May 29, 2014
Responsibility shared for Kahungnu kids
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Child, Youth and Family and Ngati Kahungunu.
It means the Wairoa to Wairarapa iwi and the department will develop a joint plan outlining the support services it needs for its children to thrive.
Mrs Bennett says about 5000 children are in the custody of Child, Youth and Family at any one time, and at at last December 286 of those children were affiliated with Ngati Kahungunu.
About half live with whanau, and 130 have been in care for over two years.
She says agreements already in place with Ngapuhi, Ngati Porou, and Waikato-Tainui have resulted in improved information sharing, greater involvement of iwi in Family Group Conferences and joint visits where Child, Youth and Family social workers and iwi social services providers make home visits together.
The agreement was signed in Hastings today.
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