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MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
31 January 2008

Leaders miss the point

Helen Clark and John Key both quite rightly seek answers to escalating and serious problems with some of our young people.

Both have focused on what we can do to put these young people back on the right track and give them a chance to meet the potential.

Anthea Simcock CEO and founder of Child Protection Studies Trust (CPS) says that while this is part of the answer, it is still in effect ‘picking up the pieces after the event’.

“The most valuable use of our dollar is in prevention “’ she said. “The focus should be on preventing these young children from failing at school in the first place, and on ensuring that their early years equip them to succeed once they get to school. Children living with abuse and violence, who have grown up lacking attachment to a primary adult, who live in families where there are inconsistent boundaries or where parents are not able to meet their developing needs are all at risk.”

Mrs. Simcock says that the primary message from our leaders should have been about what they are going to do to ensure these kids have the best start.

Mrs. Simcock acknowledges that there is lip service paid to the ideas of early intervention and prevention, but this has not been followed up with training, resources or coherent and proven services.

“Schools and early childhood centres, for example, play key roles in identifying such children, but are not trained or resourced to do so” she said.

The screening last night of the programme about the early life of killer William Bell was very timely to this discussion. It showed clearly the effects of early life experiences, and how so many of the signs are there if only people are trained to recognise and act on them..

ENDS

For further information, please contact
Anthea Simcock – CPS CEO on 021 402430, or 07 8383370
anthea@cps.org.nz
www.cps.org.nz