About Family Start
Overview of the Family Start programme which provides an intensive, home-based support service for families with high needs to ensure that their children have the best possible start in life.
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The Family Start programme was established in 1998 as part of a wider strategy to strengthen families. It provides intensive, home-based support services for families with high needs, to ensure that their children have the best possible start in life.
The aims of Family Start are to:
- improve health, education and social outcomes for children
- improve parents' parenting capability and practice
- Improve children and parents' personal and family circumstances.
Family Start is funded and managed by Family and Community Services. The programme is delivered by contracted service providers. It complements the work undertaken by agencies throughout New Zealand such as Plunket and Well Child Tamariki Ora.
Target group
The Family Start programme is aimed at the 15 percent of the population most at risk of poor life outcomes. In each location the aim is to ensure that at least the five percent at highest risk participate in the programme.
Designated community agencies refer families to Family Start. Families can be accepted onto the programme from 6 months before the birth of a child up to one year after.
Participation in the programme is voluntary.
The role of family/whānau workers
At the heart of Family Start is a home visit by a family/whānau worker who helps the family identify priorities and supports them to achieve their goals. This person works with the family to identify priorities and to support them to achieve their goals. A family may be involved with many different agencies. The family/whānau worker acts as an advocate and coordinator between all agencies to ensure that the family's priorities are met.
Families are often introduced to Family Start by their lead maternity carers. Participation by families is voluntary. Family Start is delivered by non-government organisations in local communities. This includes Early Start, an intensive, research-based, long term home visiting service based in Christchurch that commenced prior to the development of the Family Start programme.
Where are Family Start services available?
Family Start is currently operating in:
| Auckland City | Masterton |
| Christchurch | Napier City |
| Dunedin | Nelson |
| Far North District (focusing on Kaikohe) | Opotiki District (Opotiki Township) |
| Gisborne | Papakura District (Papakura Central) |
| Grey/Buller | Porirua East |
| Hamilton | Putaruru (South Waikato) |
| Hastings North | Rotorua |
| Hauraki | Taumarunui |
| Horowhenua | Taupo District (Taupo, Mangakino and Turangi) |
| Invercargill | Waikato District (Huntly and Ngaruawahia) |
| Kaitaia | Wairoa |
| Kawerau | Whanganui |
| Lower Hutt City | West Auckland |
| Mangere | Whakatane |
| Manukau City | Whangarei |
