Source: New Zealand Government
Children and families are better protected and supported under the multi-agency model for responding to family violence incidents.
Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour has welcomed a recent independent evaluation into responses to family violence incidents, which has shown the importance of support services working together to respond quickly after a family violence incident.
It also highlighted reduced barriers to safety and staying alongside whānau longer enough to support lasting change as clear benefits to survivors from this approach.
The model has been rolled out by government agencies, communities and iwi-led family violence sites in Auckland City, Rotorua, Tairāwhiti and Hawkes Bay.
Minister Chhour says, “As a nation we have a tragic history of comparatively high levels of family violence. It is a great shame and one we cannot keep trying to address the same ways while expecting new results.
Fortunately, we are blessed with a lot of caring and empathic people in country. People in government and community support services who have dedicated their lives to helping and who are willing to try something new.
A barrier I hear about from the community often is that these services are not connected, which can lead to gaps in the help they are provided and them needing to repeat and relive the most traumatic moments of their lives.
The report shows that under this model people felt safer, feeling believed and supported, growing confidence and emotional regulation over time, and improved day-to-day stability that helps support healing.
Family violence affects children most of all, that is why children are such a key focus of this response. The report has highlighted greater routine and calm at home, better connection to health and therapeutic supports (where available), and stronger caregiver capability as tangible benefits of the multi-agency response model.
The next step is increasing the communities covered and promoting government agencies to be more proactive in their measures to reduce barriers and improve support to families as they navigate these systems.
It is great that so many leaders in these communities and agencies have agreed to work together, but we need to make this a commitment that outlives their times in these roles so families can be safer for decades to come,” says Min Chhour.
The independent review was undertaken by Ihi Research and Wellbeing Economics NZ.
You can find a copy of the Multi-Agency Responses: Outcomes Evaluation report here: Outcomes evaluation of multi-agency responses | The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention
