|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Why have family/whanau agreements
A family or whanau having difficulty caring for children or young people under the age of 17 can get help and support from Child, Youth and Family through a family/whanau agreement.
Child, Youth and Family is committed to working with families and whanau to strengthen their ability to care for their children and young people and agreements are one way we do this.
These agreements enable family/whanau to get services to help them resolve problems and keep on looking after their children. It’s a way of sorting out problems before they get too bad or too out of control.
Drawn up between a family, whanau, social worker and a service provider (where appropriate), the family/whanau agreement spells out what services will be provided to the family. It says what the social worker will do and what the family or whanau will do. It sets out the goals the family or whanau want to achieve and says how progress on them will be measured.
When problems are more serious, and if a report has been made to Child, Youth and Family, then a family group conference will be called.
|
|
When is an agreement suitable?
When the family agree that:
- there is a problem looking after the children properly
- they want to work on the problem
- the problem can be sorted out, with help, in three months, or six months at the most
- although the problem arises from a matter to do with the care or protection of children, the safety of the child or young person is not at risk.
|
|
When is an agreement not appropriate?
When:
- the problems are too complicated to be sorted out in the short term
- the problems are so serious they must be placed before a family group conference
- family/whanau members are unwilling to take responsibility and work towards change
- the problems are mainly due to the family not having enough money
- the problems involve serious abuse or neglect of children.
|
|
What sort of problems can be helped?
Some examples from family/whanau agreement plans include:
- time out for a tired and stressed single parent
- assistance to attend an anger management course for a parent with a temper problem
- parenting skills/guidance for a family having problems with a disruptive child.
|
|
What sort of services can be provided?
Services that can be provided include:
- family/whanau development services, such as family therapy
- individual therapy/counselling (including for drug and alcohol problems)
- home/marae-based support services, such as home help
- early childhood development, such as Te Kohanga Reo or childcare assistance
- parenting skills
- budget advice
- interim respite care (a short break from the children)
- self development or skill development courses
- transport, such as for travel by the young person to home/marae
- assistance/koha towards meeting the reasonable care needs of the child or young person
- marae-based experiences and cultural activities.
|
|
Making an agreement
Step 1: Assessment
A social worker and the family or whanau identify the problem and the ways it can be addressed. The assessment must include a family/whanau meeting where the family discuss their problems and see if there are ways they can help themselves. For example, could a relative provide after-school care, parenting guidance or even transport?
Step 2: Making the agreement
The written agreement must show:
- the goals of the agreement, (for example, children to be cared for by an adult after school so they don’t get into trouble)
- how the goals will be measured
- the nature of the support services to be provided
- the names of the people or organisations who are going to provide support services
- what to do if the agreement breaks down.
Step 3: Review
After three months, every agreement must be reviewed by the family or whanau, social worker and any other organisation involved to see if the goals have been achieved or partially met.
A decision has to be made as to whether the agreement is ended, extended for a month, renegotiated for a further three months, or referred for a family group conference.
|
|
|
| |
|
