The Whanua Ora taskforce gives one example of how the new welfare policy might work.It describes a single mother in part-time employment who finds it hard to make ends meet and who has lost contact with her extended family.She has three children:* A 16-ye
The Whanua Ora taskforce gives one example of how the new welfare policy might work.
It describes a single mother in part-time employment who finds it hard to make ends meet and who has lost contact with her extended family.
She has three children:
* A 16-year-old son who has been caught repeatedly driving without a licence and has stopped going to work because he is scared of telling his boss about his offending;
* A 12-year-old daughter who has been referred to the Strengthening Families programme because of repeated absences from schools; and
* An eight-year-old son who has been picked up by police roaming the streets at night and returned to a home with no adult present, which has led to a referral to Child, Youth and Family.
The woman is working mornings and nights meaning she has to rely on the older children to look after the youngest and she is unaware that her daughter is being bullied at school.
In this scenario the mother is dealing with at least police; Work and Income; Child, Youth and Family; schools, and Strengthening Families.
The Taskforce said the Whanua Ora policy would result in one provider dealing with the family in an open and frank way at possible solutions.
This could include:
* Helping the mother get more suitable employment;
* Reconnecting the woman with her wider family for greater support;
* Working with the 16-year-old to get his licence and talk to his employer;
* Support the mother in talking to the school; and
* Identify the bullies and talk to their families to allow the girl back to school.
"Ultimately this mother is capable of leading change in her whanau. However, her economic realities have prevented her from fulfilling this role. Whanau Ora would help her work through and resolve these issues and enable her to focus on being a carer and protector," the taskforce said.
