Family Start

Giving children/tamariki the best start in life

Being a parent is one of the hardest and most important jobs you’ll ever have. Sometimes personal or family/whānau situations can make it even more challenging.

At these times, getting support can be really important. Family Start is here to help.

What is Family Start?

Family Start is a free and voluntary home visiting service that supports children and family /whānau as early as possible.

Family Start helps parents do a great job caring for children. We can work with you to improve these things for your child:

• growth and health
• learning and relationships
• environment and safety

When can Family Start Help?

Families/whānau can engage with Family Start from pregnancy to when baby is twelve months old. Children up to two years of age can join the programme in some circumstances. A child can stay with Family Start until they start school.

Where is Family Start available?

Family Works South Canterbury provides the Family Start service in South and Mid Canterbury. Contact us to find out more, or to find out about other areas in New Zealand where Family Start is also available.

How Family Start Can Help

We can support and strengthen positive parenting by working with you on:

• your baby’s growing and changing needs
• forming a strong bond with your child
• growing your confidence in caring for your baby/child
• helping your child grow strong and stay healthy
• helping your child have positive relationships
• getting the right health care for your child
• learning more about the parenting journey
• building stronger family circumstances

Early Learning Payment

The Work and Income Early Learning Payment helps pay the costs of Early Childhood Education for children aged 18 months to three years who are from families enrolled in selected Family Start Programmes.

If you’re enrolled in Family Start and your child is aged 18 months to 3 years, you may be able to get the Early Learning Payment for your child to attend an approved early childhood service for up to 20 hours a week. (Families getting Childcare Subsidy or Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment (GCAP) can’t get Early Learning Payment for the same hours.)

If you are enrolled in Family Start, your Family/Whānau Worker will be able to tell you more about this, and contact Work and Income for you.

How does Family Start Work?

A Family Start Whānau worker will:

• visit you at home, starting with once a week, and get to know you, your child, partner and family/whānau
• find out what parts of being a parent are going well and what parts  you would like some help with
• help you to get the right healthcare for your child
• provide you with information to help you understand what your baby/child needs as they grow and develop
• help you make a plan for what you want to achieve together with your family/whānau
• work with you to explore ideas, information and support as you solve problems and work towards your goals
• connect you with other support or services that can help
• support you to keep your baby or child safe

Referrals & Getting Help

Parents & Caregivers
If you as the child’s parent or caregiver are facing challenges that make parenting more difficult, you can be referred to Family Start by your doctor, midwife, Well Child provider, Plunket, Child Youth & Family, early education provider or another agency. Or you can email us, call us on 03 688 5029 or visit us to find out if Family Start is right for you and your family/whānau.

Referral Process
If you are a healthcare professional, early education provider or work in a social service agency, you can complete a Family Start referral here.

Find Out More

• download the Family Start brochure
• if you are a health professional, early education provider or work in a social service agency, contact the Family Start team for a briefing pack.