Investing to protect our most vulnerable children
The Government’s commitment to protecting children from abuse and neglect has been further strengthened with $33.2
million in operating funding in 2014/15.
“On average there are around 22,000 cases of abuse and neglect of New Zealand children each year,” Social Development
Minister Paula Bennett says.
“More than 50 children have died in the past five years because of extreme abuse, and one child aged under two years is
hospitalised every five days.
“During my Green Paper consultation, nearly 10,000 New Zealanders demanded action. Today’s Budget commitments will make
a real and practical difference for our most vulnerable children.
“We now have a comprehensive Children’s Action Plan to address child abuse and make significant improvements at both
government and community levels,” Mrs Bennett says.
Budget 2014 commits $16.4 million in 2014/15 to continue developing new ways of working together, implementing new
services and ensuring greater monitoring of at-risk children and young people.
“Good progress is being made in implementing the Children’s Action Plan, with two children’s teams up and running in
Rotorua and Whangarei. The new funding will see a further eight children’s teams rolled out over the next financial
year.”
New funding of $3.2 million has been allocated for the implementation of the Vulnerable Children’s Bill in 2014/15. The
Bill makes the heads of five government departments accountable for protecting and improving the lives of vulnerable
children.
“The Ministries of Health, Education, Social Development, Justice and the Police will have new, legislated
responsibilities.
“Do not underestimate the power of this,” Mrs Bennett says. “It will have a direct impact on every frontline worker in
every one of those departments. Policies, practices and results will improve.
“As we build a new child protection system, the Government is also investing heavily in improving services and support
for children in care, with new funding of $13.7 million in 2014/15 for Child, Youth and Family.
“There’s been a huge increase in demand on Child, Youth and Family resources, and new funding will address that, as well
as provide more one-to-one therapeutic placements for young people with high needs, and greater support for caregivers.
“Taking an investment approach in welfare is paying real dividends in identifying where best to invest to make the most
difference in peoples’ lives.
“We are putting millions of dollars into child protection and services for vulnerable children because we know serious
abuse imposes enormous costs, both personal and financial.
“One per cent of children known to Child, Youth and Family – around 5,000 children – go on to cost New Zealand $550,000
each by their early 30s in corrections and welfare services.
“CYF’s extra funding will allow it to trial a new approach to understand what services work best for which children, to
identify measureable outcomes, and to support modelling of the future costs of investing earlier to prevent the social
and financial fallout of failing children in care.
“Today’s Budget investment in vulnerable children recognises the importance of doing more and doing it better for New
Zealand’s most at-risk children,” Mrs Bennett says.
Ends