Downtown Community Ministry

Bulletin

9 August 2006

Parents Under Pressure

A young couple finding things tough could really benefit with some time out from parenting their little baby so Downtown Community Ministry's Community Social Worker Di Landy has tried to find some support.

But, there isn't a lot of it out there.

As Project Margin clients at DCM they do their best to bring up their child but suffer from little or no whanau support. Mum is training and attends regular counselling. They have also removed themselves from past friends they consider no longer offering a helpful influence.

"Without a supply of trusted people to care for baby, this couple is left to fend for themselves and it has started to strain their relationship," says Di.

They are wary that contact to Child Youth and Family maybe seen as a green light to take action. They don't want to lose their baby.

Di says, "Being primarily a crisis intervention agency, Child Youth and Family are not able to provide for parents who are under pressure but not in crisis. All they can do is refer to other organisations."

Agencies offering support to parents under pressure are Birthright, Open Home Foundation, Barnardos and Church groups such as Salvation Army.

However, Birthright supports single parent families and then there is the problem of funding which often comes through Child Youth and Family.

Di is aware that there are friendly homes in Wellington that can offer stable respite care for a night or two and she intends to discuss these with the couple.

"An odd weekend of respite care would reground them in their relationship and provide time for them to have contact with other adults without worrying about baby," says Di.

ENDS

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