Charter of rights for children in care
Hon Ruth Dyson
30 October 2007
Charter of rights for children in care
A new Child, Youth and Family charter
explaining the rights of children and
young people in
care will provide with them a level of comfort on what
to
expect when they are in care, said Ruth Dyson,
Minister for Child, Youth
and Family Services
today.
“Foster families are like any other families with
children,” Ruth Dyson
said. “But we must remember
that children in our care are among the most
vulnerable
people in New Zealand.
“The charter is designed to help
them understand what they can expect from
life with their
new families, and help make them feel safe and
valued.
“It will also ensure they know who they can
contact if they have concerns
or need someone to talk
to.
“The charter is available in two designs - an
interactive version for
children (over the age of five)
that they can colour in and personalise and
a
‘teenage’ version for young people. It was developed in
consultation with
a group of young people, who chose the
designs and helped with the wording.
“The charter for
children and young people in care aligns Child, Youth
and
Family with other NZ Government funded social
services, and the
UnitedNations Convention on the Rights
of the Child,” said Ms
Dyson.
ends