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Step Three: Child, Youth and Family involvement

Step Three
Child, Youth and Family involvement

If a Child, Youth and Family social worker has found evidence that a child or young person is at risk of abuse or neglect, Child, Youth and Family will take action to prevent any further harm to the child or young person. There are a variety of possible interventions that the social worker can action. The options are decided on a case-by-case basis and may involve any number of the common interventions below.

	Possible Interventions
1.	Family Meeting A family meeting may be called to work out any care and protection issues within the family. The social worker and the family could develop a family/whanau agreement. This agreement sets out goals that will address the issues.

2.	Family Group Conference A family group conference (FGC) is a formal meeting between members of a child's or young person's family and the Child, Youth and Family social worker(s). Other people may attend to participate in the discussion.

3.	Temporary Care Agreement With the agreement of their parents or custodian, the child or young person may be placed in care for up to 28 days. This term can be extended to a maximum of 56 days.

4.	Support Orders The Court may make a support order which enables the child or young person to be supported and monitored over a period of (up to) 12 months to ensure their ongoing safety. The order itself will outline what support will be provided to the child or young person.

5.	Services Order The Court can order for services to be provided for the child or young person, or for their parent or guardian.

6.	Custody/Guardianship Orders The Court can make an order placing the child or young person in the custody of someone other than his or her parents. If there are very serious concerns about the safety of a child or young person, the Court can order for the child to be placed in the custody of, and/or appoint as an additional guardian of the child or young person, any of the following persons: Child, Youth and Family; or, an iwi social service provider; or, a cultural social service provider; or, the Director of a child and family support service; or, any other person who consents.