Ahakoa iti, he pounamu - Although it is small, it is of greenstone

Putting children first is a core value of Family Focus. Children deserve to be happy and healthy. We offer a single point of contact for services for children and families/whanau. The service provides support, guidance and referral to specialist targeted services for parents and caregivers who are worried about a child or a young person.

How we can help you

• We can assess a child to gain an insight into what might be going on for her or him
• We can provide options and information to the parent/caregivers
• We can make a referral to an appropriate organisation such as the infant, child and adolescent Mental Health Service (iCAMHS) or The Children’s Team.

Family violence hurts children no matter what age they are:

• Preschool-aged children have increased anxiety around strangers and experience signs of terror such as hiding away, yelling and nightmares.
• School-aged children often show a loss of interest in social activities, low self-esteem and confidence, poor school performance and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Teenage children are more likely to increase risk-taking and antisocial behaviour such as substance abuse.

When children who witness family violence become adults they may abuse their partners, family and others, suffer from depression and have substance abuse problems and have low self-esteem.