Supported by Healthy Christchurch

Toolkit News
Welcome to our first newsletter in 2011
I hope you all had a good Christmas break and things weren’t too shaky with all the aftershocks. I hope all children are happy to be
back at school, ending the boredom of a too long holiday.

The ‘Toolkit for Safer Children’ is an extensive collection of information and agencies in Christchurch that help families with multiple
issues. However, Christchurch has much more to offer. As a result, every newsletter will feature additional community agencies,
resources and upcoming trainings.

Existing New Zealand research found that family violence can as much as triple after civil defence emergencies. I hope to see you all
at Nicola Atwool’s workshop on the impact of family violence on children.

This issue features:

>> Plunket

>> Pillars – Just Us

>> Strengthening Families

>> Ideas for families for weekends and future holidays

>> Upcoming trainings & workshops

>> Nicola Atwool – Impact of family violence on children & young people

>> Mental Health Education & Resource Centre – Calendar 2011

>> Start Strong Seminar - Early & sustained support for disabled children and their families

>> Publications

Toolkit for Safer Children – February 2011 ● 1

Plunket
Plunket is a community driven, not for profit organisation unique to New Zealand. We provide free support services for the development,
health and wellbeing of families with children from birth to five years. Your midwife will give you the details of the well child providers
available. Registration with a well child health provider is preferred prior to your baby being 4 weeks of age. If you would like further
information please contact our Area Office on 03 366 0765 or visit www.plunket.org.nz or email canterbury@plunket.org.nz

Plunket Services available in Canterbury:

Plunket visits are an integral part of our service. These visits may take place in your home or in a Plunket Clinic. A Plunket Nurse will
provide you with an opportunity to talk about you and your baby and provide advice and support.

Plunket Line is a free 24 hour telephone advice service and is available to all families, whanau and caregivers. Calls
are answered by Plunket Nurses who give advice on any topic regarding your child’s health, wellbeing and development.
Call Plunket Line on 0800 933 922.

Parenting Education (PEPE) is a free parenting education programme available to all new parents irrespective of who you have
chosen as a well child provider. Designed and run by Plunket, PEPE supports you in your parenting role throughout the different stages
of your child’s development. Please contact 03 367 3423 for details of courses in your area.

The Family Centre is located at 5 Twigger Street, Addington. This is a free service to all families, irrespective of who you have
chosen as a well child provider. The Family Centre provides additional care, support and information to families regarding breast
feeding, infant feeding, nutrition, sleeping, child behaviour and parent/family needs. It is never too early or too late to contact the
Family Centre on 03 348 9447.

Toy Libraries allow you to borrow toys that are suited to your child’s age and development. To find your nearest Plunket Toy Library
go to www.plunket.org.nz

Playgroups are run in most local communities, often in the Plunket Rooms. To find your nearest playgroup go to www.plunket.org.nz

Postnatal Adjustment Programme: Plunket Postnatal Adjustment Programme.pdf

Car Seat Hire: Plunket Carseat Hire.pdf

Pillars – Just Us
The interactive website, Just Us, is for children of prisoners, their caregivers and professionals and was developed by PILLARS, a
community-based organisation that supports children of prisoners in New Zealand.

“It is the only website of its kind in the world that includes a virtual prison and where children can ask questions and access information
specific to their needs. The Just Us website is a child-friendly way. PILLARS can provide support and information to children who often
feel isolated.”

All Black Brad Thorn, a PILLARS ambassador, launched the website in Christchurch. “Children of prisoners are six to seven times more
likely to end up in prison than other New Zealand children,” he said at the launch.

Being blessed with his own upbringing and with four children of his own, he said he wanted to do something to help other children.
“I can play a part in keeping kids out of trouble and breaking this cycle of crime”.

Toolkit for Safer Children – February 2011 ● 2

Just Us, www.justus.org.nz features a town called Just Us and a character called Justin who leads the children through a variety of
places, including a prison, friend’s house and court house so they can find out more about what they might expect in their situation.

Children can write their own diaries, hear stories from other prisoners’ children, write a letter to their parent in prison or have their
questions answered. PILLARS will monitor the content to make sure every question is answered and additions can easily be added
as needed.

PILLARS also provides mentoring for children, social work services for parents/caregivers and provides training and support for
professionals working with these children such as school teachers.

Please contact Verna McFelin, Chief Executive, PILLARS, telephone 377 3990. www.pillars.org.nz for more information.

Strengthening Families
Strengthening Families is a nation-wide initiative that assists families/whanau accessing the services they need. The Strengthening
Families initiative invites families/whanau & services/agencies to work together in a coordinated, collaborative manner to improve
the outcomes for children within their families/whanau, schools and communities. Participation is based on informed consent by
parent(s)/carers.

In the meeting forum concerns and needs are identified and addressed with a coordinated plan developed. The plan is reviewed to
ensure tasks are completed and progress is made. With everyone hearing the same information at the same time, the interagency
meeting process avoids families/whanau repeating their stories plus the duplication and fragmentation of services.

Strengthening Families is to shift the focus from crisis intervention to providing early support to families/whanau, so as to prevent
difficult situations from escalating.

Administered by the Ministry of Social Development, Strengthening Families is a whole-of-government initiative in partnership with
non-government organisations. The ministries/ departments of education, health, welfare, justice and housing are key signatories
and a local management group oversees each geographical region. Please refer to ‘Information for Professionals’ on the website:
www.strengtheningfamilies.govt.nz

The Strengthening Families Meeting Process:

A referral is made for a meeting, and an independent facilitator will be appointed. The Strengthening Co-ordinator will assist in making
sure the meeting takes place. Needs and concerns are identified and an action plan developed that:

>> recognises the family/whanau strengths and builds on these

>> addresses the family/whanau concerns and priorities

>> co-ordinates the work of all agencies involved

>> identifies unmet needs or gaps in services and develops strategies to solve them

>> a new meeting date is set to review the action plan.

For further information including brochures, please contact the local Canterbury Co-ordinator Susan Peake:
Phone (03) 963 8416; Cell 029 650 0256; Email susan.peake002@msd.govt.nz

Toolkit for Safer Children – February 2011 ● 3

Ideas for families for weekends and future holidays:
Ever been bored in the holidays, not knowing what to do with your kids? The Families Commission has great ideas on their website
www.familiescommission.govt.nz/taxonomy/term/90/all for:

>> When the weather turns nasty >> Christmas

>> Long Car Trips >> Get Creative in the kitchen
>> Travel Games & Activities >> Something involving the whole family
>> GROUP GAMES FOR Toddlers and younger children >> Get creative and crafty
>> Games to play outside >> Get out of the house

Play Dough
Play dough is easy to make at home, very cheap and fun for kids of all ages. Besides, it is non-toxic. Kids are amazed when they learn
how easy it is to make play dough. Playdough Recipes.doc is a collection of play dough recipes. My favourite is cinnamon play
dough. Give it a try. Your kitchen will smell like Christmas cookies.

Upcoming Trainings & Workshops

Nicola Atwool, Principal Advisor from the Office of the Children’s Commissioner is coming to Christchurch on 02 March 2011 to give an
interactive workshop on the ‘Impact of family violence on children and young people’. For more info: Nicola Atwool Workshop.doc

The Mental Health Education and Resource Centre (MHERC) offers great training throughout the year. Check out their full catalogue of
training until April 2011: Education Booklet Feb 2011.pdf

Start Strong Seminar

Parents, early childhood education teachers, early intervention practitioners, childcare, well child, disability and social service providers,
researchers and students are invited to the Start Strong Seminar hosted by IHC in Christchurch on Tuesday 1 March, 2011.

lHC began the Start Strong initiative in 2010 to improve early supports and outcomes for children with disabilities and their families.
Topics for the Christchurch seminar will be: an update and discussion on progressing the Start Strong action plan; inclusion in early
intervention and early childhood education; collaboration, inclusion and specialist teacher preparation; a collaborative and innovative
approach getting the right services at the right time; and effective partnerships in action in the Early Intervention ASD project. See
StartStrong seminar Christchurch 1 March 2011.doc for more details

Publications
An Australian Research with great parallels to New Zealand: Why changes need to be made to the Family Law Act? The failings
of the current Family Law Act were starkly reported in the No Way To Live study by Sydney University’s Dr Leslie Laing. The report highlights
how women can be discouraged from disclosing violent behaviour by partners because of the risks of being considered an “unfriendly
parent” or of being awarded costs if the court did not believe their claims. For more info: no-way-to-live-full-report-june2010.pdf

I would like to hear your suggestions of topics for the next newsletter in April 2011.
Please email your ideas of topics to me: ninonk@mmsi.org.nz

Toolkit for Safer Children – February 2011 ● 4