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    An evaluation of the neurosequential model of therapeutics to guide trauma-informed foster care in the New Zealand context : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024-05-12) de Bruin, Marike
    The health and well-being of children in foster care remain a clinical, as well as public health concern, both internationally and in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Children in care often have histories of significant trauma exposure, in particular to abuse, neglect and domestic violence. The link between adverse childhood experiences and poor adult outcomes in physical, mental, emotional, and social health, is well established in the literature and necessitates further research on responding to and treating children exposed to complex trauma in early life. Trauma-informed foster care has emerged in recent years as an intentional therapeutic approach to responding to the complex needs of children in care. The objective of this present study is to contribute to the field of evidence-based family trauma-informed foster care in the New Zealand context. The focus of this dissertation is on evaluating the use of a neurodevelopmental clinical problem-solving tool, the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), developed by Dr Bruce Perry from The Neurosequential Network, to guide a trauma-informed and therapeutic approach to family foster care standards within the context of a New Zealand social service organisation. A mixed-method research design was used to explore the experiences of foster parents and frontline staff involved in using and implementing this model, as well as conduct an initial outcome evaluation of its impact on children’s mental health difficulties and behavioural functioning. The results of the study suggest that the NMT is a useful and relevant tool to guide trauma-informed care in the New Zealand foster care context, and is associated with promising positive outcomes.
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    Relationships matter : caregiver experience of contact/access planning practice and outcomes for permanency : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Nielson-Vold, Kristin
    When children are removed from parental care and placed out of home it is generally expected that birth family contact will occur. This commitment to birth family contact is based on beliefs about its psychological and emotional importance for children and is protected and enshrined in national and international policy. Literature clearly outlines, however, that birth family contact is one of the most complex and contested areas of practice for social workers and is often difficult for caregivers. This research set out to examine how caregivers in New Zealand experienced social worker practice in relation to contact planning. The aims of this research were to: critically explore caregivers’ experience of social work practice in regards to contact planning for children progressing to their permanent care; and identify processes and practices that were helpful for caregivers, pre-permanency, which supported quality outcomes post-permanency. To achieve these aims, a qualitative approach was utilised involving six semi-structured interviews of seven kin and non-kin caregivers. Research questions included: · How did caregivers’ experience social work practice in regards to contact planning? · What processes and practices were helpful for caregivers to support post-permanency outcomes? · What recommendations do caregivers have to improve quality contact outcomes post- permanency? A rather disheartening picture of social work contact practice emerged with caregiver experiences generally ranging from dissatisfying through to distressing. Several key findings were identified by caregivers in this research including, exclusion from decision-making processes, lack of information, limited support, lack of assessment, and limited relational practice by social workers. The findings of this research echo similar research both in New Zealand and internationally in relation to social work contact practices and the experiences of caregivers. Given this consistency of experience for caregivers, additional factors were examined to help provide explanations for the ongoing issues for caregivers, including organisational practice and culture. Recommendations were made which focused on contact experiences, assessment processes, training, policy, and the importance of relationship, to strengthen practice in this challenging area of work and improve caregiver experiences.
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    The foster caregiving relationship with newborns who have feeding difficulties : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Arts endorsed in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Hann, Nari
    The purpose of this study was to expand on foster care and attachment literature by investigating how the relationship is impacted between a foster caregiver and newborn who experiences feeding difficulties. The most common types of feeding difficulties experienced include reflux, allergies, colic, arousal to feed, and sucking problems, with prenatal methamphetamine exposure being the most frequently cited reason for causality. Newborns who have been prenatally exposed to methamphetamine are at higher risk of preterm births. Prematurity has been widely associated with developmental issues in newborns, such as poor sucking reflexes. All newborns discussed in this study were of Māori descent, highlighting a possible association between Māori children in care and feeding difficulties. This association is thought to be strengthened by the social determinants faced by many Māori, and the punitive neo-liberal nature of the welfare system. Phenomenological interpretive analysis was used to understand the experiences of seven foster caregivers who were highly skilled in caring for newborns with feeding difficulties, and how the feeding difficulties could impact the attachment relationship and contribute to placement breakdowns. Additionally, the strategies that foster caregivers used to minimise the impact of the difficulty and optimise attachment interactions were explored. The feeding difficulties of newborns were found to make attachment interactions more difficult to achieve, but due to the fortitude of the caregivers in providing the best opportunities for newborns in their care, attachment interactions were reportedly always accomplished. Although feeding difficulties placed extra demand on the caregiver role, the commitment and motivation of the caregivers, and the intervention strategies they used to reduce the impact, promoted bonding and stabilised placements. Therefore, feeding difficulties were not associated with placement breakdowns. Rather, unanticipated extended placement timeframes, which impacted the caregiver’s ability to provide a consistent and stable environment, were found to be more detrimental to the placement stability. Understanding feeding difficulties and their impact on attachment for babies in foster care is crucial when caring for the nation’s most vulnerable citizens and ensuring that they have the greatest opportunities for healthy development from the start of their lives.
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    Do supported transitions from foster care achieve better outcomes for young people? : an evaluation of young people's perspectives and experiences of Dingwall Trust's Launch Care to Independence service : a research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the Master of Social Work (Applied), Massey University, Albany campus
    (Massey University, 2010) Abbott, Davinia
    Readiness to live independently vs. the age a young person is forced to do so ("Ageing out of care") is a much debated issue within the research on foster care leavers and as a response programmes designed to facilitate a young person's transition from care began emerging internationally during the 1990s under an umbrella of transition from care (TFC) schemes. In New Zealand a TFC initiative was established, by the Statutory Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, in Auckland in 2004 and delivered by the non-government agencies Dingwall Trust and Youth Horizons which developed pilot TFC schemes. This research aims to evaluate the continued need and effectiveness of Dingwall Trust's scheme, Launch Care to Independence (CTI) Service, through the shared opinions and experiences of young people who were placed in foster care and transitioned on to independent living through engagement with this programme. This study explores the challenges faced by youth who have left care within a New Zealand cultural context. Seven young people agreed to take part in this study and participated in a semi-structured interview process with a qualitative research design. An analysis of the interview data found that a young person's journey in foster care did impact their transition to independent living both in positive and negative ways. The assistance provided through the Launch CTI Service was perceived as necessary, relevant and young person focussed. The outcomes achieved through their engagement with the programme were generally good in areas of accommodation, continued education aspirations and living skills; however other areas such as employment and leaving school educational attainment revealed poorer outcomes for the majority of the group. The findings suggested that consistent, innovative and participatory relationships between young people and their Social Worker are most likely to develop a pathway in which positive outcomes can be achieved by the young person. This paper also illustrated the vulnerability of young people during their foster care experiences and the integral role of informal social networks in the provision of long-term support for young people transitioning to independent living.
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    Sink or swim : leaving care in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Social Policy at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2000) Yates, Deborah
    The main purpose of this qualitative study is to highlight the issues for young people who are in out-of-family care at the age of sixteen. It has involved interviews with eight young New Zealanders about their experiences in care, their circumstances when leaving care and, for the seven who had already left care, their ongoing transition to adulthood. In many countries and states overseas the difficulties of young people leaving care have received considerable attention, resulting in legislative change and programme development to ensure ongoing services and support. In contrast, the topic has been overlooked in New Zealand in recent years and most young people leave care on, before or shortly after their seventeenth birthdays, with no follow up services or monitoring. For all but two participants in this study, the point of leaving care coincided with other important steps towards independence, such as independent living circumstances and independent financial management. This placed enormous demands on their coping abilities and limited life skills. Since leaving care only two had been in continuous fulltime work and only three progressed with their studies. Most had moved frequently after leaving care, one was homeless, one was a single mother in supported accommodation and one was awaiting a possible jail sentence. Relationships with family were mostly very poor. Four of the participants had significant psychosocial disorders and very little secondary schooling and their level of risk was acutely heightened on leaving care, two struggling with long-term substance problems and at least three with depression. There were, however, two examples of well managed and empowering discharge processes, one to permanence and one to independence. Most participants readily expressed appreciation of positive aspects of the care experience and were quick to defend the commitment and efforts of caregivers and social workers working under difficult conditions. The findings raise issues about adherence to the care and protection principles of the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1989 and compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Act's guardianship provisions to the age of twenty provide scope for policy and practice development in this area.