SSPA welcomes announcement on deprived children

Social Service Providers Aotearoa (SSPA) Chairperson, Maggy Tai Rakena is heartened by Minister English’s announcement yesterday that this Government will ‘focus on issues influencing children in material deprivation and hardship’.

She agrees with Minister English that the issues are often complex and multi layered and therefore the solutions must work with that reality.

SSPA is an umbrella organization for more than 200 NGO Social Service Providers who provide a broad spectrum of social services throughout New Zealand. Many of the children, youth and families they work with struggle with a multitude of issues including poverty, behaviour issues, poor incentives, mental health challenges, addictions, sexual and family violence.

SSPA is delighted that Treasury will consult with those at the ‘coalface’ amongst others to develop solutions that will sustain change over time. There are already some useful reports to consider and some new creative solutions will be required.

Ms. Tai Rakena however strongly encourages the Government to recognize that many existing ‘tried and true’ interventions are achieving great results but are constantly limited by their unsustainable resourcing. Many services juggle long waiting lists for service and have to curtail the support provided due to funding constraints.

Identifying the nature and magnitude of the problems vulnerable families and children face is essential as well as funding the true level of demand.

ENDS

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