The Family Start programme is now operating in Te Anau and Manapouri – and it’s already having a positive impact for families in the area. 

New Ministry of Social Development (MSD) funding to add 16 families to the Family Start programme in Southland has been put to good use, with Family Works Southland opting to work with up to eight families in the Te Anau and Manapouri area for the first time.

Family Works and community professionals identified a need in the area and part-time Family/ Whānau Worker Nadine Allan, who lives in Te Anau, started work on October 1.

Family Works Manager Dawn Lloyd said professionals in the community were appreciative of the move.

“They are very thankful that there is now somebody in the area available to provide ongoing parenting and family support,” she said.

The new funding also enabled Family Works to expand slightly out of the Invercargill area by up to half an hour from the Invercargill boundary, to work with up to eight further families.

There are now 222 families on the Family Start programme at any one time.

Family Start is a home visiting programme focussing on assisting parents with the health, welfare and education needs of their child/ren, as well as assisting with issues they may face in their day to day life.

The referral criteria is broad – ranging from wanting some parenting assistance to having difficulties with health, finances, addictions, isolation or anything in between – and families can self-refer. The parent/s must either be pregnant or have a child under a year. In exceptional circumstances Family Start will accept a family that has a child under the age of two.

To find out more please phone 0800 707 808.

CLICK HERE to find out more about Family Start