Taking young families beyond cycles of risk

By REBECCA WALSH

At 21, Tennille Morrison had two children and a relationship that wasn't working.

"I wanted some help to know what I could do to better myself for my kids," the Hamilton woman says. "I wanted to be a better mum and a better person altogether."

Last year she was referred to the Family Start programme, one of several Strengthening Families initiatives set up by the National Government in 1998.

It provides home-based support for families with young children identified as being at risk, for example single parent families, those in poor housing or dealing with drug and alcohol issues.

Each year the Government spends about $18 million on the programme, which aims to help families access a range of health, education and social services.

Families are referred to the programme by their GP or an agency such as Plunket. Participation is voluntary. Ms Morrison's family are among 420 involved in the Hamilton programme and she says it has given her the confidence to achieve goals she never thought possible.

"They helped me get my driver's licence. It was one thing I really wanted but never thought I would get. My self-esteem was quite low ... My family were really proud of me and I was quite stoked."

She is also doing a correspondence computer course and aims to have a job by the time daughters Kaysharna, 4, and Jessika, 1, get to primary school.

A Family Start worker visits once a week, something Ms Morrison values enormously.

"She's been in the same circumstances I have. Sometimes she just comes for a chat or rings me to see how I am. It's really personal. It's one on one."

Hamilton is one of 16 centres around the country with a Family Start programme.

General manager Tahi Tait has noticed a change in the outlook of those families taking part.

"There's a willingness and sense of hope to see a future and work towards that."

Dr Pat Tuohy, chief adviser child and youth health, says the service, was set up because of concerns about intergenerational cycles of disadvantage and poor coordination of services.

Family Start is jointly funded, managed and governed by the Ministries of Education, Health, Social Development and the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services.