Masterton has resilient families, social services

Masterton has resilient families and resourceful social services

Families use social services in Masterton to maintain their strength and resilience and are mostly happy with the service they’ve received, a new Families Commission study has found.

Released in Masterton today (Thursday 2 September 2010) by the Minister for Social Development Paula Bennett, in association with the Commission, the report Social Services in Masterton: the views of families and whānau gives a snapshot of social service providers in the Masterton area.

The report, commissioned by the Minister, looks at which services families do, and do not, rely on when they need help, whether there are gaps or duplications in service provision, and whether there are barriers to families accessing the services they need.

“Overall,” says Chief Families Commissioner Carl Davidson, “our research found no evidence of any substantial overlap in services, that families get what they need most of the time, and that there are few gaps.”

The research captured the voices and experience of more than 400 families and a wide range of social service providers.

“What they told us,” Mr Davidson says, “is that most people don’t approach social services from a point of dysfunction, but rather as one of many tools they use to maintain the strength and wellbeing of their families and whānau. This was especially noticeable with kaupapa Māori services, which were actively sought after by Māori and non-Māori families alike because of their whole-family approach.”

Mr Davidson says the study also shows that families and their local service providers often know exactly what is needed and how to deliver it but that bureaucracy sometimes gets in the way. This suggests that funding social services through local high trust contracts will facilitate inter-agency cooperation and deliver better results for families.

“Overall,” Mr Davidson says, “the evidence from Masterton tells us that families there want social services that are culturally appropriate, family focused, community led, and where they can get to know and trust a small number of staff with their story.

“The Masterton study, alongside other Families Commission research, suggests that, where and when this happens, family services are very effective.”

ENDS