News & Events
Green Paper on Vulnerable Children
Background
The Green Paper is a consultation document intended to stimulate debate about vulnerable (abused and neglected) children and get public feedback. It is an opportunity for all New Zealander’s to have their say before crucial decisions are made that will change the way we care for and protect children in the future. A full copy of the Green Paper can be found at: http://www.childrensactionplan.govt.nz/.
The green paper roughly groups its discussion into the following areas:
Sharing responsibility
- When should government agencies step in?
- What should government agencies review, support and consider?
- How can communities help?
Showing leadership
- Development of an action plan
- Reporting requirements and responsibilities
- Partnership with Maori
Making child-centred policy changes, and child centred practice changes
- Provision of targeted services
- Prioritising/re-prioritising services to take into account needs to children
- Monitoring/tracking vulnerable children
- Information sharing
- Collaboration between providers
- Development of a ‘workforce for children’
WNPC have developed a submission to be made on the Green Paper on behalf of all WNPC members. The text of the submission is below and we welcome any and all comments. Submissions on the Green Paper close on Wednesday 28 February, 2012. Individuals are also encouraged to make their own submissions around points that they feel strongly about.
Submission
Sharing responsibility
Education and support should be used to break the cycle of abuse and neglect and prevent subsequent cases of abuse.
Education and support should be readily available to all parents and carers. The sources and types of help available should be publicised and information made easily accessible to all on a dedicated website, which is maintained and up to date.
Communities and local groups should be encouraged to participate in helping vulnerable children in their area.
When abuse/neglect occurs and household members refuse to co-operate with subsequent investigations, all members of the household should be held accountable.
Information should be sought from previous offenders. Is there anything that could have been done to help prevent them abusing/neglecting their children?
Showing leadership
Provision should be made for a two-pronged approach to identify and help children who are currently being abused or neglected and to prevent future instances of abuse and neglect.
Effort should be made to progress the vulnerable from being dependant on society to contributing to society.
Parents/caregivers of vulnerable children should be treated in a non-judgemental manner and help offered accordingly. It is noted that often the parent/caregiver has to ask for help; however, more is likely to be achieved if the help/support from any source can be offered by each/every agency (government and non-government) with which the family has contact.
Education and support should be available to all.
Making child-centred policy changes
Making child centred practice changes
Abused and neglected children should immediately be helped.
Help should be easily available for those parents/caregivers that want it and, in that instance, that help and support should be preferentially available to those with children at risk of neglect and abuse.
Services should be prioritised for parents/caregivers with children provided the parent/caregiver needs the service and intends to make the most of such service.
There should be substantial information sharing between government agencies and other organisations involved in working with families in order to identify vulnerable children and offer support where required. To this end, consideration should be given to the development of a database to record information on each child for a finite period of time.
It should be possible to track parents of vulnerable children, identify all pregnancies within these families and monitor all children e.g. through transfer of data between DHBs.
Risk factors should be taken into account and should act as flags in any predictive analysis of data.
Responsibility should be taken and the system quickly updated if families are erroneously identified as ‘at risk’.
Feedback
Please contact Angela if you would like to add/change anything in the WNPC submission.
New Years Resolutions
Three of the most popular New Years resolutions are to get fitter/loose weight, take time out to de-stress and do some charity/community work. Here at WNPC we have joined the resolution band-wagon so here are our top three ways of making those resolution plans a reality!
1. Get fit/loose weight
Shane Tindall is a former butcher, smoker and fast food junkie who started Specifics Training Group several years ago. Being a single father of two, he has an almost unique understanding in the fitness industry of the need to balance family and the need for our own life. He has represented New Zealand at the International Triathlon World Championships and is a REPS qualified independent mobile personal trainer based in Johnsonville.
Specifics Training Group runs a number of diverse fitness groups and individual personal training programmes. The Specifics Training Group ethos is for you to work hard, be dedicated but most of all to have fun and achieve your goals. WNPC members are invited to take part in:
WNPC and Specifics Training Group have joined forces to offer WNPC members some special fitness deals. Sign up in January and receive 10% off personal training sessions and 20% off the first session!
For more details contact Shane Tindall on 027 461 6003.
2. De-stress
Diane Clark Manley is a qualified Yoga instructor based in the Ohariu Valley. She runs Pregnancy Yoga Classes together with lunchtime yoga sessions and one on one sessions aimed at de-stressing the body and mind. Sessions are reasonably priced with a set of three 1 hour one-on-one sessions priced at $105. Pregnancy yoga is aimed at couples preparing for birth and is a 6-week course. For more information contact Diane (dianeclarkmanley@vodafone.co.nz) or 04 232 0485.
3. Give back to the community
Come along to one of our events or classes and you can't help but be impressed by the dedicated hard-working team that run WNPC. What may surprise you is that apart from the class tutors, there are re no paid staff! All our events, classes, resources, libraries etc are organised by volunteers. So, if you have been to one of our classes/events, loved it and want to give back, or if you have a long list of how it could be better, WE WANT YOU!
Committee members get free membership, free parent education classes plus access to lots of other courses run by head office. Come along to a committee meeting or, better yet, take a look at the list below and see if anything takes your eye!
Parent Education Enrollments Convenor
This is a great role for someone wanting to join the committee but who can only spare an hour or so a week. The role involves taking enrollments for parent education classes, checking payments have been made, sending reminders and organising one of the attendees to be class helper. You will liaise with the Parent Ed Convenor and the entire role is email/internet based. For more information contact Angela.
CBE Convenor
We really need a volunteer (or two) to arrange the CBE class volunteers, make up the contact information sheets and organise briefing and debriefing sessions. The role would suit someone with 1-2 hours to spare every 6 weeks. If you can in any way help us, please get in touch with Angela.
Resources Co-Coordinator
We need someone with a spare hour or two a week to photocopy class resources and prepare the CBE class volunteer boxes. The role involves ordering printing from the printers, picking it up and packing the CBE resource boxes. Please contact Angela if interested.
Special Events Sub-Committee leader
Enjoyed the Christmas Party? Want to offer your ideas for improvement? Special events are put on by WNPC and attendance is free for members. We are looking for someone to take over our Special Events Co-coordinator role to lead the events sub-committee which comprises 2-3 other committee members. If you want experience in planning and running events and project management this could be the role for you. Please contact Angela if interested.
Sandbox advertising co-coordinator
The Wellington Region Parents Centres are currently recruiting for an Advertising Co-coordinator for the Sandbox. Anyone who is interested in doing the marketing/advertising for this should contact the Sandbox Editor for more details.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
We will be back in the New Year with more events, classes, and competitions. Have a safe and happy festive season.
WNPC Christmas Party
This Saturday (17 December) 10.30 am until 2.30 pm
Otari School, 166 Wilton Road
Santa will be there from 11.30 am until 1 pm and we have a petting zoo, childrens entertainment, massage, members of the Wellington Hurricaines squad plus food and drinks and some amazing raffle prizes!
Come on down and don't forget to bring your raffle tickets!
'Tis the season to be jolly...
The WNPC Christmas Party is nearly here! Join us at Otari School (Wilton Road) on 17 December 2011 between 10.30 am and 2.30 pm. We will provide drinks, shaved ice, snacks, and entertainment. There will be a petting zoo, facepainters and an amazing raffle plus a celebrity Santa and Hurricaines players! Please RSVP to marketing@wnpc.org.nz. The party is free to members $10 per family for non-members.
RSVP today!
Perinatal Mental Health Coffee Time
Come and join us 9.30-11.30 am for coffee, cake and a catch up. Email president@wnpc.org.nz for more information.
Happy Halloween!
The wiinner is:
Jacques was a little unhappy unhappy with the World Cup Final Result.
Latest News
And the winner is:
Gillian Hawke's picture of Lilah and Andy Ellis!
Caption Competition
With Halloween approaching, we found the following picture. Submit a caption and go into the draw to win a spooky prize!
Measles vaccine information
There have been over 200 cases of measles in Auckland since May this year, and we are starting to see cases in the Wellington region. To help prevent measles spreading in our communities, the age that children can get their free Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine has been changed.
The 15 month MMR vaccine can now be given to children over the age of 12 months. The second MMR vaccine, which is normally given at age four, can be given one month after the first vaccine.
From WNPC
Meningococcal disease advice
If you notice any of the symptoms of meningococcal disease or have any other concerns, contact your doctor without delay, or call Healthline free on 0800 611 116 at any hour of the day or night, even if you have already been seen by a health professional.
The illness
Illness may develop slowly over one or two days, or may develop quickly over a few hours. Prompt treatment with antibiotics (usually by injection) may prevent death, or permanent disability such as damage to the brain or deafness.
Signs and Symptoms
Meningococcal disease can look like a case of influenza in its early stages, but it quickly gets much worse. The symptoms may not all show up at once. Tell your doctor immediately about any of the following signs and symptoms:
Your baby or child may:
have a fever
be crying or unsettled
refuse drinks or feeds
vomit
be sleepy or floppy or harder to wake
have a stiff neck
dislike bright lights
have a rash or spots (see attached photo)
Adults may:
have a fever and headache
vomit
be sleepy, confused, delirious or unconscious
have a stiff neck
dislike bright lights
have joint pain and aching muscles
have a rash or spots (see attached photo)
The rash can occur anywhere on the body. Even one spot on a sick child or adult is important, so show it to your doctor.
WNPC Rugby Supporters
Fern-Do!
Go Wales!
Checking out the Fiji game
- 1 of 5
- ››