Case studies
*all names have been changed
Jack:
Jack is just another 17-year-old: slightly self-conscious, but articulate with a self-deprecating sense of humour. Only three years ago, his social worker described him as a “statistic waiting to happen. Read more about Jack...
Tom:
Tom is a boy who experienced such trauma by the age of five that he was exhibiting selective mutism and a severe attachment disorder. He has now been permanently placed and is attending school nearly full-time. While he still has a long way to go, he has made amazing progress so far, largely due to an experienced and committed interagency team. Read more about Tom...
Tira:
Tira had a traumatic start to her life. Her father left when she was an infant, her mother had mental health issues and was in a violent relationship - violence that was witnessed by Tira. There was no clear diagnosis, and shortfalls in both the intensiveness of therapy and interventions to support Tira at home and at school meant that Tira wasn't receiving the level of support she needed. Now nine years old, Tira remains in a long-term, stable and supportive home with caregivers who are affectionate and devoted to her. The fact that case workers intervened early in Tira's life, and recognised the complexity involved, means that Tira got the help she needed at the time she needed it. Read more about Tira...
Lesli:
Lesli (born in 1989) is a young woman who was able to transition successfully to independence with HCN funding and support. After a number of educational and psychological assessments, and special education interventions, an Interagency Plan with HCN funding was developed for Lesli, focusing on community-based Dialectical behavioural therapy. Lesli said that counselling "helped me understand my past better...accept how things are...I felt like I was part of the plan and no decision was made without me. Read more about Lesli...
Matiu:
Matiu, born in 1998, is a young man who was referred to specialist services when he was two years old, as it was apparent early on that he had behavioural and developmental difficulties. Matiu’s mother used alcohol, drugs and cigarettes heavily through her pregnancy with him, and she left him at the age of two, after her second child was born. Matiu’s grandmother, Hine, became his main caregiver but found the role to be a challenging responsibility, even with respite care from other whanau members and friends. Read more about Matiu...
Chris:
Chris, born in 1992, grew up in a family of neglect and abuse, and no one in his family was willing to care for him. When he was 10 years old, Chris was placed into foster care, but multiple placements in the past five years have ended due to Chris' challenging behavior.
Today, Chris live with caregivers who have looked after him in stable, family environment for the past 18 months. He is receiving therapy and attending school.
"The HCN process certainly provides opportunities for young people that could never be achieved without the joint input of professionals involved in a young person's life," said Chris' therapist. "There is no doubt in my mind that Chris would not be embarking on a course (as he will soon be) or be as emotionally stable as he is if there had not been and interagency team involved in his life.
Krystal:
Krystal, born in 1989, has been in the care of Child, Youth and Family since the age of six, and was placed in a care and protection residence for 15 months at the age of 16, given that all local caregiver options had been exhausted due to her aggressive behaviour.
Today, Krystal lives independently and has a job. She has made the huge transition from being institutionalised, with no place to call home, to living in her own place with a surrounding support network in a community environment.