Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Commitment to Children’s Action Plan Continues

Commitment to Children’s Action Plan Continues

Paula Bennett

Minister for Social Development

Chair of Ministerial Oversight Group

for the Children’s Action Plan

16 May 2013

The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable children through the Children’s Action Plan, Chair of the Ministerial Oversight Group Paula Bennett says.

“The Children’s Action Plan is bigger than politics and is not only for this generation of New Zealand children, but their children and their grandchildren.”

The Children’s Action Plan comes from the Government White Paper, which includes more than 40 initiatives to better protect children who have been abused or maltreated, and those at the greatest risk of maltreatment. 

Implementing the Children’s Action Plan is a government priority, requiring new ways of working across agencies, including the establishment of Children’s Teams to bring together professionals at a local level.

“I’m so impressed with the way government agencies are working together on the Children’s Action Plan and making real progress,” Mrs Bennett says.

“Children’s teams are already forming in Whangarei and Rotorua, with huge progress on the ground. Communities, iwi and local government are all contributing to the design and implementation of the children’s teams and I thank them for their hard work.

“This is an example of how the Children’s Action Plan is more about having the will to change how agencies work together, and less about simply spending money.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

The Government is driving an extensive programme of reforms to reduce child abuse and neglect in New Zealand.

Budget 2013 funding will support milestones in 2013/14 covering:

Developing a Children’s Workforce Action Plan, as well as a Working with Children Code of Practice and competencies, to implement new screening and vetting processes and training programmes.

Promoting mentoring and establishing a scholarship fund for children.

Child Harm Prevention Orders for individuals who pose a risk to children.

Predictive risk tools that will help find, assess and connect the most vulnerable children to services earlier and more effectively.

Service design for the Child Protect Line, for the public to report concerns.

Cross-agency care strategy to improve the outcomes for children in care, and support for children and young people transitioning out of care.

Two regional children’s directors to provide regional leadership and a national children’s director to provide national leadership, and the Children’s Action Plan directorate to oversee the implementation of the Children’s Action Plan.

Two children’s teams in Rotorua and Whangarei, including intake processes to test the new early response system.

“The Government has set aside $13.7 million in operating funding over four years, and $3 million in capital funding in 2013/14 to deliver on the Children’s Action Plan milestones,” Mrs Bennett says.

Of this, $6.7 million has been contributed from Vote Health over four years towards the cost of implementing the Children’s Action Plan.

“By taking a radically different approach through the Children’s Action Plan, we will make a difference by better protecting children,” Mrs Bennett says.

“This is a chance for New Zealanders to work together – communities, iwi, the Government, professionals and families – for our children.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.