State of Care 2018: Maiea te Tūruapō - Fulfilling the Vision

The State of Care series is based on our independent monitoring of Oranga Tamariki policies, practices and services. It includes feedback from children and young people about their experiences.

The focus for the 2018 State of Care is to support young people with at-risk behaviour to live successfully in their communities. The title for the 2018 State of Care report is "Maiea te Tūruapō - Fulfilling the Vision."

The report falls into three parts.

Part One is the Commissioner's Statement, and contextualises the revised 1989 Oranga Tamariki Act, and in particular Section 7AA. It anchors the Act's potentially revolutionary character within the genius of the 1989 Children, Young Persons and their Families Act that held great promise but never gained the traction originally intended. Specifically, it addresses the potential for community group homes conceived and run in partnership with iwi and Māori organisations.

Part Two provides guidance at a practical level about how care and support within the context of community based group homes can contribute to a future where children in care can thrive. This section is based on interviews with children and young people in care contexts, as well as with adults who have been part of these young people’s lives.

Part Three of the report identifies further signs that the new landscape of care, born of the revised Oranga Tamariki Act (1989), is taking shape. It emphasises a call for genuine partnership withiwi and Māori agencies. It underscores that this partnership must find expression at the local level in the way care is provided, who is providing it, how it is experienced and what difference it makes.

The final recommendations point to some specific actions Oranga Tamariki can take to give expression to the intention of the Act.

Recommendation One:

We recommend that Oranga Tamariki ensures the 21 desired experiences are delivered for all young people living in community group homes, using the findings in Part Two, as good practice guidance.

Recommendation Two:

We recommend that Oranga Tamariki continues to expand the number of community group homes, so that the specialised care needs of young people with alleged offending or high risk behaviour can be met within their local communities.

Recommendation Three:

In accordance with the new Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989, we recommend that Oranga Tamariki engages proactively in strategic partnerships with iwi and Māori organisations, to improve outcomes for tamariki Māori, including those living in community group homes.