Experts to help Christchurch kids cope with quake

Photo / Brett Phibbs

Save the Children is providing specialist training to Plunket and Barnardos staff working with youngsters from quake-ravaged Christchurch.

Staff from the child advocacy group have been in Christchurch assessing how best to help children and their families following last month's 6.3 magnitude quake.

"This as an important time for us to share our international experience and expertise and work together with local organisations Plunket and Barnardos to benefit children and families," Save the Children New Zealand chief executive Liz Gibbs said.

Specialists from the United States will spend the next two weeks training the local groups to provide psychosocial support through Journey of Hope, a series of programmes developed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Plunket chief executive Jenny Prince said there were a number of families in Christchurch who were suffering the emotional after effects of the earthquake.

"These programmes will allow Plunket clinical staff to deliver a tried and true, internationally developed programme to help these families get through this tremendously difficult time."

Barnardos chief executive Murray Edridge said the programmes would be of real value for those families suffering in the quake's aftermath.

- NZPA