Media Release
30 April 2004

Our Kids, Our Future, Our Responsibility

This Saturday (1 May) sees the launch of the Everyday Communities programme in Wairarapa, in conjunction with the second anniversary of Violence Free Wairarapa.

The launch will be held at Memorial Square Gardens in Carterton starting at 2pm, and along with the speeches there will be plenty of entertainment for the family.

Everyday Communities focuses on promoting the wellbeing of children, positive parenting and ways in which whanau, friends and the community can give support. The programme works to develop effective strategies in local communities for dealing with child abuse, neglect and family violence.

“Everyday Communities is about encouraging debate, facilitating positive communication and supporting communities to address local issues with local solutions,” says Marlane Welsh-Morris, Team Leader, Public Education, Child, Youth and Family.

“Many people recognise that there are serious issues in the community and there are already good things happening in Wairarapa. With Everyday Communities we aim to recognise and build on the strengths and provide forums for discussing better ways of doing things where necessary.”

The programme brings together government agencies, social services, health and community groups to work together to increase the capacity and capabilities of all those involved in working with children and families. It encourages better understanding of the scope of work of all agencies and promotes best practice.

This is the second year for the Everyday Communities programme in Wairarapa and builds on the foundations established last year.

The first eight weeks will be looking at parental responsibility for the prevention of neglect. There will be interviews on Classic Hits radio with local people working in the field. They will be discussing the size and seriousness of the issue in Wairarapa and talking about where to go for support and advice.

Information will also be featured in the local papers in support of the radio programmes and there will be a number of events to raise awareness of child abuse, neglect and family violence.

ENDS

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