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Mana Ake Celebrates 1st Birthday Mana Ake began in 15 schools in April 2018, and now, one year later, its available in all schools in Canterbury catering for children to the end of Year 8. Mana Ake is very different from any other resource available, as the people using it designed it. There has always been an inclusive co-design process from the ground up, which has included a wide range of people from across the health, education and social sectors. The wealth of experience of so many voices and ideas coming together means Mana Ake has gone from strength to strength during the past twelve months. The programme works because it’s designed to meet the needs of Canterbury children – whatever those needs might be. The Kaimahi (worker) helps address concerns such as anxiety, emotional regulation, school avoidance, self-harm as well as intervening early to promote resilience and self esteem. Kaimahi work alongside teachers and this helps free them up to focus on teaching, while well-being and other issues are worked on in a variety of ways. There are a range of support options available ranging from one on one support with a child and their family, to group programmes and class activities. |
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Director awarded ONZM
FHT director Libby Robins was made ONZM by the Governor-General, Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy, at an investiture ceremony in Government House, Wellington, in May.
Libby Robins was named in the 2017 New Year’s Honours List as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to children’s welfare.
Receiving the honour, she said: “Many people have worked hard to establish and sustain FHT over the past two and a half decades. Our greatest reward is the stability and structure we have helped bring to the lives of the Canterbury children whose families we work alongside. To have this work recognised more widely is gratifying and refl ects the continuing commitment of many many people, without whom FHT and its programmes would be no more than a theory.”
Alongside a number of other social work professionals, Libby established FHT in 1990, and has served as its director since then.
FHT director Libby Robins was made ONZM by the Governor-General, Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy, at an investiture ceremony in Government House, Wellington, in May.
Libby Robins was named in the 2017 New Year’s Honours List as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to children’s welfare.
Receiving the honour, she said: “Many people have worked hard to establish and sustain FHT over the past two and a half decades. Our greatest reward is the stability and structure we have helped bring to the lives of the Canterbury children whose families we work alongside. To have this work recognised more widely is gratifying and refl ects the continuing commitment of many many people, without whom FHT and its programmes would be no more than a theory.”
Alongside a number of other social work professionals, Libby established FHT in 1990, and has served as its director since then.
The Loft
Leading Canterbury social service agencies Aviva (family and sexual violence services) and Family Help Trust (supporting children under-five born into high-risk environments) have partnered with other prominent NGOs and an Integrated Health Service Centre led by Linwood Medical Centre, to form a child, family and community wellbeing centre – The Loft - in Christchurch’s Eastern Suburbs.
Having lost their premises in the 2010/2011 earthquakes, several NGOs decided to seek long term accommodation that was beyond business as usual – to take the opportunity to create a more integrated and purposeful approach to working together, by co-locating. Their ultimate goal has been to significantly remove complexity in service seeking and, in doing so, to enhance outcomes for children, families and communities.
Whilst looking for premises to develop and support service integration and partnership, they learned that Better Health was intending to move their medical services into Eastgate and create a ‘health hub’. Eastgate Shopping Centre was heavily damaged in the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and had been rebuilt and strengthened. Through further talks, it was realised that together health services and social services could provide an even more comprehensive co-located range of support than either group could do alone. Bringing together services from the social service, health and wellbeing sectors makes this a unique proposition in New Zealand.
The opportunity to place health and wellbeing services within the Centre supported the desire of Eastgate’s owners to make the Shopping Centre a centre for their community as well. Eastgate is also practically ideal as it is serviced by good public transport links from a range of locations across Christchurch and offers plenty of free parking for clients and staff. It is close to multiple primary and secondary schools and the Nga Hau E Wha National Marae.
The community and social wellbeing centre side is also available as a community space. A large meeting room within this side of The Loft can be made available at a low cost to community groups for meetings or training, and wellbeing activities such as exercise classes or anti-natal groups could potentially also use the space.
For co-locating social service agencies, The Loft brings opportunities for significant efficiencies in a number of day-to-day organisational business management processes through utilising scale and collective procurement contracts.
The social service group has raised the capital required for their fit-out up front, to ensure ongoing sustainable rent.
Leading Canterbury social service agencies Aviva (family and sexual violence services) and Family Help Trust (supporting children under-five born into high-risk environments) have partnered with other prominent NGOs and an Integrated Health Service Centre led by Linwood Medical Centre, to form a child, family and community wellbeing centre – The Loft - in Christchurch’s Eastern Suburbs.
Having lost their premises in the 2010/2011 earthquakes, several NGOs decided to seek long term accommodation that was beyond business as usual – to take the opportunity to create a more integrated and purposeful approach to working together, by co-locating. Their ultimate goal has been to significantly remove complexity in service seeking and, in doing so, to enhance outcomes for children, families and communities.
Whilst looking for premises to develop and support service integration and partnership, they learned that Better Health was intending to move their medical services into Eastgate and create a ‘health hub’. Eastgate Shopping Centre was heavily damaged in the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and had been rebuilt and strengthened. Through further talks, it was realised that together health services and social services could provide an even more comprehensive co-located range of support than either group could do alone. Bringing together services from the social service, health and wellbeing sectors makes this a unique proposition in New Zealand.
The opportunity to place health and wellbeing services within the Centre supported the desire of Eastgate’s owners to make the Shopping Centre a centre for their community as well. Eastgate is also practically ideal as it is serviced by good public transport links from a range of locations across Christchurch and offers plenty of free parking for clients and staff. It is close to multiple primary and secondary schools and the Nga Hau E Wha National Marae.
The community and social wellbeing centre side is also available as a community space. A large meeting room within this side of The Loft can be made available at a low cost to community groups for meetings or training, and wellbeing activities such as exercise classes or anti-natal groups could potentially also use the space.
For co-locating social service agencies, The Loft brings opportunities for significant efficiencies in a number of day-to-day organisational business management processes through utilising scale and collective procurement contracts.
The social service group has raised the capital required for their fit-out up front, to ensure ongoing sustainable rent.
Hippy helping Amanda and Kayden develop love of learning
Amanda and her four-year-old son Kayden are in their first year of the Hippy programme at Hoon Hay, with tutor Danielle.
“Kayden is a bright boy and he just loves the Hippy activities. He is always testing out what he has learnt with colours and shapes and showing me what he knows. His kindy teachers are amazed at his vocabulary, which comes directly out of what we are doing with Hippy. He thinks he is the bee’s knees, so proud to show off what he can do.
“Before we started this, he was into mud and his main interest was playing outside. Although he still enjoys that, he also now loves reading and books. When I put my younger daughter down for a sleep, Kayden comes up and says ‘Mum, can we do Hippy now?’
“I am so pleased to be able to do this for him. My earliest childhood, when my father was around, was difficult, with drugs, alcohol and violence in the family. I am so determined to show my children that there are opportunities for them to lead a different kind of life than the start I had.
“Kayden and I really enjoy this. Hippy should help to give him the best start to school, which will open up so many opportunities that were never available to me. I see him learning and understanding things now that I didn’t know until I was at intermediate.
“What I want when he is older is for him to be able to progress from this to good qualifications, a worthwhile job and a happy family life.
“Hippy has also helped me to realise what I missed out on and that it is not too late for me to make changes for myself as well. It is inspiring, and gives me a warm feeling inside when I think about what it can do for my children.”
Amanda and her four-year-old son Kayden are in their first year of the Hippy programme at Hoon Hay, with tutor Danielle.
“Kayden is a bright boy and he just loves the Hippy activities. He is always testing out what he has learnt with colours and shapes and showing me what he knows. His kindy teachers are amazed at his vocabulary, which comes directly out of what we are doing with Hippy. He thinks he is the bee’s knees, so proud to show off what he can do.
“Before we started this, he was into mud and his main interest was playing outside. Although he still enjoys that, he also now loves reading and books. When I put my younger daughter down for a sleep, Kayden comes up and says ‘Mum, can we do Hippy now?’
“I am so pleased to be able to do this for him. My earliest childhood, when my father was around, was difficult, with drugs, alcohol and violence in the family. I am so determined to show my children that there are opportunities for them to lead a different kind of life than the start I had.
“Kayden and I really enjoy this. Hippy should help to give him the best start to school, which will open up so many opportunities that were never available to me. I see him learning and understanding things now that I didn’t know until I was at intermediate.
“What I want when he is older is for him to be able to progress from this to good qualifications, a worthwhile job and a happy family life.
“Hippy has also helped me to realise what I missed out on and that it is not too late for me to make changes for myself as well. It is inspiring, and gives me a warm feeling inside when I think about what it can do for my children.”