Keeping kids safe

Children’s early years are vital to their long-term development; they are also the time children are most at risk.

All families want to do their best by raising their children in a healthy, safe and nurturing environment, but some families are more vulnerable and need additional support. From experience we know that the earlier families get support, the better off their children are in the long term. Our focus will be on getting this help to all families who need support but with a particular emphasis on families with children aged under two years.

Never Ever Shake a Baby
The Government recently announced a set of initiatives to further protect vulnerable infants, including a new campaign reminding people to Never Ever Shake a Baby. The initiatives are designed to help protect our children aged under two years and feature advertising, new-parent education, community-worker support for abused children and for families, and protection of abuse victims. It focuses on new parents (especially young men) and it is expected to reach up to 5,000 new parents a year.

In 2009/2010, we will:

• put Child, Youth and Family social workers in six hospitals around the country
• develop multiagency plans to protect hospitalised children on their release
• deliver a pilot First Response service for Auckland families who’ve had the Police attend a family violence incident in their home – this is a joint initiative between the nongovernment sector, the Police, and Child, Youth and Family
• a pilot prevention programme in Auckland telling new parents and carers of the dangers of shaking children.
  

Promoting child development
We know that for children to develop to their full potential they need to have a sense of belonging – to a place and to their whānau. We are making sure young people spend as little time as possible in care. Living with whānau or their broader hapu- or iwi also helps them to feel secure. 

Responding when we’re needed
Differential Response means we can respond more creatively to families’ needs when they come to the attention of Child, Youth and Family and we can work more closely with social service providers in the community. We’ll be working with organisations to support families who don’t need our help but who would benefit from community-based social services. Last year, five Auckland Child, Youth and Family offices led the nationwide rollout of Differential Response and all of our offices are now using this new approach.

Early Years Service Hubs
Early Years Service Hubs improve the accessibility of services for families who are at risk of missing out on the services available to them. The hubs are a central point where families can access a range of services including ante-natal care, Well Child health checks and immunisation programmes, and quality childcare and education for under fiveyear- olds. There are 13 hubs nationally, with three hubs in Auckland – based in Papakura, Mt Roskill and Mangere.

Positive Futurez – positive parenting in Manurewa
We are getting parents to mentor other parents in the Manurewa area. This programme encourages parents who might not normally access a positive parenting programme to engage with the school and the community they live in. Each session focuses on a different way of supporting children’s development.

Violence-free relationships
There is an increased awareness of family violence and of how to access services and support to help build violence-free family relationships. We are committed to making sure families in our region are safe.