MSF launches Safer unit to detect child protection risks earlier and support families无国界医生成立“更安全”小组，旨在及早发现儿童保护风险并为家庭提供支持。
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has launched a new unit to help identify child protection concerns among children below seven years old and provide more timely support to families.Known as Safer, or Sensemaking Alerts for Frontline Engagement and Response, the unit brings together relevant information from different government agencies to help frontline professionals build a more complete...
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has launched a new unit to help identify child protection concerns among children below seven years old and provide more timely support to families.
Known as Safer, or Sensemaking Alerts for Frontline Engagement and Response, the unit brings together relevant information from different government agencies to help frontline professionals build a more complete understanding of a family's circumstances.
The new capability was launched in July 2026 and was announced by MSF on Tuesday (Sept 22).
It follows MSF's commitment in Parliament to establish a social services coordination centre, after a review panel appointed by the ministry in May 2025 recommended measures to strengthen Singapore's child protection system.
Safer to help professionals identify risks earlier
Families may interact with different parts of the support system, with relevant information spread across multiple agencies.
Safer consolidates information from the Central Narcotics Bureau, the Singapore Police Force and MSF to help child protection practitioners better understand a family's situation.
The information will support professionals in assessing whether children and their families may need support sooner.
As a start, the unit will focus on families with children below seven years old where there are child protection concerns.
Professionals will assess the information surfaced through Safer alongside their own professional judgement to determine whether follow-up action is needed.
Families may receive support even without established child protection concerns
Newly identified cases of abuse and neglect will be referred to child protection case management agencies.
Families experiencing stress may also be referred to services for early support, even if there are no established child protection concerns.
For existing child protection cases, follow-up actions may include increasing support when risks have escalated into more serious concerns.
Professionals may also strengthen existing support and review safety plans to account for new developments within the family.
According to MSF, Safer supports, but does not replace, the professional judgement of social service professionals and protection officers.
Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming said: "Every case of child abuse is one case too many. The sooner concerns are identified and acted on, the better the chances of keeping our children safe and supporting families."
He added that Safer would reinforce MSF's ability to identify high-risk cases and provide more timely support where needed.
MSF continues to strengthen child protection system
The introduction of Safer is part of MSF's ongoing efforts to implement recommendations made by the review panel appointed to examine Singapore's child protection ecosystem following the case of Megan Khung.
Since the panel's report was released in October 2025, MSF has implemented several measures, including the designation of Child Protection Case Management agencies, the launch of the Protection Practitioners Care Fund, and the establishment of a Triage Assessment Panel.
The panel reviews triage decisions and determines which agency should manage a case when there are differing professional views.
Other measures include requiring preschools to report cases directly to the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) and clarifying that anyone can file a police report concerning suspected child abuse, not just family members.
MSF said it will continue to refine Safer with sector partners while studying how its capabilities could support other social services in the future.
The ministry added that technology and systems cannot replace the role of professionals, individuals and the community in protecting children.
Members of the public who have concerns about a child's safety can report suspected abuse by calling NAVH at 1800-777-0000.
asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com
社会及家庭发展部 (MSF) 成立了一个新部门，旨在帮助识别七岁以下儿童的保护问题，并为家庭提供更及时的支持。
该部门被称为“更安全”或“一线参与和响应的意义警报”，它汇集了来自不同政府机构的相关信息，以帮助一线专业人员更全面地了解家庭情况。
这项新能力于 2026 年 7 月推出，并于周二（9 月 22 日）由无国界医生组织宣布。
此前，社会及家庭发展部在国会承诺设立社会服务协调中心。此前，该部于 2025 年 5 月任命的一个审查小组建议采取措施加强新加坡的儿童保护体系。
帮助专业人员尽早识别风险更安全。
家庭可能会与支持系统的不同部分互动，相关信息分散在多个机构中。
Safer 整合了来自中央肃毒局、新加坡警察部队和新加坡社会及家庭发展部的信息，以帮助儿童保护从业人员更好地了解家庭情况。
这些信息将有助于专业人员评估儿童及其家庭是否需要尽早获得支持。
该部门首先将重点关注有七岁以下儿童且存在儿童保护问题的家庭。
专业人员将根据 Safer 系统呈现的信息，结合自身的专业判断，评估是否需要采取后续行动。
即使没有已确立的儿童保护问题，家庭也可能获得支持。
新发现的虐待和忽视案件将移交儿童保护个案管理机构处理。
即使没有已确定的儿童保护问题，经历压力的家庭也可以被转介到相关服务机构以获得早期支持。
对于现有的儿童保护案件，后续行动可能包括当风险升级为更严重的问题时加大支持力度。
专业人员还可以加强现有支持并审查安全计划，以适应家庭内部的新变化。
无国界医生组织表示，Safer 旨在支持社会服务专业人员和保护官员的专业判断，但不会取代他们的专业判断。
社会及家庭发展部高级政务部长吴佩铭表示：“每一桩虐童案件都令人痛心。越早发现并采取行动，就越能更好地保障儿童安全，并为家庭提供支持。”
他还补充说，Safer 将增强无国界医生识别高风险病例的能力，并在需要时提供更及时的支持。
无国界医生组织继续加强儿童保护体系
推出 Safer 是无国界医生组织为落实审查小组在 Megan Khung 案件后对新加坡儿童保护体系提出的建议而持续努力的一部分。
自该小组于 2025 年 10 月发布报告以来，无国界医生组织已实施多项措施，包括指定儿童保护个案管理机构、启动保护从业人员关怀基金以及建立分诊评估小组。
小组审查分诊决定，并在出现不同专业意见时决定由哪个机构负责处理案件。
其他措施包括要求幼儿园直接向全国反暴力和性骚扰热线 (NAVH) 报告案件，并明确任何人（而不仅仅是家庭成员）都可以就疑似虐待儿童事件向警方报案。
无国界医生组织表示，将继续与行业合作伙伴共同完善 Safer 项目，同时研究其能力未来如何支持其他社会服务。
该部补充说，技术和系统不能取代专业人员、个人和社区在保护儿童方面的作用。
公众如对儿童安全有任何疑虑，可拨打 NAVH 1800-777-0000 举报疑似虐待儿童事件。
asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com