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May 11, 2017 at 5:31 PM

*From the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse*

Social Investment Minister Amy Adams has announced that Budget 2017 will include a $321 million "Social Investment Package."

The package will fund 14 initiatives. Ms Adams said

"A key part of the package is about supporting children most at risk of long-term disadvantage, with $68.8 million confirmed today as being targeted at children with behavioural issues, communication problems or a challenging family environment."

In a pre-Budget speech, Prime Minister Bill English provided further detail saying:

"The new funding will allow for the nationwide roll-out of Family Start – a programme that provides intensive, weekly in-home support targeting young children in homes where there may be mental health issues, addiction problems, family violence or other child development risks. This programme has proven to work well in certain communities, but we want it to be available to all New Zealand families who need it.

The new money also allows us to support a further 1000 children with behavioural issues to improve their self-control. This is a key factor in their ability to learn, function socially and lead better lives as adolescents and adults.

And finally we will invest in targeted and specialist support for three and four year olds with oral language needs, to help prevent these children from turning up to school unable to communicate properly."

The Budget will be delivered on Thursday 25 May 2017.

The Government recently announced the establishment of a new standalone "Social Investment Agency" and Social Investment Board.

Related research

The following research on Family Start is available in the NZFVC library:

The impact of the Family Start home visiting programme on outcomes for mothers and children: a quasi-experimental study (Vaithianathan and others, 2016)

Outcome / impact evaluation of Family Start: Final report (Ministry of Social Development, 2005)

Family Start process evaluation final report: A summary and integration of components of the process evaluation phase (Faisandier and others, 2003)

Background information

For information on the Government's use of "social investment" and related research and resources, see these previous NZFVC news stories:

Government announces establishment of new standalone "Social Investment Agency"

Government announces independent review of client level data IT system

Privacy Commissioner's report criticises MSD collection of individual client level data

Temporary reprieve for sexual violence services on individual client level data

Research project investigates people’s views of data linkage

Consultations on more proposed government agency information sharing

Government continues work on integrated data and "social investment"

Concerns and public meeting on NGOs and provision of individual client level data

ComVoices paper highlights issues with govt requiring individual client level data

MSD to require individual client level data from community agencies

"Investment Approach" to Justice outlined - family violence

MSD releases Community Investment Strategy Update 2016

Treasury releases report, infographics and online tool on youth at risk

Government expands use of integrated data, analyses risk for children and youth

Social security legislation rewrite and family violence

MSD trials Predictive Risk Modelling

'Predictive risk modelling' for child maltreatment

Selected Media

Barnardos welcomes investment in vulnerable children, Press Release: Barnardos, 04.05.2017

Budget boost for 'million-dollar problem' children, Newshub, 03.05.2017

$68.8m over four years to support vulnerable children, Māori Television, 03.05.2017

English flags $321m social investment package for needy Kiwis, NZ Herald, 03.05.2017

Bill English promises extra $321 million for social investment, One News, 03.05.2017

PM promises $300 million injection in social investment spending, Te Karere TVNZ, 02.05.2017

Jan Logie: Community is more than just dollars, Green Party, 27.04.2017

When Good Intentions Are Not Enough: Smart Investment in Families Needs to Look To a Thriving Future for All, Jess Berentson-Shaw, Morgan Foundation, 04.05.2017