Vibe - Hutt Valley Youth Health Service Relaunched

NEWS RELEASE

30 March 2005

Hutt Valley Youth Health Service Relaunches As Vibe

Health Minister Annette King today officially opened the new premises of Vibe, the rebranded Hutt Valley Youth Health Service that is now located at 12 Daly Street in central Lower Hutt.

Lorraine Coulston, Vibe’s Service Manager said the rebranding was aimed at making the service more accessible to young people.

“We want to ensure that young people feel comfortable coming here and to do that we need to communicate with them in a language and style that is contemporary”, Lorraine Coulston said

Vibe provides young people aged between 10 and 24 with confidential, free health advice and support services from qualified, professional staff passionate about helping young people.

“The great thing about the people who work at Vibe is their belief in young people as positive contributors to our community rather than, perhaps, simply treating them as “adults of the future,” said Lorraine Coulston.

“We provide our services in an informal setting that is probably more reminiscent of a school common room, complete with stereos and couches, although we do have full clinic facilities.

Approximately 3,000 young people use the service regularly.

“However, we are not just providers of health services - we’ve also got social workers and youth workers on staff - and it is all totally confidential basis.

“We want to put young people at ease and encourage them to take a proactive attitude towards their health and issues.”

Vibe is primarily funded by the Hutt Valley District Health Board, but receives additional funding from other agencies for specific programmes. The service was established in 2003, when it was selected by the Hutt Valley District Health Board (HVDHB) to be its preferred provider of youth health services in the Hutt Valley.

Young people can call 566 0525 to talk to someone or they can just drop in.

4 April 2005

Backgrounder: Vibe (Hutt Valley Youth Health Service)

Vibe was established as the Hutt Valley Youth Health Service in 1996 as a result of needs identified by the young people of the Hutt Valley. In 2003 the Hutt Valley Youth Health Service was selected by the Hutt Valley District Health Board as a “preferred provider’ of health services to youth in the Hutt Valley.

The service employs 12 people and receives funding of $500,000 mainly from HVDHB, although it does apply to various funds from community trusts and other sources.

Significant events

2003 HVYHS wins funding from the Ministry of Health Nursing Innovations Fund. Over 300 organisations applied nationwide, HVYHS one of 11 selected and only youth service. Funding used to employ Gill Alcorn, Youth Health Nurse Specialist. Working towards Nurse Practitioner (should be completed by April 2005) specialising in Youth Health. Although 8 other Nurse Practitioners in NZ, Gill will be the first specialising in youth health

2003 HVYHS opens school based health clinics in four Hutt Valley secondary schools (Naenae College, Taita College, St Bernard’s, Wainuiomata High School). First in NewZealand using this model of service delivery. More school based clinics planned for 2005

2004 Awarded contract from HVDHB to promote oral health services to Hutt Valley young people

Gill Alcorn HVYHS Youth Health Nurse Specialist wins “Innovations in Primary Health Care” award at HVDHB Excellence awards

HVYHS Peer Support Team win “Excellence in Other Community Based Services “ award at HVDHB Excellence awards

2005 Awarded contract from HVDHB to promote Meningococcal B vaccination programme to Hutt Valley young people

April 2005

Vibe: Questions & Answers

Who is on Vibe’s board and how are they appointed?

- Stephanie Cottrill of Upper Hutt, Director, Expressions Arts & Cultural Trust

- Craig Braun of Upper Hutt, Funeral Director

- Malcom Birdling of Wellington, University (LLB (Hons) and BA (Hons) ) student and tutor

- Karl Dickson of Lower Hutt, Youth Worker, Youth for Christ.

- Rachael Umaga of Wainuiomata, Community Worker & Mother

- Maree Tukukino (Cultural Advisor) of Upper Hutt, Tutor

- Iain Feist (Youth Advisor) of Upper Hutt, Legal Researcher

- John Fitzgerald (Advisor) of Upper Hutt, Financial Advisor Upper Hutt City Council

Members of the Trust Board are appointed in accordance with the HVYHS Trust Deed by local government. The Upper Hutt City Council appoints 3 Trustees and the Hutt City Council appoints 4 Trustees.

How many people work for Vibe?

12 people work for Vibe.

Why is the service confidential?

The service is confidential because we want young people to feel they have a place where they can come for free and comprehensive health services. If it wasn’t confidential then many young people simply wouldn’t seek advice and they could put their health at risk.

What is Vibe’s annual budget?

Vibe’s annual budget is $500,000.

How many young people would the organisation see in a year?

Vibe would see approximately 3,300 young people each year at its two main sites with a number of other young people accessing the service through the school based clinics.

Why did the Hutt Valley Youth Health Service change its name to Vibe?

The organisation wanted to communicate with young people in a contemporary way that would make the service more accessible and less “official’. We believe the new brand will encourage more young people to use our services.

What is the average age of people coming to see you?

The average age is between 16-18 years although an increasing number of young people aged over 20 years are accessing our service.

How much has the rebranding cost?

Costs have been kept to a minimum. The total cost of the rebranding has been approximately $15,000. We believe the costs are reasonable and, if it results in more young people coming to us, we think it will it have been worth it.

Because the service was required to move to new premises, a large proportion of the costs would have been incurred anyway, as we needed to change letterhead, business cards and other stationery to reflect the new address.

All costs were approved by our Board.

Do you only provide medical services?

As we don’t look at young people’s health only in terms of physical well being, our services are there to support all aspects of health including mental, spiritual, emotional and social which we do through both our clinics and our support services. Our support team is made up of a Community Youth Worker, two Social Workers and seven young people employed as Peer Support Workers. The Peer Support Workers are the front line of our service, and are who young people see when they come to our sites. They also provide one-on-one support of young people and advocacy.

Are there similar services operating in other cities?

There are a number of other youth health services around New Zealand but each is unique in the services offered.

ENDS