Int. expert promotes new child intervention model

International expert promotes new child intervention model

An internationally recognised child welfare advocate is currently in New Zealand to promote what she describes as the most exciting and successful model for interventions with children and families.

Nan Henderson is a pioneer of the resiliency approach to working with vulnerable children and families. She has been bought to New Zealand from the United States by the Foundation that runs New Zealand’s seven Children’s Health Camps to hold seminars, workshops and training sessions on the resiliency approach for child and family services.

Chief Executive of the Foundation, Dr Fiona Inkpen, said Children’s Health Camps had invested in bringing Nan to New Zealand because the time was right for the child care sector to review the effectiveness of its own work with young people and to look at new models.

“The resiliency model is at the cutting edge of international research into how we work with children and families. In our experience the model is incredibly effective in helping children and families overcome adversity and bounce back to lead resilient and successful lives,” said Dr Inkpen.

The essence of Nan’s teaching is that developing resiliency in young people is first and foremost a person-to-person process. International research into how people overcome adversity shows that resiliency is forged through caring relationships with others.

“Bringing Nan to New Zealand is part of the Children’s Health Camp’s efforts to increase awareness about the resiliency model, and it’s potential to facilitate positive change across all sectors that work with our young people and families,” she said.

Dr Inkpen said Nan’s visit had the potential to significantly advance thinking on international best practice, how we work with young people, and on the results that can be achieved through the consistent application of the right model, attitude and techniques.

She said Nan’s visit was timely as New Zealand’s social service agencies were currently struggling to meet the demand for their services while providing a consistent level of care.

“Nan is at the forefront of international resiliency research and work and we believe her visit to New Zealand has the potential to make a real difference to the way in which our organisations and professionals respond to the needs of young people.”

Nan Henderson is the President of Resiliency in Action and her five books on promoting resiliency in young people are widely used in more than 25 countries.

Nan has developed resiliency training programmes for child and youth workers which are used by educators and child and youth workers around the world.

Nan will hold workshops at full-day seminars in both Wellington and Auckland on May 28 and 31 respectively for professionals across the heath, education and social service sectors.

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