Communities will have a big say in how money for social services is spent under a new scheme called the Community Response Model (CRM), Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said today.Ms Bennett told staff in her ministry it didn't make sense to driv
Communities will have a big say in how money for social services is spent under a new scheme called the Community Response Model (CRM), Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said today.
Ms Bennett told staff in her ministry it didn't make sense to drive local solutions from Wellington.
"The new CRM will have forums, made up of representatives from the community and voluntary sector, as well as government, and they will look at that spend, community by community, and they will review existing family and community services funding," she said.
"Those forums will make recommendations to me on how funding can be better directed to improve services and results for local families."
Mrs Bennett said the forums would be asked to take "a considered look" at the way money was being spent, and existing contracts, and then tell the ministry what was and wasn't working.
"We are serious about backing our communities to come up with local solutions," she said.
Ms Bennett told the meeting successive governments had grappled with social issues and year after year money had been thrown at service providers.
"Hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured into social services, driven by enthusiasm and good intentions," she said.
"But the results aren't consistent across the sector and while some achieve good results for communities, others are under-performing."
She said there was no single answer to the problem, no silver bullet, and no single programme that could lead the way.
"I am determined to change the way we do things because I believe social services can be funded and delivered better," she said.
