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.

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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

DVD provides voice for teens

Young people's relationships with parents are the subject of a new DVD jointly developed by SKIP and the Ministry of Youth Development.

Teen Voices is a five minute resource intended as a conversation starter for discussions about parenting. It aims to help parents better understand what's important for teenagers.

"It's great to hear young people's views about relationships with parents," said Sarah Scott, Family and Community Services' early intervention specialist.  

Teen Voices was developed out of interviews with teenagers from Wellington College, Wellington High and Papanui Youth Centre in Christchurch. "The young people really spoke from the heart," said Sarah.

"This is all genuine and authentic stuff."

The DVD has just been released and is already being used in presentations to parents and in parenting groups. It has also found an audience with secondary school students as part of their courses on family and relationships.

In addition, Teen Voices will feature at the launch of the Youth Week conference in May.

Sarah says feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Audiences have described the teenagers' reflections as "natural, believable and honest".

You can order your copy of the DVD by emailing skipinfo@msd.govt.nz.