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Trauma-Responsive New Zealand

Oranga Tamariki - Ministry FOR Children are trauma-informed but NOT in the way they work

 

In New Zealand, we have Oranga Tamariki - Ministry FOR Children. 

This is what Oranga Tamariki state on their webpage:

Oranga Tamariki was established on April 1, 2017. We are a Ministry dedicated to supporting any child in New Zealand whose wellbeing is at significant risk of harm now, or in the future. We also work with young people who may have offended, or are likely to offend.

Our belief is that in the right environment, with the right people surrounding and nurturing them, any child can, and should flourish. 

Our name

Our full name is Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children.

'Oranga' is the wellbeing we want to help the children we work with to have.

'Tamariki' reminds us that children are descended from greatness. They are born with an inherent mana that can be damaged by abuse and neglect.

We support children, family and whānau to restore their mana, their sense of self, their important connections and relationships, their right to heal and recover, and reach their potential.

They claim they are trauma-informed https://practice.orangatamarik...a-informed-practice/

DESPITE WHAT THEY SAY:

A report from the Office of the Children's Commissioner was released today

 https://www.occ.org.nz/publica...te-kuku-o-te-manawa/

An excerpt from the NZ Herald article today 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/...mp;objectid=12337645

the report was based on interviews with mothers and families of 13 Māori pēpi, all of whom were either removed or at risk of removal by Oranga Tamariki or its predecessor Child, Youth and Family (CYF). Of this group, five eventually had their children removed.

Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft said the stories highlighted "deep systemic issues" in the state care and protection system.

"Each of them was determined that no other mother should go through what they did," he said.

"They all said that they knew why Child, Youth and Family and/or Oranga Tamariki had originally become involved. They were very honest about this.

"Equally, they were clear as to what good social work looks like and why it is sometimes needed.

"But all were firm that they seldom experienced this through either Child, Youth and Family or its successor, Oranga Tamariki."

Even when babies were not uplifted, families spoke of poor social work practices, racism, absence of support and inhumane treatment of mothers and babies, Becroft said.

Their stories revealed "a profound loss of faith and trust in the state care and protection system over many years".

This follows Oranga Tamariki's attempt to uplift a newborn baby with the support of the police from a young mother from a hospital 

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/inv...own-taken-generation

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/201...amning-uplift-report

When we know, 

When we have the power to change

And we chose to say and do nothing

The inevitable will happen

Adriana van Altvorst

REFLECTION:

To be truly trauma-informed 

What we believe, what we say

Will be reflected

In what we do

Trauma-responsive is our ultimate goal

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