1. Supporting the development of Whānau Child Protection Champions
Enhancing the wellbeing of children, families, whānau and communities

2. Presentation outline Outline Peer Support and benefits
How a Peer Support approach can improve outcomes for children, whānau and communities
Contrast and similarities between Peer Support and Social Work
Introduce the You Matter to Us project
Supporting the development of Whānau Child Protection Champions

4. What is Peer Support?
“Peer Support is a system of giving and receiving help founded on key principles of respect, shared responsibility, and mutual agreement of what is helpful … It is about understanding another’s situation empathetically through the shared experience of emotional and psychological pain… and this relationship presents an excellent framework to explore personal and relational change”.
Mead, Hilton and Curtis (2001)
Shift the focus from the shared experience of emotional and psychological pain to the shared experience of overcoming the experiences and enduring effects of family violence.
Parallel observation to social work – taking a strengths-based approach rather than a deficit focused approach

5. Aviva Specialist Peer Support
Represents the hope and evidence that a fulfilled life free from violence is achievable
Demonstrates that overcoming family violence is something to be proud of and share
Enhance social skills; reduce isolation, stigma, shame
Catalyst for change – attract and influence others within family, whānau and communities
Specialist Peer Support draws on the experience of women and men who have overcome family violence to offer inspiration and support to those on their own journey.
Specialist Peer Support provides the connection of shared experience and understanding when it comes to family violence. A ‘peer’ represents hope and the tangible evidence that a life free from violence is achievable. They are the embodiment of the possibility of a better, safer life and they also demonstrate that overcoming family violence is something to be proud of and to share.  
The value of specialist peer support is well established across a broad range of health and social needs, but it is a new service model for family violence in New Zealand. Research into peer support indicates that when it is coupled with other services, client outcomes are significantly improved. We believe that Specialist Peer Support adds yet another layer to the range of support already offered by Aviva.

6. Forms of Peer Support Formal and informal Natural peer support
Structured peer support: group and 1-2-1
Paid Peer Support
Natural peer support
Structured peer support
Self help groups run by volunteers
Internet online support groups
Peers offering support via the telephone
Service user drop-in centres
Independent peer run organisations
Peer support within mainstream organisations
Paid Peer Support

7. Peer Support and Social Work
Similarities
Differences
Empathy and compassion
Relationship based and collaborative
Strengths-based approach
Commitment to social change and social development
Clarity around roles and boundaries
Professionalism – ethical framework
Trauma informed
Mutual and intentionally shared experience
Talk from the place of peer
Theories and models of practice
Long term
Reframing experience

8. Peer Support and Social Work - Activity
Vulnerability
Community
Professional

9. You Matter to Us – Linwood Wellbeing and Belonging Project
Operating in in two Eastern Suburbs in Christchurch (Linwood and Woolston) since 2014
Focus on first 1000 days of a child’s life
Engaging all ECE centres, connecting kaiawhinas with ECEs, mobile hub, interagency wellbeing team
Focused on enhancing child welfare, brain development and wellbeing in the 3 – 5 year old age group
A new initiative is being developed for introduction to two east Christchurch communities (Linwood and Woolston), called 1000+; this focusses on the 1000 days of a child’s life before they turn five and enter the school system. This initiative is being facilitated by a Ministry of Education community-based employee, Jan Dobson is part of a wider collective impact ecosystem of initiatives, called “You Matter to Us - the Linwood Wellbeing and Belonging Project”, in the eastern suburbs of Christchurch. Since 2014 a range of initiatives have already been implemented under this project, including engaging with all early childhood centres, connecting Kaiawhinas with ECEs, operating a mobile hub to provide information and an opportunity for connection, and developing an interagency wellbeing team. An important part of this process has been co-creation with the community and identifying whānau leads.
The Development Team comprises (amongst others) Aviva Operations Manager Elaine Lucey, Leadership Lab member Chris Jansen (who specializes in Collective Impact projects and studies), University of Canterbury researchers, Plunket, and whānau leads from the local communities, in order to co-construct a framework for ensuring and enhancing child welfare, brain development, and wellbeing in the three - five age group.
Aviva and Child Matters can bring child protection training expertise, family violence reduction and elimination expertise, and support for family and whānau to the initiative. Together they can support family and community members to understand the importance of protecting the young people in their lives, and how to do that more effectively. There is significant evidence that children who are exposed to insecurity, neglect and/or violence, are disadvantaged in the long-term in a broad range of ways. A Unicef report (Behind Closed Doors: The Impact of Domestic Violence in Children) notes that “Children who are exposed to violence in the home are denied their right to a safe and stable home environment… (they) need trusted adults to turn to for help and comfort, and services that will help them to cope with their experiences.” As the saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child.”

10. Whānau Child Protection Champions
Co-designed project with whānau, community and professionals, aimed to develop the understanding, confidence and skills of those closest to children
Aimed to prevent child vulnerability and harm and support safer families, whānau and children
Bringing together those with lived experience and those working in the community to provide a deeper level of practice
Develop safe foundations to work together as community based whānau child protection champions
Aviva and Child Matters are co-designing, developing and piloting a Community Child Protection and Wellbeing Programme. This pilot programme aims to develop the understanding, confidence and skills of those closest to vulnerable children – their whānau, caregivers, and educators – as community-based whānau child protection champions or advocates. By developing whānau child protection champions the programme aims to prevent child vulnerability and harm and support safer families, whānau and children.