Social Development Minister to USA summit
Hon Paula Bennett
Minister
for Social Development
Associate
Minister of Housing
10 February
2013
Media Statement
Social Development Minister to
USA summit
Social Development Minister
Paula Bennett leaves for Washington DC today where she is
the keynote speaker at a home visiting conference next
week.
“It’s a real privilege to be asked to
talk about the New Zealand experience with home visiting
programmes like Family Start,” says Mrs
Bennett.
Family Start is New Zealand’s most
intensive and expensive home visiting programme designed to
help at-risk children and families.
“It’s
vital we get this service right for our most vulnerable
children.”
“I’ve been determined to ensure
the focus of this service is on the protection of children
including detecting, preventing and responding to child
abuse.”
The Third National Summit on Quality
Home Visiting Programmes provides an opportunity for
delegates to share research, best practice and policy.
“We have some informative experience to share
about Family Start and other programmes in New
Zealand.”
High caliber presenters at the
conference include Joan Lombardi, a leading national and
international expert on child development and social
policy.
As well as attending and speaking at the
conference Minister Bennett will engage with a range of
social service providers in Philadelphia and Washington DC.
“As always there are lessons to be learned from
other experts and frontline workers about how they deal with
difficult social issues and I intend to make the best use of
my short time in the US,” says Mrs Bennett.
ENDS