26 April 2000

Social Workers in Schools will help build stronger communities

A major expansion of the Social Workers in Schools programme means that from today about 35,000 primary and intermediate schoolchildren will be covered by the scheme, says Minister of Social Services and Employment Steve Maharey.

As the new school term gets underway, an extra 55 social workers will join the 12 already working in schools as part of a pilot programme. The 67 social workers will cover 185 schools located in 29 priority regions across the country. Each social worker will work with a cluster of schools.

Mr Maharey says the Social Workers in Schools programme fits with the Government’s desire to build strong communities in which all children are physically, emotionally and intellectually supported.

It also ties in with the Government’s ‘Closing the Gaps’ strategy which is designed to improve health, education and social outcomes for young Maori and Pacific Islanders.

“Our society demands a great deal from parents but we can’t just expect them to bring up children on their own. Children are the responsibility of the whole community and we need to nurture and look after them outside the home environment as best we can.

“Schools are the ideal place in which to base social workers who can be on hand to help nip family and social problems in the bud before they have a major impact on a child’s growth and development. Their work will be mainly preventative.

“One of the key elements of the initiative is the emphasis on a partnership approach in which the social workers work closely with family/whanau, teachers, health workers and others to resolve problems,” says Steve Maharey.

The social workers are not from Child, Youth and Family and they will not be undertaking statutory social work. They are employed by non-government organisations that are approved under the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act to deliver social services. The providers were selected through a formal tender process.

The Social Workers in Schools programme has been developed by Child, Youth and Family, and the Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Ministeries of Health, Maori Development (Te Puni Kokiri), Pacific Island Affairs, and the Health Funding Authority.

Contact: Chris Eichbaum, Senior Advisor, (04) 471 9881 or (025) 270 9079.

Attached is a list of schools by priority regions where social workers will be placed.

Priority region School name Provider:

Auckland City Otahuhu Intermediate
Otahuhu School
Panama Road School
St Joseph’s School
Fairburn School
Panmure Bridge School
Tamaki School
Tamaki Intermediate School
Glen Taylor School
Hay Park School
May Road School Child and Family Service, Auckland Healthcare
Christchurch City Aranui School
Wainoni School
Bamford School
Phillipstown School
Woolston School
Addington School
Waltham School
Wharenui School
Birch Grove School
Hammersley Park School
Linwood Avenue School Glenelg Children’s Health Camp
Dunedin City Corstorphine School
Caversham School
Brockville School Anglican Methodist Family
Care Centre
Gisborne Gisborne Intermediate Te Kainga Whairoa
Hamilton City Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o te Ara Rima
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whakawatea
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Toku Mapihi Maurea Waahi Whaanui Trust
Fairfield Primary School
Insoll Avenue School
Nawton School James Family
Hastings District Peterhead School
Riverslea School
Flaxmere Primary School
Te Hauke School Parentline Hawkes Bay (Inc)
Horowhenua District Shannon School
Coley Street School
Foxton School Te Runganga O Raukawa Inc
Hutt City Rata Street School
Naenae School Barnardos
Invercargill City Bluff School
Clifton School
Rockdale Park School
Invercargill South School Barnardos
Kaipara District Dargarville Intermediate
Selwyn Park School
Te Kopuru School Maunu Health Camp
Kapiti Coast District St Peter Chanel School
Waitohu School
Otaki School Wesley Wellington Mission

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Manukau City Finlayson Park School
Manukau View Contributing School
Roscommon School
Wiri Central School
Clendon Park School
Manurewa Central School
Bairds Mainfreight Primary School
Wymondley Road School
Jean Batten School
Sir Douglas Bader Intermediate School
Mountain View School
Favona School
Randwick Park School James Family
James Family
James Family
Sisters of Mercy
James Family
James Family
Te Tai Awa O Te Ora
Te Tai Awa O Te Ora
Mangere East Family Centre
Mangere East Family Centre
Tamaki Ki Raro
Tamaki Ki Raro
James Family
Masterton District Hiona Intermediate School
Masterton Intermediate School The Children’s Health Camps Board
Napier District Napier Intermediate
Henry Hill School
Maraenui Bilingual School
Wycliffe Intermediate
Richmond School Te Kupenga Hauroa Ahiriri
Nelson City Victory School Nelson Bays Homebuilders
New Plymouth District Waitara East School
Waitara Central School
Manukorihi Intermediate Tu Tama Wahine o Taranaki
Palmerston Nth City Awapuni School
Takaro School
Highbury School Te Runanga O Raukawa Inc
Papakura District Edmund Hillary School
Kelvin Road School Pacific Foundation
Rotorua District Sunset Primary School
Malfroy School
Selwyn School Mana Social Services/James Family
South Taranaki District Okaiawa School
Ramanui School
Hawera Intermediate Open Home Foundation of NZ Inc
South Waikato District Tainui Full Primary School
Bishop Edward Gaines Catholic School
Tokoroa East School
Tokoroa Central School Tokoroa Council of Social Services
Taupo District Hirangi School
Kuratau School
Tauranga Taupo School
Turangi School James Family – Presbyterian Support Services,
Joint Venture
Timaru District Pareora East School
Timaru Main School Presbyterian Support, South Canterbury
Marchwiel School
Watlington Intermediate
Waikato District Huntly School
Huntly West School
Ngaruawahia School Waahi Whaanui Trust
Waitakere City Glen Eden School
New Lynn School
Henderson South School
Kelston Intermediate School
St Leonards Road School
Ranui School
Glendens School James Family/Te Whanau O Waipereira
Joint Venture
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Wanganui District Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi
Aramoho School
Wanganui Adventist School
Waverley Primary School
Wanganui East School
Aranui School
Castlecliff School
Tawhero School Good Health Wanganui

Open Home Foundation of NZ Inc
Western BOP District Maketu School
Te Puke Intermediate School The James Family
Whakatane District Murupara School
Edgecombe School
Paroa School
Taneatua School
Te Whaiti School
Minginui School
Kaingaroa School
Te Mahoe School
Te Teko School Ngati Awa Social Services
Whangarei District Totara Grove School
Tikipunga Primary School
Whananaki School
Otangarei School
Raumunga Primary School
Raurimu Avenue School
Blomfield Special School and Resource Centre Ngapuhi Iwi Social Services

ENDS

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