Community Connect

ISSUE 6 • MARCH 2009

E-news from Family and Community Services

Welcome to the sixth edition of Family and Community Services' e-newsletter. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to tell us your stories, please email us on enews@facs.govt.nz.

» Download Community Connect Issue 6 - PDF - 120kb

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Issue Six - March 2009:

Te Anau Heartlands has immigration success

PAFT makes a difference

MSD computers put to good use in Cook Islands

Results Based Accountability reaps rewards in Hawkes Bay

Fund supports innovative positive parenting

Franklin Family Support opening a new office

Community Link Approach Builds on Heartland Services

Community Action Fund Round Four now open

Planning for success

Twenty parent volunteers offer to become teen parent mentors

Tough guys promote love and respect

Whānau Christmas event celebrates family

DVD provides voice for teens

Not-for- profit annual pay survey helps set pay expectations

What's happening in the community

Franklin Family Support opening a new office

Franklin Family Support Services will open a Waiuku Office in March. The organisation has been operating in Pukekohe for 27 years and employs 12 staff and has 60 volunteers.

The agency is situated in a rural area on the fringes of Greater Auckland and offers crucial services within the community, including a subsidised medical transport service provided by volunteers. 

The organisation's focus is on moving clients onto independence and resilience.

"We have developed our own client management database system so we can track numbers, issues, and types of clients," said Chief Executive Officer, Jill Dean.

 "By using this system we could see that 30% of our clients came from Waiuku, so it was obvious establishing a satellite office in that community would be a good idea."

Franklin Family Support Services is also looking to align with the health sector and health practitioners in Franklin.  Instead of doctors sending clients that don't pay their bills to a debt collecting agency, Jill Dean says that it would be more useful to refer them to their budgeting service, Family Finance. 

"This would ensure clients continue to see the doctors as part of their treatment, and families get the necessary budgeting advice they need," said Jill.

In addition to budgeting advice, the organisation also provides the following services with the assistance of Family and Community Services:

• Strengthening Families Co-ordinator
• Heartlands
• Information and advice.

» For more information on FFSS, go to www.familysupport.org.nz.