Strengthening Families
Strengthening Families helps you get the best support for your family/ whānau to thrive.
All the people and agencies who could help your family are brought together. Together you discuss your family’s needs and agree on what everyone is going to do.
If you are getting help or require assistance with a child or young person’s education, health or behaviour, to sort money troubles or find a suitable home or other issues, Strengthening Families could be for you.
Strengthening Families is available for any whānau/ family in New Zealand when more than one community support organisation or government service is or could be required. It is free and 100% voluntary.
On this page you’ll find the following:
Information for agencies
Families often need support from several different organisations. Strengthening Families is an established process where multiple organisations come together with a family/whānau to plan and organise services.
Strengthening Families can be used by any family/whānau in Aotearoa New Zealand:
- with a child, children or young person(s) in their care
- who needs help from more than one agency.
The process is free and 100% voluntary. It builds on a family’s strengths and dreams.
Do you know of a family/whānau in need?
If you personally know a family/whānau who could benefit from Strengthening Families, it is easy and quick to link them in.
You can:
- encourage a family/ whānau member to ask an agency they’re working with to refer them
- suggest they get in touch with a local Strengthening Families coordinator
Who is it for?
Strengthening Families is for families in all shapes and sizes. Strengthening Families might be right if you are facing challenges like:
- finding a warm, comfortable home for your family/ whānau
- getting help with your child or young person’s health or behaviour
- money troubles
- doing something about your child not doing well at school
- coping with stress at home.
- family relationships
- family violence
- addiction
Strengthening Families is there to help your family/ whānau before any problems get too big. Families often get help with several of these things.
Is it for your family/whānau?
Strengthening Families is for families when:
- more than one community or government service is or could support you and your family/ whānau
- your family/ whānau has a child, children or young person (s) in your care
- support services and government agenices are working together will help your family/ whānau achieve its dreams and goals, and this is in the best interests of your child or whole family/ whānau.
Strengthening Families is for any family/whānau
Families of all shapes and sizes use Strengthening Families. This includes solo parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, teenage parents, foster parents, and any other family type you can imagine.
In many cases families will already be involved with different agencies. However, you do not have to be involved with two or more agencies when you first get in touch. If you could benefit from involvement by other agencies, then Strengthening Families might be right for you.
Teen parents are welcome
Every one involved in Strengthening Families knows what a steep learning curve people face when they first become parents. For some younger parents it can be tough to getting all the help needed to raise happy and confident children.
Strengthening Families offers a way for younger parents to get all the services and support they need. We work in family-friendly way, helping all parents become better equipped to face any issues that crop up.
When not to use Strengthening Families
If things are going well with two or more agencies involved with your family/whānau, you may not need to use Strengthening Families.
Families facing challenges where there is suspected child abuse or neglect are not able to use Strengthening Families. Oranga Tamariki should be contacted if you are worried about a child or young person.
Phone 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459)
Strengthening Families is a not mediation service or available to reconcile family break-ups. There are other ways you get help with these types of issues, including Relationship Services and the Family Court.