks to Hanna Kim for her help in preparing the manuscript.

Summer 2010

SSLD and Happy Community? The application of SSLD to community work took another step forward with a request to address the issue at the International Conference on Mental Health in Bangkok in August, 2010.

SSLD landed in New Zealand in August, 2010. A lecture tour brought the system to mental health practitioners, settlement workers, as well as gambling addiction counsellors in Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown.

Since the summer of 2010, Ka Tat Tsang and Linus Ip have been working with a group of parents in Toronto with children who have been diagnosed with Autism or Autistic Spectrum Order. The objective is to develop a program that will help both the parents and their children to develop strategies and skills that will enhance the children's capacity for social learning.

The Certificate Program on Settlement Practice (offered by the University of Toronto as a continuing education program) includes three practice modules based on SSLD principles. After completion of the first cycle, Ka Tat Tsang began working with graduates of the program to develop a handbook on settlement practice. Sophia Kim, Theresa Peng, and Jane Wu will be assisting Ka Tat Tsang in developing the handbook. This project is supported by a generous donation by the Buddha Light International Association (Toronto).

On July 9, 2010, Ka Tat Tsang delivered a keynote lecture on SSLD and Cross-Cultural Mental Health at the Annual Professional Development Program of the Chinese Mental Health Network of Toronto.

A SSLD Basic Level Training was offered at the University of Toronto in early June. The participants will continue to explore SSLD applications in a study group, which will meet regularly.

A SSLD Couples Workshop was delivered at the Social Work Practice Centre at the Chinese University of Hong Kong over the first weekend in June. Eight couples participated, and we are all very impressed with both the process and the outcome. Strong signs of positive change were observed at the follow up (3-4 weeks post-program). Cecilia Cheung Man Sze, Johanna Jen, Cheung Ka Wan, and Linus Ip were the co-leaders.

A Basic Level SSLD Training program was delivered at the Beijing Institute of Technology in May. Participants came from different parts of China, representing mental health, social work, rehabilitation, community health, and early childhood education professionals. A couple of supervision groups were formed after the program. Linus Ip will be offering web-based consultation to these groups. One group consists of social workers in different service settings in Shandong Province, China. The other group is coordinated by the Handa Association based in Guangzhou, which provides service to people with leprosy in China.

In May, over 40 social workers of the Hong Kong Christian Service took a training program on SSLD as applied to addiction. The group showed strong interest to continue learning and development. Follow-up programs are currently being planned.

Spring 2010

Ka Tat Tsang is developing a SSLD program for addiction, covering both substance use and the Internet. Professor Lin Fang, also at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, will join the R&D work, focusing on outcome evaluation.

An online Global Network for SSLD practitioners has been set up as a Facebook Group. A Chinese Sina Blog page has also been set up for colleagues who can read/write Chinese. These platforms will allow members to share their experience and insights regarding the application of SSLD.

Winter 2009

Ka Tat Tsang gave a lecture on SSLD in Shenzhen on December 20, 2009 at the Tengxing Social Service Centre, followed by a mini-workshop on dating. The workshop was very well-received. Upon returning to Canada, Ka Tat Tsang worked with Mark Sy and Steve Shi to put on dating workshops for different groups of young people in Toronto. Now we have people showing interest in dating workshops for older people.

In December 2009, Ka Tat Tsang conducted a 3-day SSLD workshop for social workers at the Hong Kong Christian Service, which was among the first organizations in Hong Kong to apply the earlier version of SST to their PS 33 program for young people with substance use problems.

Ka Tat Tsang conducted a workshop on PHS (Proactive Health Strategies), which is based on SSLD principles, to a group of health and mental health professionals on December 6, 2009. The social workers, psychologists, doctors, and counsellors who attended have found SSLD very helpful, and many of them have already signed up as members of the Global Network.

An intensive training program on Counselling and Social Skills Development was offered to settlement service practitioners in Toronto in November 2009. The two-day training is part of the Certificate Program in Settlement Practice offered by the Continuing Education Department of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto.

SSLD Workshop (Basic Level): Ka Tat Tsang delivered a 2-day intensive workshop at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, on May 6 & 8, 2009.

Summer 2009

SSLD Supervision Group: The first SSLD supervision group started meeting in Hong Kong on Friday, May 29, 2009. The supervision group is co-led by Ka Tat Tsang, Timothy Leung, and Cheung Man-Sze. Other experienced SSLD practitioners such as Au Kit Lin may join later. Members who attended this historic first meeting include: Cheung Ka Wan, Valerie Yingli Chang, Xie Yan, Johanna Jen, Ada Luk, Sally F. Y. Sin, Jenny Zhuang Jie, Liu Kwok-hong, Mooly M. C. Wong, Grace Leung, and Fanny M. Y. Siu. The group will continue to meet through video-conferencing and face-to-face sessions in Hong Kong.

DVD on Problem Translation (Basic Level) is now completed and ready for distribution. Special thanks to Ivan Yau (Executive Producer), Sherlyn Hu (Research, Design, and Logistic Support), and Willie Lo (Post-Production).

SSLD Parent-Child Play Program: Development of this program started in 2007. The program is designed to help parents learn how to improve their relationship with their children and to support their growth. Specific modules on assessment and observation learning have been tested. Ka Tat Tsang is now working in collaboration with Simon So, Janice Tsoi, and Maria Wong in Toronto to finalize the program design. A full program will be developed and piloted later this year.

Community Organization and Development: Au Kit Lin has been actively applying SSLD to community organizing and development. She delivered a training program to community organizers in Hong Kong in April 2009. She is also applying SSLD to community re-development in the temporary housing area in Jiannan, Sichuan Province. Ka Tat Tsang is a consultant for the project.

Chinese Book on SSLD Application: Ka Tat Tsang and Ivan Yau are going to edit a book on SSLD application that will be published in Chinese. The book will document the development of SSLD as a practice system, tracing its roots back to the social skills training (SST) years in the 1970s and 1980s. Contributors include experienced SST/SSLD practitioners and academics. Invited contributors include: Dr. Timothy Leung, Dr. Roxco Chun, Ms. Cheung Man Sze, Ms. Florence Yan-ming Chu, Ms. Au Kit Lin, Mr. Simon So, Ms. Maria Wong, Ms. Janice Tsui, Dr. Kam Ping Kong, Ms. Linus Ip, and Dr. Chu Chi-keung.

SSLD in South China: Ka Tat Tsang has already conducted many training programs in China (e.g., Tsinghua University Department of Psychiatry, State Commission on Population and Family Planning, Shandong University). On June 5, 2009, he delivered an invited lecture at Sun Yat Sen (Zhongshan) University in Guangzhou, titled Integrating Social Work Practice: The SSLD Approach. Social work colleagues from Guangzhou, Jiangmen, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong attended the lecture. The lecture was very well received, and members of the audience are interested in pursuing the SSLD system further. Valerie Yingli Chang has agreed to liaise with this group.

Tuning in to SSLD: A number of organizations in Toronto and Hong Kong have adopted SSLD as their primary intervention model. Just within the month of May 2009, we are exploring with at least 3 more organizations in government, social service, and healthcare. Timothy Leung, Mooly Wong, and Ka Tat Tsang are working with these organizations to see if they would introduce SSLD to their employees and adopt it as a key intervention system. The Hong Kong Christian Service, which was one of the first Hong Kong organizations to adopt the earlier version of SST in their PS 33 Program back in the 1980s, has confirmed that it will set up a 3-Day SSLD training course for 40 of its employees in December 2009.

SSLD in Healthcare and Rehabilitation: Timothy Leung is organizing a workshop on SSLD in Healthcare and Rehabilitation, now scheduled for December 6, 2009. It was held at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The workshop will, among other things, introduce the PHS (Proactive Health Strategies) System, which is built on SSLD principles. Ka Tat Tsang will be conducting the workshop together with other experienced SSLD practitioners.

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