Wellington City Libraries Palm Tree Blossoming of Our Children - Kia Puawai Ngā Tamariki - 10th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect

Personal Kits for Children and Young People in Care


Authors & Speakers

Lael Sharland,
Nadine Kilmister
Fiona Coy

Organisations

Department of Child, Youth and Family Services,
Hamilton and Wellington

Objective

To develop a kit for children and young people in the custody and/or guardianship of the Chief Executive of Child, Youth and Family using a participatory approach to content and design by engaging with children and young people who were or previously had been in care with Child, Youth and Family. The development of the kit is in response to a recommendation noted in the Ministerial Review (2000) undertaken by former principal Youth Court Judge, Mick Brown.

Method

Information was gathered from:

  • Meeting with a group of children and young people in each Residence.  Participants were aged from 11 to 16.
  • Focus groups in Wellington made up of young people aged between 11 and 16 and in New Plymouth by children aged 8 to 11.
  • Ad hoc group of young women.
  • A support group for young people and adults who had been in care when younger.

Results

Two packs were developed: The first for children aged up to seven years and the second for those aged eight and older. Each pack contains a memory book, camera, toiletry items (age-specific) in a toilet bag, a concerto fold card explaining their rights with space to write special information and a telephone card (in the older pack only).

Conclusion

The project highlighted that children and young people, when given the opportunity, resources, time and appropriate information, can make informed choices and decisions.  It emphasised that while adults might believe children simply want to get their own way, if they are asked, or are not mature enough to make important decisions, children have responsible and relevant contributions to make and do not prioritise getting their own way, over the opportunity to have their say. 

The pack provides social workers with a tool to engage in a meaningful way with children and young people for whom they are responsible.  The project also demonstrated that intra-agency collaboration is an important part of providing a child focused product.

 

Presentation

Poster

Biographies

Nadine Kilmister, Team Leader, Editing and Production

Nadine has worked for Child, Youth and Family in its various guises since 1990. She currently manages the brand for the Department, oversees the intranet and internet and all print production. She loved being part of this project as it was grounded in young people's reality and added value to their lives.

Lael Sharland, Team Leader, Learning and Development North

Lael is the Team Leader of Learning and Development North for Child, Youth and Family. She was previously a Policy Analyst in the Service Policy and Development team at National Office, Child, Youth and Family.  She has worked in the Department since 1991 as a social worker, specialist interviewer and supervisor.

Fiona Coy, Senior Policy Analyst

Fiona has worked as a frontline social worker in Child, Youth & Family for six years before heading to National Office.  She is a Senior Policy Analyst and currently Acting Manager of the Service Policy and Development team, Child, Youth & Family.