Families, children and young people's social services sector
Social service organisations vary from small local groups addressing a small number of quite specific issues or needs, to large, national organisations providing a diverse range of services throughout the country. Regional and national networks link organisations and professionals at all levels.
Types of organisations in the sector include government agencies, tangata whenua, community and voluntary organisations, iwi, and for-profit professional and clinical services. Iwi social services are set up to work exclusively with Māori populations, or work from a kaupapa Māori base.
Services can focus on primary prevention, targeted prevention or remedial work. Ways of working can range from the provision of information through to the most intense daily, around-the-clock residential casework. Services may be available to all or by invite only, by a needs-based assessment. A small number of services, such as those working under laws which regulate family life, are coercive.
FACS role
As a provider and funder of services, our particular focus, while not exclusive, is on services which:
- are general and support-focused rather than intensive and clinical
- are preventative rather than remedial or restorative
- are available to all rather than being tightly targeted
- include those which build capacity and capability in communities.
