Engage Aotearoa

Category Archives: Families/whanau

New community action stories on the It’s not OK website

January 23, 2013 3:09 pm ⋅

North Shore Family Violence Prevention Network & Safer Whanau Project have a great new page on their website that tells stories of community action projects from around the country.

You can read about what other networks and groups have done to change attitudes and behaviours towards family violence – everything from whole town campaigns, to working in sports clubs, universities and businesses, through to ideas for small projects/first steps.

An attempt has been made to write about what people did, the changes, challenges and learnings.

Have a look here: http://www.areyouok.org.nz/community_stories.php

 

Posted in: Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Men, Online Resources, Parents and Parenting, People with Disabilities, Women, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , ,

Glenn Inquiry into Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Seeks Community Input

January 23, 2013 2:40 pm ⋅

In July last year Owen Glenn announced that he would fund an independent inquiry to establish why domestic violence and child abuse remains such a major problem in New Zealand and to identify what needs to be done to address this issue.

If you have personal experience of child abuse or domestic violence or work with those who do the Glenn Inquiry team would like to hear from you!

Visit their newly launched website for more information at www.glenninquiry.org.nz

Follow the link below to check out the first newsletter from the Glenn Inquiry https://glenninquiry.org.nz/uploads/files/TheGlennInquiry_Newsletter.pdf

 

 

Posted in: Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, News, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, People with Disabilities, Service-User Movement, Social Change, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Hikoi Seeks National Big reTHiNK about Mental-Health Services

December 16, 2012 1:18 pm ⋅

Media Release: 11/Dec/2012.


Annie Chapman, a former support worker for a mental-health trust in Porirua, is on a mission to reduce reliance on “medical mental healthcare” which she says can result in dependence and disempowerment, in a bid to promote healthier mental healthcare.

This summer, Chapman will spend five months walking the length of the North Island to advocate “change and choice in mental-health care“.

Annie Chapman’s One Woman Walking: Hikoi for a Big reTHiNK of Mental Healthcare Choices begins in Cape Reinga on December 12th and finishes five months later in Wellington. From December to May Annie will be stopping at towns along the Te Araroa Trail for community meetings to screen short stigma-busting films, discuss what a truly empowering mental-health system would look like and support the Petition for Better Mental-Healthcare Choices, which Annie will present at The Beehive in Wellington in May. Donations to cover costs are gratefully received. Any additional funds raised will be donated to Hearing Voices Network Aotearoa NZ, which provides information and support for people who experience voice hearing.

“I have witnessed life long dependence, drug withdrawal problems and the limited effectiveness of some psychiatric medications,” Ms Chapman says. “Research suggests positive and empowering alternatives exist for better long term outcomes,” she continues.

Chapman advocates a reduced systemic reliance on medications as the first-line treatment for mental-health problems. Ms Chapman wants to see funded access to psycho-social interventions and treatment options for people with mental-health problems to reduce long-term dependence on pharmaceutical interventions and compulsory models of treatment. “We need personal advocacy and psychotherapeutic help promoted and more tailored advice about diet and exercise provided,” says Chapman, “Walking can be one of the most effective anti-depressants there is,” she adds.

Miriam Larsen-Barr, from the Like Minds team at Mind and Body Consultants who coordinate the ongoing Like Minds Big reTHiNK Festival, comments, “We are proud to include One Woman Walking as part of the official Big reTHiNK calendar of events. The message that people with mental-health problems need whole-person approaches to empower their recovery is an important one.”

“It is time our society did some serious analysis. Let’s use our legendary Kiwi kindness and ingenuity to create mental-health services that offer hope of real recovery,” comments Chapman.

Find out when One Woman Walking is visiting a town near you

www.rethink.org.nz/?page_id=1692

> KAITAIA KICK OFF MEETING
>>>Wednesday 20th December
>>>11am to 1pm
>>>at Te Ahu Community Centre

www.facebook.com/events/317503728358665/

For more information contact: Annie Chapman | 0221739954 | anniechapman@actrix.co.nz

One Woman Walking Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hikoi-for-healthy-choices-in-Mental-Health/150792058391076?ref=ts

One Woman Walking Blog:
http://hikoiforhealthychoices.wordpress.com/

Follow this link to find out more about The Hearing Voices Network Aotearoa NZ  www.hearingvoices.org.nz 

Posted in: Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, News, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, People with Disabilities, Social Change, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , ,

Facebook Campaign for Positive Change in Families

December 16, 2012 12:16 pm ⋅

Eliminate Cling-ons (Disqualifiers)

Whanau Marama’s Facebook Campaign

Eunmi from Whanau Marama writes, “I was pretty bad at saying cling-on’s to others including my child. When my child showed me her drawing or homework or writing, I used to say “Well done or good, but it doesn’t look like your best.” Or “I can see you have tried hard, but I don’t think it is very good.” Some times I’ve even added “I think you should find something you are better at.”

I did not realize what I said was hurting my child’s feelings. She was only trying to show me what she had done. How I responded prevented my child from connecting with me. I thought I was giving her good advice. I just wanted her to do better. I was wrong. It had the effect on my child that she did not want to show me what she had done any more.

Sometimes we inadvertently punish good behaviour like I did. This can lead to our child feeling discounted and often quite angry. In our parenting course, we call this a “cling-on”. So let’s eliminate cling-ons out of our vocabulary. Let us become more aware of the times we are saying cling-on’s and then try not to say them again. We can make our children smile. We can make a positive change in our family.”

Please share the group with your friends on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/351148201563452/

Posted in: Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Men, Online Resources, Parents and Parenting, Personal Development Tools, Social Change, Women ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Law Change to Acknowledge Economic Abuse

December 10, 2012 8:45 pm ⋅

‘Economic abuse’ to be put on par with domestic violence

Women’s Refuge says a law change to put economic abuse – such as excessive control over the purse strings – on a par with violent abuse will help to counter the view that only physical abuse amounts to domestic violence.

“Economic abuse” will be included in the definition of domestic violence in major reforms to the Family Court which went before Parliament last week.

Examples of economic abuse include restricting access to money, extorting or spending someone else’s money, or preventing someone from working.

Link to The NZ Herald: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10851760

Posted in: Families/Whanau ⋅ Tagged: , , , , ,

Watch The Big reTHiNK Online

December 6, 2012 8:21 pm ⋅

The Big reTHiNK is now online for your viewing pleasure on the reTHiNK Youtube channel.

Visit www.rethink.org.nz for more information about the Like Minds Big reTHiNK and how you can still get involved.

Don’t forget to share your favourite clips around and help spread the message.

Posted in: Entertainment and Creativity, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Men, Older People and Aging, Online Resources, Parents and Parenting, People with Disabilities, Service-User Movement, Social Change, Women ⋅ Tagged: , ,

Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill Released

December 6, 2012 8:10 pm ⋅

The Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill is currently being read in parliament.

Find out what it’s really about.

Click here to open a pdf copy of The Family Court Bill.

Posted in: Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Politics and Policy, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: ,

Family Violence Resource from the Office of Ethnic Affairs

December 6, 2012 8:03 pm ⋅

Family violence speaks many languages, has many colours, and lives in everyone’s community.

The Office of Ethnic Affairs understands that family violence is a difficult thing to talk about.
It can arouse fear of alienation and stigmatisation. A critical step in its reduction is to ensure that family violence can be discussed without fear and that offenders and victims can seek help.

The Office of Ethnic Affairs has developed a guide called Speak up Seek help Safe home to help women from diverse cultures and their families live without violence at home.

Link to the office of Ethnic Affairs website: http://ethnicaffairs.govt.nz/story/family-violence-and-ethnic-communities%20

Posted in: Families/Whanau, Online Resources, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , ,

Recent Updates from APA

December 2, 2012 3:22 pm ⋅

Recorded convention sessions available for use in high school classrooms

APA’s Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) programme has made seven videos available for teachers of psychology to view and/or use in class.

These sessions were recorded at the 2012 APA Convention in Orlando, Fla. Each video is approximately 45 minutes. Topics Include…

      1. “Brain Organization for Language: It’s All in the Network(s),” Christine Chiarello, PhD;
      2. “Why Students Love Evolutionary Psychology… and How to Teach It,” David Buss, PhD;
      3. “A Letter to Teachers: William James, H. B. Alexander, and Me,” Kenneth D. Keith, PhD;
      4. “Connecting the Dots: How Race in America’s Classrooms Affects Achievement,” Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD;
      5. “Meta-studying: Teaching Metacognitive Strategies to Enhance Student Success,” Elizabeth Yost Hammer, PhD;
      6. “The Seven Sins of Memory: An Update,” Daniel L. Schacter, PhD;
      7. “Microaggressions in the Classroom: Manifestation, Dynamics and Impact,” Derald Wing Sue, PhD

Guidance for integrating spiritual interventions in psychotherapy with children and their families

“Spiritual Interventions in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy,” edited by Donald F. Walker, PhD, and William L. Hathaway, PhD

Many children are raised in families where religion and spirituality are key factors in their development, and clinical experience shows that addressing this spirituality can assist the therapeutic process. In psychotherapy, spiritual interventions must be blended effectively with secular evidence-based techniques. Furthermore, when such interventions are applied with children, there are unique ethical, developmental, and family considerations.

Scholars address unresolved issues with authoritative parenting

“Authoritative Parenting: Synthesizing Nurturance and Discipline for Optimal Child Development,” edited by Robert E. Larzelere, PhD; Amanda Sheffield Morris, PhD; and Amanda W. Harrist, PhD

Psychologist Diana Baumrind’s revolutionary prototype of parenting, called authoritative parenting, combines the best of various parenting styles. In contrast to previously advocated styles involving high responsiveness and low demandingness (i.e., permissive parenting) or low responsiveness and high demandingness (i.e., authoritarian parenting), authoritative parenting involves high levels of both responsiveness and demandingness. The result is an appropriate mix of warm nurturance and firm discipline.

Posted in: Families/Whanau, Online Resources ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Family Court Bill Introduced

December 2, 2012 2:37 pm ⋅

Key features of the Family Court Bill are:

  • A new Family Dispute Resolution service to help parents and families settle their problems without going to court
  • Increased penalties for breaching protection orders
  • Extending the definition of domestic violence to include economic abuse
  • Expanding the Parenting Through Separation course
  • Improved programmes to stop domestic violence
  • Better information to help people navigate the court system.

Find out more about the Family Court Bill here!

Posted in: Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Men, News, Parents and Parenting, Social Change, Women ⋅ Tagged: , , ,