Protecting our most vulnerable infants
03 September 2009
New Zealanders are being asked to back a new campaign to prevent babies being shaken, says the Minister for Social Development and Employment Paula Bennett.
Every year Child, Youth and Family sees thousands of babies and children who have been harmed by the people who are supposed to care for them.
Last year alone just over 49,000 reports of concern were serious enough that they needed to be followed up by Child, Youth and Family.
Of these, there were almost 20,000 confirmed occurrences of abuse against a child or young person.
Last year, 2,855 children were physically abused, 1,126 were sexually abused, and a staggering 15,615 were damaged through emotional abuse or neglect.
Last year 248 children ended up in hospital as a result of abuse.
Between 2002 and 2006 38 children died - that's an average of seven per year.
The effects of abuse is lifelong and devastating, both for the children and their families.
Last year 3,456 children under the age of two were abused, either physically, emotionally or sexually, or through neglect.
Last year 75 babies were hospitalised as a result of abuse. That is on average one every five days.
Around 23 babies each year are hospitalised because of being shaken.
We are calling on every New Zealander to play a role in protecting vulnerable infants.
To begin with we are:
Setting up better data and monitoring systems
It's hard to get an accurate picture about the abuse of under-2s. Police measure one thing, CYF measure another and hospitals measure other things. Officials will work together to develop an agreed protocol for collecting information so we can benchmark where we are starting from and measure how we're doing.
Launching the Never Ever Shake a Baby Campaign
The last campaign was 15 years ago. We will launch a multi-media awareness campaign to get the message out that you must never, ever shake a baby.
Child Youth and Family will also provide support for a pilot shaken baby prevention programme through Auckland District Health Board. It aims to make sure all new parents get the "never shake a baby" message before leaving hospital.
Piloting a First Response community abuse prevention trial
This will be a new community-based service to follow up on families with under-2 year olds where there's been a domestic violence incident. The Auckland City trial will include the suburbs of Panmure, Onehunga and Grey Lynn. It's anticipated 700 children will be supported through the pilot.
Provide extra hospital support
Under a Multi-Agency Safety Plan, medical staff, police and social workers will work on how best to protect a hospitalised child upon their release. We will also put extra Child Youth and Family social workers into the main hospitals. Currently there's just one CYF social worker at Starship Hospital.
Long term solutions
The Minister for Social Development will be pulling together an Independent Experts Forum to look research and programmes worldwide to see what's working and possible long term solutions.
