More support needed for children caught up in family violence

A report confirming the long term impact family violence has on children is a warning to the Government that it must work with more children affected by it, not less, Labour’s Children’s spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says.

“The Independent Family Violence Death Review Committee report finds that children who witness intimate partner violence deal with effects that are ‘more disturbing than the effects of direct physical maltreatment’.

“While Child Youth and Family might know who these children are because of police referrals it doesn’t mean they are getting the attention and support they need.

“In fact correspondence I have received from foster carers confirms the absence of appropriate support and counselling for these children is a source of extreme anxiety both for the children and families involved.

“And these are children that we are supposedly helping - there are a great many more who won’t even meet CYF’s high threshold for intervention.

“Another concern is that Paula Bennett’s language around CYF caseloads suggests she would like to see social workers having to follow up fewer notifications to deal with high CYF caseloads.

“This report clearly shows that having CYF work with only those children who have been abused or neglected risks missing vital follow up for children psychologically damaged by witnessing family violence.

“Ms Bennett must realise that means more needs to be done, not less.”

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