In the lead-up to Christmas when most New Zealanders were winding down and looking forward to a well-earned break, two stories in the media about child suffering stood out.
The first was the release of a Children’s Social Health Monitor study showing there were about 2000 more hospital admissions in 2009 compared to those in 2007 for children with medical conditions that occur more frequently in those living in poverty.
The second was a heart-breaking story of an Auckland girl suffering horrific child abuse.
The unnamed 9-year-old is said to have been regularly beaten at home over nearly two years and even subjected to physical torture. This allegedly occurred under the noses of a host of government agencies, which were meant to be working closely with the girl’s family in order to fix a range of troubles.
Not much more can be said about the specifics of the case while it is before the courts. But it raises many troubling questions.
Some of these – specifically how government agencies missed the abuse – may well be answered by a Child, Youth and Family investigation, which is expected to be on the Social Development Minister’s desk by the end of this month.
A wider probe into how CYF operates has been ruled out by the Minister but Children’s Commissioner John Angus has signalled he may take a deeper, structural look at the sector. This may reveal more answers.
But when all the reports have been compiled and any recommendations enacted, the only things that are likely to change will be operational. The ambulance at the bottom of the cliff might get a new set of wheels.
Labour believes a much wider and deeper change is required; one which fundamentally alters the way government invests social spending by implementing an integrated package of policies that focus on the development needs of Kiwi children in their early years. Such a comprehensive focus on child development is brand new to New Zealand.
Over the past two years, I have led a team of experts, including doctors, academics and frontline workers, to put together a set of connected policies with this aim. These policies are based on the most up to date research available and an understanding of what works.
There’s an old saying: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. This new philosophy would mean tilting social spending towards the first six years of life – when children’s physical, cognitive and emotional development have the greatest implications for later life.
The productive gains for the country are obvious. Research suggests that targeting resources towards this stage of life results in better health throughout life, better education and jobs, improved social skills and less contact with the criminal justice system.
It’s not about government raising kids – that’s the job of families and wh?nau – it is about the government and the community supporting the work of all families by providing tools and services that build on their strengths and the resilience of parents and caregivers.
For example, during years 0-2 recognising that caring for young children in families is a valuable contribution; and that parents need decent work and care choices.
Resourcing will be provided to give parents the time to care, including for grandparents who undertake care.
Another example is enrolling babies at birth with a Well-Child provider to give new parents support and guidance, particularly in the early months, and making parenting programmes available to all New Zealand families.
In the 3-5 years age, providing every child with access to good quality, free early childhood education, and using early childhood education centres and schools as hubs to support early intervention and community engagement.
Changes will also be made to the benefit system, particularly the DPB which no longer does what is needed. It doesn’t provide properly for the needs and development of children affected, particularly in long-term benefit families.
But rather than blaming young parents for their situation, Labour believes they and those with older children need support to transition them back into work by providing training and education early, backed up by quality childcare and intensive case management.
Our policies are a response to our firm belief that New Zealand should be the best place in the world in which to raise children. As a country we often say such things; but is it really true or can we do better?
I believe we can greatly improve the chances of all our children getting the start in life they deserve if we take a longer term view. The shift can’t happen overnight – but it can and must happen for us to truly reach our potential as a country.
Labour’s new social policies, the first of which will be announced during the next two months, will spell out how this goal can be achieved and how it will be paid for, and in the knowledge that a sustained commitment is required across at least two political terms to get the system working properly.
Politics too often has a short-term perspective where not enough dots are joined. This is failing many of our children and it is time it changed.
