Family Help Trust affiliates

Jigsaw

Family Help Trust is affiliated with Jigsaw, a national umbrella group of child protection services throughout New Zealand. Our director, Libby Robins, is a Jigsaw board member.

In 1983 the New Zealand Child Abuse Prevention Service was formed as an association of loosely linked nationwide groups. The regional, community-based groups which make up the network actively advocate against all forms of child harm and neglect, and family violence.

In 2006 the organisation was renamed Jigsaw. Its focus remains on advocating for children and supporting families. The Family Help Trust was accepted as a member of the organisation (which at then was named CAPSNZ) in May 2004. Libby Robins, Family Help Trust Director, was first appointed to the executive committee in 2004. She has continued in this role through 2005, 2006 and also will continue through 2007.

Jigsaw recognises that the parent/caregiver relationship is instrumental in the formation of a caring and safe society, and acts nationally to prevent child abuse and neglect. Its patron is the Governor-General, Her Excellency The Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright.

Jigsaw aims to:

Provide a fully informed service agency within New Zealand in the field of child abuse prevention.
Promote an awareness of the problem of child abuse at the national level.
Support, strengthen and facilitate exchange between member organisations.
Coordinate national training initiatives.
Promote appropriate standards of practice.
Develop strong collegial networks with national and regional agencies working in fields related to child abuse prevention.
Foster ties among community agencies in related fields.
Make input into social policy development and lobby nationally on behalf of the regional groups.
Pursue funding and the national level.

Jigsaw has achieved growing public profile in recent years. The organisation has been used by television programmes, CYFS and many other providers and 0800 help services.

Recent news items from Jigsaw (and affiliates)

Jigsaw fully supports the stance that the NRL has taken over the alleged assault by rugby league star, Greg Bird on his girlfriend. The Cronulla Sharks Chief Executive, Tony Zappia, said it was "highly unlikely" Greg Bird would play for the club this season again, if at all. Families are impacted upon when abuse is prevalent and has been played out. Her mother and father, siblings, nieces and nephews suffer, while his family members also suffer.
Read the full release »

Invest in our children today! (Released by Parent & Family Counselling, 7 August 2008)

Parent & Family Counselling welcomes the report 'A Fair Go for all children - actions to address child poverty in New Zealand'. "Child poverty has negative impacts on the health and development of individuals for a lifetime. Poverty leads to developmental delay, underachievement in education and increased exposure to ill health. Children living in poverty are also more likely to be at risk of physical abuse and neglect. Early intervention and support for children is necessary to ensure that we make a positive difference in the lives of our future leaders."
Read the full release »

Find out how you and your organisation can be at the leading edge of organisational and social change. Find new ways to inspire yourselves and others to live the dream of thriving children in flourishing families. We’d love to see you there!
Where: Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, 58 Waipuna Road, Mt Wellington, Auckland
When: starting 2pm 3rd Sept and finishing 4.30pm 4th Sept 2008.
Cost: Jigsaw Affiliate Member representatives: $125.00
NGO and community agencies: $250.00
Full registration: $320.00
Details, programme, registration »

After listening to the allegation that a prominent NZ MEDIA personality had paid his partner a large sum of money to cover up the severe beating he had inflicted on her, Catherine Lawson of Jigsaw Family Services states: "This is all too common a practice in abusive relationships. Not all men can afford to pay out hush money to their partners but there are other ways the secret of family violence is harboured in homes across New Zealand".
Read the full release »

Jigsaw Professional Consultant, Catherine Lawson, says that each and every one of us in New Zealand is responsible to keep our children safe and alive. Ms Lawson's comments follow the death of a seven year old in Nelson yesterday. She believes that everyone in New Zealand must 'up the ante' to stop the killing and abuse of our children. We need to get it clear that 'our children's safety is the business of all of us'.
Read the full release »

Tau Huirama, Jigsaw CEO Strategic Relationships, believes the increase in the reporting of violent crimes has a positive spin on a negative issuer. It shows that the public are getting better, braver and not accepting that violence is ok and are reporting crimes when they occur. This follows Police statistics released today which show a 12.3 percent increase in violent crime, of which most are linked to family violence.
Read the Full Media Release . . .

Jigsaw excited about study that will support troubled youth (March 27, 2008)

Jigsaw Family Services is delighted to see that there is to be a five year study on the best ways to support troubled youth. The five year study will be led by Massey University and will follow 480 troubled youths to see what works to help youths, to positively change their lives.
Read the Full Media Release . . .

Jigsaw CEO Strategic Operations, Liz Kinley says that while community organisations like Jigsaw will always be here to provide support and help with parenting issues, it is families themselves who are best placed to spark their children's dreams. As Children's Day comes along again this Sunday, Jigsaw's intention is always to help families put together what's best for their children.
Read the Full Media Release . . .

Tau Huirama, Jigsaw CEO Strategic Relationships, believes the new 'It's OK to ask for help' TV advertisements launched today will help improve a lot of New Zealand children's and families' lives. The advertisements are the second stage of the "It's not OK" campaign which says that family violence is never OK. The first set of adverts that played on our TV screens last year helped us start talking about family violence and the serious harm it causes for many of our families. This second set of adverts encourages men who have been abusive towards their partners and children to ask for help from family members, friends and helping agencies.
Read the Full Media Release . . .

Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister of significant additional funding for non-government organisations providing services to the community has been received with acclaim by members of the Community Sector. For possibly the first time in our history, the New Zealand Government has committed to effectively and tangibly recognising the critical role the community sector agencies play in achieving and supporting positive outcomes for children and families.
Read the Full Media Release . . .

Jigsaw CEO Strategic Operations, Liz Kinley says today’s announcement by Helen Clark, to invest substantial extra funding into the community social services that support our children and families, is a very big step forward for New Zealand. This follows news that today the government has granted $446 million to better support and sustain local services across the country.

Jigsaw Disgusted with Jay Jay's new Children's Clothing Range (January 17, 2008)

Jigsaw Family Services is disgusted with a new pre teens clothing range that has come out, which is called "Little Losers". The T-Shirts, aimed at children as young as ten years of age have a series of messages on them not suitable for children. Mr Huirama believes people should be aware that the T-Shirts are degrading of children and wants to discourage parents from buying them.
Read the Full Media Release . . .

Jigsaw Pleased to see Appropriate Punishment in Mid-Canterbury Domestic Violence Case (September 6, 2007)

Jigsaw Family Services is pleased to see that a 50 year old Mid Canterbury man has been sentenced to a year's jail after assaulting his stepson. The man pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and assault with the intent to injure his 15 year old stepson in a serious attack after there was an altercation between the 15 year old boy and his mother. Jigsaw CEO Strategic Operations, Liz Kinley is pleased with the sentence delivered by Judge Graeme Noble.
Read the Full Media Release . . .

Liz Kinley, Joint CEO of Jigsaw says that the safety of New Zealand's children is not just the parents' responsibility. It is the whole community's responsibility to help a child if they are in a potentially harmful or dangerous situation.

Ms Kinley statement follows the shocking story about three year old Nia Glassie who has allegedly been put in a clothes dryer and hung on a clothes line. It is unclear whether the neighbors notified the authorities about this particular situation, but Ms Kinley says that it is important for all of us to speak out whenever we witness a child being ill treated or suspect a child in our neighborhood or community is being hurt or neglected.
See the Full Media Release here.