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Trauma-Responsive New Zealand

Tagged With "Protection of our children in NZ"

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Ben Birks Ang

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Social and Emotional Supports for Educators During and After the Pandemic

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Americanprogress.org released an article 'Social and Emotional Supports for Teachers During and After the Pandemic' giving a ton of great information on the stress that educators deal with regularly. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning defines SEL as the process where youth and adults learn skills to manage emotions, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible decisions. "Research by Pennsylvania State University found that teachers who...
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5 ways of helping ease the stress from 2020 in children

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Hechingerreport.org released an article giving five ways of helping ease the stress from 2020 in children. Be responsive - By engaging in conversation with children, it helps to stimulate their brain. This is especially important for the first 3 years of a child's life. Share information - "Being transparent with kids, at an appropriate level for their age, can help lessen anxiety kids may feel" Help children share their feelings - Children tend to show their feelings which can lead to...
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Maternal Voice reduces pain in premature babies

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Notice and read this article: Maternal Voice Reduces Pain in Premature Babies Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Pain August 27, 2021 This is especially for all employees of Oranga Tamariki (Child protection services in NZ), NZ Family Court judges, and NZ Lawyers for Children Get informed with scientific evidence Work harder at getting trauma-responsive Babies need to be kept with their mothers at birth, from birth and onwards If you want the best for our children...
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The danger of Flashbacks

Adriana van Altvorst ·
The danger of flashbacks is that once you are back there, You can get stuck and Never find a way out. That is why we need strategies To find our way out again When you are with a person especially children who are facing flashbacks Please show us kindness and compassion And if you have absolutely no idea about what I am saying Please educate yourself If there is anything that is going to help us ALL to get unstuck Is empathy and that means EVERYONE knows about trauma and what it is like...
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Whakarongo mai whānau!

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Listen to me! Bad things happen to good people in NZ Many families in New Zealand have been ruthlessly torn apart and desecrated by Oranga Tamariki, harming the very children they were tasked to protect. There are many horrific stories that are hidden away from the general public because parents and children are so traumatized that they cannot speak up. They cannot share what they have experienced because it is so painful for them to do so. Some parents do speak up. They are neither seen nor...
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CYFS continue to children from their parents as a first resort with limited evidence

Adriana van Altvorst ·
I have changed the name to CYFS as they desecrate Maori and ALL that is Maori. They do not deserve to carry a Maori name. This post is especially for all Child, Youth, and Family Services (child protection services in NZ) social workers and Family Court judges Whanau and the child are one Removal of children from their whanau is the last resort Removal from their birth mother is the last resort Kelvin Davis told us that CYFS would only remove children from their parents as a last resort...
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I have PTSD - That does not mean I can't be a good parent

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Through my work as an advocate, I have met many people who, like me, have PTSD. I have PTSD because people made the choice to hurt me so bad that I now live with that every day. I live with trauma. The thing is I survived. I made the decision to pick myself up, to stand again, reset and keep moving forward. I now face many, many people including professionals who believe, erroneously, that I am my trauma. This is especially true in NZ because, in my country that I love so much, far too many...
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We're Going on a Bear Hunt I'm not scared with Michael Rosen

Adriana van Altvorst ·
We're Going on a Bear Hunt is an old favorite of mine. When I was a teacher I would sing this song and do the actions in our school assemblies. The children loved it. Now that I am older with all my lived experience of trauma. I can identify the strong message the story gifts to us We are all going on a bear hunt When we face adversity We can't go over it We can't go under it We can't go around it We got to go through it Then when we find the bear in the deep dark cave We can run home to our...
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Underlying issues with solutions for NZ child protection services

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Our child protection services in NZ have the knowledge they struggle with the implementation I identify the problems I have found supporting parents who have had their children removed by child protection services in NZ (CYFS) These are the solutions: Build trusting relationships - change social worker when required Create full, accurate, objective records Complete thorough ecological assessments Identify the strengths of parents and use them to address the needs Support parents in the...
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Lake Alice ~ What New Zealand did to their own

Adriana van Altvorst ·
(Blog image of Paul Zentveld - Lake Alice abuse survivor) Read this NZ Stuff article by Aaron Smale I ask that you reflect on your definition of mental health Your definition of mental health will determine how you respond to people with mental health The term "mental health" does not need to change Our perceptions, our definition, our response to the term "mental health" needs to change. Once I said that we need to take away the term "mental health" and replace it with another term. I...
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The Lake ~ Uncovering the Truth Lake Alice New Zealand

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Many thanks to Stuff and Popsock Media , investigative journalist AARON SMALE for all the hard work you have done in order to get THE LAKE series released. Lake Alice was a psychiatric hospital between Whanganui and Palmerston North in New Zealand. Lake Alice is effectively isolated as it can be found in the middle of farmland. Nowhere to run. Noone to see. Noone to hear. Lake Alice was a place for both adults and children with "psychiatric problems" including children with bad behaviour. It...
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The Road to Recovery from Miss Kendra

Adriana van Altvorst ·
This arrived in my inbox this morning. Many thanks to Miss Kendra This applies to us here in NZ The Road to Recovery is Not Linear Schools are in the process of recovery from the pandemic. Recoveries are rarely linear, and this one, in particular, will challenge everyone. When we think of goals and objectives they are often achieved in a linear fashion: you start from point A and go to point B. You prepare the class, you teach, the students learn, and objectives are met. You start with the...
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Re: The Humpty Dumpty of New Zealand needs help

anne kurtz ·
Yah, we’ve ALL been Aware. So what? Words and venting are different from Action. What ya gonna do with your Words?
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The Humpty Dumpty of New Zealand needs help

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Whakarongo mai whānau! CYFS is the Humpty Dumpty of New Zealand I am oppositional defiant When I hear the words "Can't" and "Impossible" I say We can do When you believe you make the seemingly impossible Possible Social workers working for CYFS create many of the problems that families, parents and children face in New Zealand. All professionals know this: In order to understand why we have CYFS social workers that are not following best practices, we need to know about the supports that...
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Re: The Humpty Dumpty of New Zealand needs help

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Kia ora @anne kurtz My words are my action. To empower people with knowledge If you want to change, and we all want change. We need to get informed. We need to call it out Use the knowledge to take action. Use the complaints process to take action Use the Social Workers Registration Board to make complaints about individual social workers Send emails to the relevant agencies to raise your concerns and to provide solutions Send emails to the Minister of Children ~ Kelvin Davis Share this...
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NZ Family Violence Prevention Strategy

Adriana van Altvorst ·
ACC is investing $44.9 million over four years to establish a fit-for-purpose sexual violence primary prevention system, Minister for ACC Carmel Sepuloni announced 3 October 2021. “Almost a quarter of adults in New Zealand have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, and around one in six people are affected by sexual violence before the age of 18,” Carmel Sepuloni said. “These high rates cannot continue. We need to put in place systems that protect our whānau and our future...
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New Ministry for Disabled People to be established in New Zealand

Adriana van Altvorst ·
This is great news for people with a disability in New Zealand. Many thanks to all those who worked so hard to make this happen and to Carmel Sepuloni our Minister for Disability Affairs and to Andrew Little our Minister for Health On Friday 29 October 2021 the NZ Government made an announcement on transformative changes for disabled people A joint message from Minister for Disability Issues Carmel Sepuloni and Minister of Health Andrew Little Tēnā koutou katoa, It was a pleasure for both of...
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More support for learners with highest needs in New Zealand October 2021

Adriana van Altvorst ·
This announcement was made by Associate Education Minister, Jan Tinetti on 22 October 2021 Students most in need of extra help in the classroom are the focus of a new review that gets under way today, Associate Education Minister Jan Tinetti says. About 50,000-80,000 children and young people are expected to benefit from a Ministry of Education review into Highest Need Learners that will help to ensure all young people are receiving the education they deserve. “All our tamariki should be...
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NZ Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission's first report - on access and choice

Adriana van Altvorst ·
On Friday 29 October 2021 the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission’s released their first report: 'Access and Choice Programme: Report on the first two years - Te Hōtaka mō Ngā Whai Wāhitanga me Ngā Kōwhiringa: He purongo mo ngā rua tau tuatahi'. This is the first report released by the Commission since their establishment in February this year. The independent report on the Access and Choice Programme has found that the programme has put much-needed investment into primary and community...
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Find the WHY to know WHAT to do

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Once you find the WHY Then you can find the WHAT WHY the behaviour WHAT I NEED TO DO In order to address a problem In order to address a behaviour You need to find out WHY it is happening That requires a thorough ecological assessment The collection of evidence from a number of sources Analysing the evidence To see if it matches If the evidence does not match You have to go and find more evidence TRUTH is when you get the same message From all sources When you have the TRUTH Then you can...
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Support our mothers to be the best that they can be

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Mothers need our support and guidance to become the best mother that they can be for their children Social workers and principals/teachers in New Zealand MUST use best practices in order to keep those they work with, both children and their parents safe Currently, there are far too many social workers and principals/teachers that do not use best practices causing significant harm to our parents and their children. Sadly, many professionals using bad practices are women, many are mothers.
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Māori symposium (online)

Susan Smith ·
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! 3 August 2022 9am-4.30pm (NZ time) Join us for a one day Live-Streamed event to explore practice with Māori (the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand) to contribute to your Continuing Professional Development. This symposium is an initiative to support social workers but will have great relevance for all professionals committed to culturally responsive practice and meeting Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. Tickets ($NZ90) and more information available from:...
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The SYSTEM will not include us

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Tēnā Koutou katoa Greetings to many I have not posted for a long time. I have been busy spending time with our survivors of abuse in State Care and rebuilding my relationship with Oranga Tamariki In short, working to heal the harm. Over the past 3 days, I attended the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in State Care hearings to listen to the Institutional responses of State agencies to abuse in care I made daily posts to my LinkedIn network I am going to share those posts here with you to...
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NZ Education system ~ We have no systemic racism

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Iona Holsted, Chief Executive and Secretary for Education said in her response on behalf of the Ministry of Education that she does not acknowledge that our NZ education system has systemic racism . This was later endorsed by Nicholas Pole, Chief Executive and Chief Reviewer of the Education Review Office, in his response on behalf of the Education Review Office. I may have gotten it wrong. I don't think so, as I was there at the hearing. Sadly, our media did not pick up on this, and it was...
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Abuse in Care: Survivors experiences 'abhorrent' – Oranga Tamariki

Adriana van Altvorst ·
An article from Katie Doyle Abuse survivors faced “unacceptable and abhorrent” experiences in state care, the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki says. Te Hapimana Te Kani (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Tūhoe, Ngāti Maniapoto, Rongowhakaata), also known as Chappie Te Kani, took the stand today as part of the Royal Commission’s Abuse in Care inquiry – Institutional Response Hearing . The scope of the hearings include the years between 1950 and 1999. Te Kani was the first of several...
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Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in State Care

Adriana van Altvorst ·
I am attending the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in State Care hearing at Newmarket. I am listening to the Institutional Responses ~ Responses from the representatives of our State agencies. I will be sharing my thoughts on LinkedIn and also information from the media I believe that this is an important space as it shows the importance of using a trauma-informed approach to heal the harm and to move forward WITH the survivors. Our State agencies need to share their power with us by...
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Re: Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in State Care

Adriana van Altvorst ·
KIa ora Anne, Hearings are open to the public The State Institutional Response public hearing will take place from 15-26 August 2022 at Level 2, 414 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Tāmaki Makaurau. It will be open to the public and live streamed on the Royal Commission’s website. The responses of State agencies to the abuse and neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults will be examined by the Royal Commission of Inquiry in an upcoming public hearing that will run from 15 to 26...
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Growth through trauma

Adriana van Altvorst ·
There is growth through trauma. Hard as it is, there IS growth through trauma. Very often, we do not see it at the time. It is not until we reflect on what happened and find possible reasons why we faced a flashback or responded so badly to a trigger. I have been forcing myself to attend the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care hearings because I wanted to discover WHY professionals working in our State institutions would cause harm to children and youth. I wanted to discover WHY they...
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Re: Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in State Care

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Hi Anne, My contact details 027 ADRIANA 027 2374262 Child Education Advocate Neuro-authentic ( What's this ?) Pronouns: she/her ( What's this ?) Email 1: adriana@childadvocacy.nz Email 2: adrianavanaltvorst@gmail.com Paces Connection: Trauma-responsive NZ YouTube: Child Advocacy NZ Facebook: Child Advocacy NZ Mobile: (+64 27 2374262)
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Rudi Go

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Ironically, tomorrow Maori "celebrate" Waitangi Day and yet....

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Ironically, tomorrow Maori "celebrate" Waitangi Day and yet...our people and our children continue to be over-represented in statistics that show that they face barriers to accessing quality education. Waitangi Day "celebrates" the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi on 6 February 1840. An agreement signed between representatives of the British Crown and more than 500 Māori chiefs. British Crown versus Māori Tomorrow is 6 February 2023 183 years Despite Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and all the plethora...
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Ironically, Maori are expected to "celebrate" Waitangi Day and yet....#2

Adriana van Altvorst ·
The following is the journey of yet another mother trying to get her son access to quality education for her son here in New Zealand Yes, Maori again Her journey is totally unacceptable and we continue to WAIT for professionals to resolve the issues This is how Maori are treated here in New Zealand We are expected to be grateful for what we get and to "celebrate" Waitangi Day on 6 February 2023 183 years later and this is the best our NZ education system can offer our people? As Maori, we...
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Re: Ironically, Maori are expected to "celebrate" Waitangi Day and yet....#2

Adriana van Altvorst ·
@anne kurtz it is important for me to raise awareness of how our children and parents are treated by our education system here in NZ. If I did not share my concerns and if I did not complain then we would not get change and these parents plight would go unseen and unheard Complaints drive transformational change I will continue to raise my concerns I do it to honour the people I work with I ensure that their struggles are not done in vain - that their hardship WILL make change. They will be...
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Re: Ironically, Maori are expected to "celebrate" Waitangi Day and yet....#2

anne kurtz ·
Ms Altvorst, This is like preaching to the choir. The PACES choir. It’s the NZ way. All best, Anne
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Ironically, we "celebrate" Waitangi Day and yet.... Abuse in State Care

Adriana van Altvorst ·
This post is to honour all survivors from State Care of NZ including Māori and Non-Māori My post is lengthy to acknowledge their long hard arduous journey to seek justice and they too continue to WAIT Te Tiriti o Waitangi protects both Māori and Non-Māori citizens of New Zealand. Initially, I worked with both Māori and non-Māori whanau who struggled to access quality education for their children. I now work with whanau who are significantly harmed by the actions of representatives...
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Ironically, today we "celebrate" Waitangi Day and yet....The case of a father that loved his children

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is to protect both Māori and non-Māori. This post is to honour a father who lost almost everything in his pursuit to protect his children from harm and to ensure they accessed quality education because he loved them This post is to honour all fathers who are denied their right to be a father simply because they are men. New Zealand is a nation that is like a pendulum. We move between polar opposites. We can't seem to find balance. In days gone by, women were once...
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Ironically, today we "celebrate" Waitangi Day and yet....The case of a father that loved his children

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is to protect both Māori and non-Māori. This post is to honour a father who lost almost everything in his pursuit to protect his children from harm and to ensure they accessed quality education because he loved them This post is to honour all fathers who are denied their right to be a father simply because they are men. New Zealand is a nation that is like a pendulum. We move between polar opposites. We can't seem to find balance. In days gone by, women were once...
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How do I contribute to the state of our education system in New Zealand?

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Life learnings for today Many of those I support Those facing schools that target their children Clarification of target: Effectively actions the school uses to discriminate against children in a way that the children know that they are different and that difference is not acceptable to them, the school Whanau (family) often face these types of responses Group 1: Shut up and put up - stop complaining and it will go away Group 2: You or your kid must have done something wrong ~ You deserve it...
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Wahoo traction ~ NZ is reaching out to get Trauma Informed

Adriana van Altvorst ·
I attended Global Resiliency Accelerator group on Tuesday 7 March 2023 at 6 am NZTime hosted by Warren Larkin and Becky Haas. I was smiling this morning ~ Great News I heard New Zealanders are reaching out to attend Trauma-informed programmes and Warren Larkin has visited New Zealand to work with others here in NZ Warren Larkin shared this report with us this morning He Oranga Ngakau ~ Maori Approaches to Trauma-Informed Care He Oranga Ngākau is a research project funded by the Health...
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Through death comes learning and growth

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Warning: it may be triggering Below is a link to an article from the NZ Herald today It triggered me Because I have lived it Many others have too We remained silent Thanks to the NZ Herald journalist, Carolyn Meng-Yee And his wife lives on with her memories I hope that Pua's wife gets all the support she needs I thank her for having the courage and strength to share her journey with us So that we can take time to reflect and learn I am sending her all my aroha and awhi to surround her to...
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Transparency trumps Legal Privilege - Judge Mallon Pike River Mine NZ

Adriana van Altvorst ·
Transparency trumps Legal Privilege - Judge Mallon Pike River Mine I believe this decision is monumental for those seeking accountability from the State TV One News had an exclusive on this story For those living in NZ: Watch TV One news at six Sunday 26 March 2023 on TVNZ on demand The ruling will be discussed on the Breakfast Show on TV One on 27 March 2023 from 7.06 am Transparency is in the best interests of Justice to ensure the integrity of the administration of Justice is seen to be...
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