Supported House
It has been a long-held goal identified in the organisation’s Strategic Plan, that Taonga would one day provide “Emergency Housing” for teenage mothers and their babies.
The Trustees view the provision of a Supported House as “crisis” intervention for a specified period of time. The benefits of having such a facility are safety for both the mother and the child, a non-judgmental and nurturing environment with support services in place, an opportunity to gain home-care and life-skills in preparation for independent living, the building of trusting relationships with other teen mothers and their babies, an opportunity to complete their education, the retention of primary care of their babies with the added advantage of influence of positive role models and mentors.
Entry Criteria
- The Supported House is for “Vulnerable teen parents and their children” which includes:
- Teen mothers and their tamariki
- “Teen” is identified as from the age of 13 years to 18 years (up to their 19th birthday)
- “Vulnerable teen parents and their children” can be defined as:
- Teen mothers and their tamariki
- Teen mothers and their tamariki who are homeless
- A pregnant teen in her third trimester who is in an unsafe home environment
- Teen mothers and their tamariki who are in an unsafe home environment
- Pregnant teens in their third trimester who are identified as “at risk” by Oranga Tamariki, other community agencies, self and/or support person
- Teen mothers and their tamariki who have been identified as “at risk” by Oranga Tamariki, other community agencies, self and/or support person
- Referrals for consideration to enter the Supported House can come from:
- Self/Whanau referrals
- The Taonga Teen Parent Intensive Case Workers
- Oranga Tamariki
- Community agencies providing services to Youth and /or Whanau
- Educational establishments
- Health providers
- The Supported House is viewed as “temporary transitional accommodation” which means:
- A period of approximately 3 to 6 months (with an extension under exceptional circumstances as approved by the Taonga Education Centre Trustees)
- Upon entry, the goal is towards independence in a safe and stable environment
- Teen mothers and their tamariki in the Supported House are regarded as “one whanau” with shared rostered responsibilities
- The Housemother and Relief Staff hold “parental responsibility” and are the supervisors, monitors, home-makers, disciplinarians and boundary-setters on a day-by-day basis
- The Housemother and Relief Staff hold “parental responsibility” and are the supervisors, monitors, home-makers, disciplinarians and boundary-setters on a day-by-day basis
This is as per the MSD Contract that the programme is offered under
This arrangement is to remain CONFIDENTIAL between the teen mother and the Taonga Education Centre Charitable Trust or delegated authority