Rangatahi 12 years +
What we offer
Our Child and Youth Team provides interventions to support tamariki, rangatahi and the wider whānau.
We aim to support rangatahi and their whānau with warmth, empathy and evidence-based practice to empower positive change.
What we offer rangatahi aged 12 and up:
- Support with home, school or community challenges.
- Parent & whānau support.
- Social and emotional wellbeing and mental health challenges.
- Exposure to/experience of family violence.
- Exposure to/ experience of sexual violence and/or sexual harm.
- Ministry of Justice safety programmes.
- Strengthening Families service for those whānau engaged with multiple agencies.
These services are available to those in Whakatipu basin area, Wānaka, Upper Clutha and Central Otago (and surrounding townships). We can be flexible, but our specialized Child & Youth office is based in Frankton.
Download our helpful what to expect guides to better understand working with the Child & Youth Services.
Child & Youth Service – Parents Guide
Child & Youth Service – Tāmariki Perspective
Child Safety Programmes
We offer programmes and support for rangatahi and whānau with safety concerns or those exposed to family violence. We also work with rangatahi who are using violence in their whānau or other relationships, these programmes are mandated.
These programmes involve safety planning and risk assessment for the young person, and the family, building and identifying support networks, problem solving and space to talk about their experiences and learn skills and tools to support them.
Programmes are a 10-session minimum and can include the whānau if safe and possible. Whānau and parents can also receive separate and individual support if needed.
The Non-Violence Programme is for rangatahi to support those who use violence within their whanau and relationships to learn new skills and strategies that don’t include violence. The focus of the programme is to create healthy coping strategies, understand the cycle of violence and the impacts, look at values and beliefs, work on healthy communication, and set healthy boundaries. We work with youth to motivate change for themselves and their relationships and support them to reach their goals. Referrals come to our service from the court and Ministry of Justice (as a respondent of a protection order) or from the Department of Corrections to complete the programme.
Strengthening Families
Strengthening Families helps you get the best support and outcomes for your family/whānau to thrive.
It is designed for families with children under 18 years who need help from more than one support service or government agency. We bring together all relevant agencies needed to help your family to plan goals suited to your needs. This is a family led process and the coordinator will walk alongside you to ensure all plans are being met, it is collaborative, and the family understands the roles of each service.
Strengthening Families is a voluntary process and families give their consent to be involved.
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How it works
The service pulls together support for families/whānau. To help your family for example there may be a budget advisor, social worker, medical specialist, teacher, or other support worker.
You work out together what support your family/whānau needs and what each service is going to do. It is set up so families/whānau tell their story once to everyone at the same time, then everyone agrees on a plan to move you forward.
Strengthening Families is a free service. -
It is for families of all shapes and sizes, when:
• more than one community or government service is or could support you and your
• your family/whānau has a child, children, or young person(s) in your care
• support services and government agencies work together to support your family/whānau to achieve its goals, in the best interests of your child or whole family/whānau.
Is it for your family/whānau?Strengthening Families might be right if you are facing challenges like:
• Financially struggling and need to be linked in with practical supports like budgeting services and food banks
• Support with getting help with your children or young person(s) in relation to health or behaviour supports
• Access and supports to other services in the community
• Any form of family stress including perinatal supports, family harm, relationships, mental healthIt is limited to the Whakatipu region only. If you are outside of the Whakatipu Basin, we can find you another Strengthening Families Coordinator or a similar service.
Contact: niki@clfs.co.nz