October 14, 2012
Rotorua picked to trial child abuse prevention
Rotorua has been picked for a pilot programme to try out some of the policies outlined in the Government’s White Paper on Vulnerable Children.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett told iwi and social service workers in the city that a team of professionals would be set up to identify the most vulnerable children in the community.
Information from teachers and other agencies who work with children will be used to identify children at risk of abuse, and individual plans will then be set up.
She said Maori social services will have some limited access to the database being set up.
The White Paper was a response to the public outcry over the death of Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie in 2007.