Launch of Fostering Kids

There are thousands of New Zealand children growing up in state care.

Around four and a half thousand at any one time.

But thankfully, there are also thousands of people in this country who care enough to

care for and foster these children.

About 4,200 children were in the care of caregivers and foster parents in 2010.

Without these outstanding New Zealanders, Child Youth and Family residences would be the only option for our children in care.

But as we know all too well, residences are no substitute for a stable, loving home where children are cared for and feel they belong.

When home isn’t safe and their parents are not an option, putting these children in the

care of extended whānau or foster parents is the best thing we can do for them.

Making that placement permanent is even better.

That’s why I introduced the Home for Life package in October last year to encourage more New Zealanders to step up and give these children the permanent home they need.

And why it is so important that agencies like CYF and Fostering Kids work together to

give carers and foster parents the support and training they need to look after our most

vulnerable, and in many cases, damaged children.

Children in care package

The Children in Care package announced in this year’s budget will also go along way to

supporting carers and look after the health and well being of the children they care for.

It’s about doing more for the 2200 children that come into our care each year.

The children currently in care and Home for Life are also eligible for this package.  

We’re talking a full health and education assessment from a senior practitioner.

Spending $43m over 4 years on these children now will have a lasting impact on their

long term health and education.

Many don’t fit into traditional health and education boxes, so this package builds a flexible box for their unique needs.

We are not talking about a child with a sore throat, these children are complex.

Results from pilot programmes found that 88% of children in care had previously

unidentified health issues, and 25% of these had three or four health needs.

Not to mention emotional and behavioural issues.

This package will help address all these needs.

It will also give our carers and foster parents more confidence and support when taking on those young ones with complicated behavioural, psychological and mental health issues.

Confidence in knowing that these assessments will help to pinpoint the specialist help these children need and then make sure they get that help.

And support, through the expanded HIPPY parenting programme and ECE for under 3s.  

Through HIPPY, local home tutors work with parents and care givers to make sure they have the parenting skills and confidence to prepare their four and five year old children for school.

An $11.4 million investment in ECE for every child in care from 18 months to 3 years old will help give those amazing carers a rest from the full time job of looking after high maintenance littlies.

There will also be further parenting support for carers through Parents Inc.

Parents Inc is a not-for-profit organisation that has been giving practical help and advice to parents and caregivers for nearly twenty years.

Parents Inc Toolbox programme provides parenting courses that deals with issues for all kids aged 0-18 years old.

There are 900 volunteers attached to this programme and it gets into very small communities.

It can be delivered anywhere from Murapara to Invercargill.

It's strength is that locals deliver it, bringing around ten parents together who then go on to form their own support group beyond the programme.

So it’s locally relevant, meaning you don’t get an Aucklander telling someone in Gisborne how to be a parent.

It’s grown phenomenally in West Auckland where Judges now send parents to do the course if they have been abusive, or just aren’t coping.

Nigel Latta DVD

We are also looking at other ways to help and support carers and foster parents.

And today I am pleased to announce that later this year Child, Youth and Family will be releasing a DVD with Nigel Latta that's modelled on his television programme, but is specifically for caregivers. 

It will look at the challenges and topics unique to foster care.

Giving both common sense and specialist advice in Nigel’s straight forward no nonsense delivery.

Talks with Nigel and his production team have already begun and CYF are planning to get work underway in coming weeks.   

Conclusion

I see foster parents and careers as an integral part of child protection in this country.

And this Government is doing everything we can to support these amazing people and give them the confidence in knowing that that support and guidance does not end when they give a child in care a much needed home for life.

So I welcome the signing of this MoU today outlining the common objectives and shared vision of Child, Youth Family and Foster Kids.

And I look forward to working with you as you support those people who look after our most vulnerable children.

The work you do is important and I want you to know that it is also valued and appreciated.

Thank you.