Community Development Councils
First established in 1997, Community Development Councils (CDCs) were formed to help build a more cohesive, compassionate and self-reliant society. Initially, the CDCs offered local programmes to meet the needs of the residents in their districts. From 2001, the delivery of social services, including the development of childcare, student care and family care centres was devolved from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports to the CDCs. As CDCs are closer to the ground, they are better able than government ministries to promptly address the needs of residents. The CDCs also play an important role in mobilising the community to help needy residents, including giving them interim financial assistance and helping them find jobs.
The CDCs offer services identified under the common strategic goals of ‘ABC’: Assisting the Needy,Bonding the People, and Connecting the Community.
Each of the current five CDCs – Central Singapore, North East, North West, South East and South West. – is headed by a mayor who is assisted by a council comprising up to 80 council members. Unlike other countries, mayors in Singapore are not directly elected because the CDCs are not a system of local government, but local administrators of community and social services.
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