Gráinne's update - 27 April 2018

I’m often asked, ‘What keeps me up at night’? There are many things of course, but it always comes back to thinking about what’s really happening for our children in care and how we can make sure we’re doing everything we can to create better solutions for them, both short-term and long-term. We’ve had a year to get stuck in and we’re just as determined now as Day One.

We’re committed to listening to our tamariki, caregivers and partners and to take action when things aren’t right. We’re trying new things and working with partners more than ever to make real changes in the lives of our tamariki.

We’re creating better solutions by hiring more social workers, youth workers and other skilled staff, developing national care standards and embedding a new high quality consistent practice framework. We’ve done a considerable amount of work to ensure that our care and protection services include 17 year olds.

We’re also working to keep children and young people connected to their culture and wider whānau in a number of ways, including partnerships with iwi and the creation and funding of new Kairaranga a Whānau roles.

We’ve found more than 150 new caregivers who’ve opened their homes to kids. We need more, but they need to be the right people backed with quality training and support. So while there has been progress in our first year as Oranga Tamariki we know there is so much more to do.

In this newsletter you’ll hear from young people who attended the L’Oreal: Face your Future event last week – which has been helping young people in care for 10 years. This programme has a big impact on the young people who attend, building their confidence to be able to chase their own dreams.

I know that everyday we’re all doing our bit to keep our children safe and giving them opportunities to be their best. Together, we’re going to see the transformation in the lives of children and young people across New Zealand.

Ngā mihi

Gráinne