From September 4 to 6, the Qimingxing Social Work Service Center of Longhua District, Shenzhen, once again partnered with the Benzhen Social Work Service Center of Zhengxiang District, Hengyang, to advance the “Hunan-Shenzhen Hand-in-Hand Program.” This marked further promotion in the mechanisms of experience-sharing and resource integration between the two regions’ social work institutions.

The “Hunan-Shenzhen Hand-in-Hand Program” is a key project under the provincial–municipal paired cooperation framework during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, jointly advanced by the Social Work Department of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and the Shenzhen municipal authorities. Its aim is to promote “one-to-one” partnership and assistance, enabling professional social work forces to play a greater role in rural revitalization and grassroots governance.

On September 4, heads of both institutions and social worker representatives gathered to discuss the current state of social work development in Hengyang. They engaged in in-depth exchanges on pressing issues such as the shortage of professional talent and insufficient innovation in service models. Participants agreed that Shenzhen, as a pioneer in the development of social work nationwide, offers well-developed operational mechanisms and advanced service concepts that are well worth learning from. This new round of cooperation represents not only the docking of resources but also the integration of concepts and capabilities.

On September 5, the Qimingxing supervisory team delivered a thematic training session on children’s social work theory. They systematically explained core theories and practical applications in children’s services, while analyzing service logic through typical case studies. Local social workers actively participated in interactive discussions, further consolidating their professional foundation and laying a solid basis for improving children’s care services.

That afternoon, the two teams visited Xiangjiang Community in Zhengxiang District to hold a field seminar on strengthening community governance through the The “Five-in-One Synergy” Mechanism — referring to the coordinated efforts of communities, social organizations, social workers, community volunteers, and social philanthropic resources. The community Party branch secretary and Zhengxiang District Social Work Department officials introduced local explorations and practices of this mechanism. Qimingxing social workers shared Shenzhen’s mature cases in resource integration, resident mobilization, and project operation, while Benzhen social workers exchanged insights on local service practices and challenges. The two sides held lively discussions on optimizing linkage mechanisms, evaluating service effectiveness, and ensuring sustainable resource docking. The supervisory team also visited community businesses to conduct needs assessments, providing a basis for future targeted services.

On September 6, the Qimingxing supervisory team visited Benzhen’s headquarters, combining individual and group supervision to comprehensively review and optimize its ongoing children’s service projects. Professional recommendations were offered on site construction, standardization of service procedures, and outcome refinement, helping the local institution to enhance quality and efficiency.

An official from the Municipal Social Work Department noted that the “Hand-in-Hand Program” is an important opportunity to promote the standardized and professionalized development of local social work. Efforts must combine “bringing in” advanced experience from Shenzhen with “taking root” in local realities, in order to cultivate and strengthen local social work forces. Through pilot projects that set an example for wider implementation, the goal is to comprehensively enhance the service capacity of Hengyang’s social work institutions and embed professional social work more deeply into the grassroots governance system.

Looking ahead, social work institutions from both regions will jointly promote the implementation of service projects, deepen the practice of the The “Five-in-One Synergy” Mechanism — referring to the coordinated efforts of communities, social organizations, social workers, community volunteers, and social philanthropic resources., and explore new models of diversified collaborative governance, working together to create a “Hengyang Model” for high-quality development of social work in the new era.

Translator: Jing