Statement of Intent 2009–2012 – Outcomes for children

Government Priority

Keep at-risk children safe - with emphasis on under two-year-olds.

Outcome

• Children are safe. Systems are in place to care for and protect children in at-risk families.

To achieve this we will:

• intervene early
• strengthen care and protection
• promote permanency and stability of care.

Departmental output expenses that contribute

Vote Social Development

• Adoption services
• Care and Protection Services
  - Output: Investigation and Assessment
  - Output: Case Management
  - Output: Children in Care
  - Output: Resolution Services
  - Output: Court-ordered Assessments and Reports under other Enactments
• Family and Community Services
  – Output: Facilitation, Leadership, Influencing and Co-ordination Processes
  – Output: Development and Management of Early Intervention and Preventative
  Social Services Programmes
  – Output: Provision of Information and Advice
  – Output: Positive Parenting
• Policy Advice and Support to Ministers (MCOA) Social Policy Advice Output Class
  – Output: Ministerial Servicing
  – Output: Social Services Policy Advice
  – Output: Strategic Social Policy Advice
  Crown Entity Monitoring Output Class
• Prevention Services.

Children are safe. Systems are in place to care for and protect children in at-risk families

The early years of a child's life are of critical importance to their overall development. A safe, happy, and healthy early life can improve a child's health, learning ability, and development.

While most young New Zealand children live in safe, secure, and loving environments, there are some whose circumstances place them at risk of poor outcomes. We know that negative early-life experiences can have serious long-term consequences. Preventing or reducing risk factors for a young child is more likely to improve their life chances.

Infants under two years are particularly at risk of harm because they are totally reliant on adults for their needs, they are physically fragile and they have limited capacity to communicate. During 2007/2008 we received 9,133 notifications for children under two years of age. Fifty-three per cent required further action, and in 45 per cent of these situations abuse or neglect was substantiated. It was necessary to take 567 under two-year-olds into care.

Our first priority is for children to remain with their own family. Where this does not provide a safe and secure environment we seek a permanent solution within the wider family, or a permanent home with non-kin caregivers.

Having a sense of belonging and a secure and stable home is important for all children and we will endeavour to minimise multiple placements that can negatively impact on the child’s development and sense of belonging.

Over the next three years we will:

• Respond early to notifications involving very young children to ensure we minimise risks to their safety and we support positive long-term outcomes.
• Wrap services around families with the greatest need so their children have the best possible start in life.
• Deliver school-based social services to children in low decile schools whose circumstances place at risk their chances of achieving good health, education and wellbeing outcomes.
• Find permanent homes for infants in the care of Child, Youth and Family by reviewing their cases every three months so they have the opportunity to build strong secure relationships.
• Offer a range of services to meet a family’s needs by assessing notified cases of abuse or neglect up-front to determine if the Ministry or a partner agency needs to become involved with the family.
• Roll out the Health and Education Needs Assessment Framework for all children and young people in care. This provides an overall picture of their health, disability and education needs to help caregivers to look after these children and young people. We will do this with the District Health Boards.
• Investigate how maatua whangai should develop within
  Child, Youth and Family.

How we will show progress

The rates of abuse and neglect of New Zealand children are listed below. The logic is that by providing effective services to vulnerable families we will help to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect, and to reduce its recurrence. Our progress will be evident if fewer children repeatedly come into our care or attention.

Indicators - Children are safe. Systems are in place to care for and protect children in at-risk families

Detailed information about the Ministry's performance in this area is contained in the Information Supporting the Estimates and in the 2009/2010 Output Plan.