Whanau Ora : Report of the Taskforce on Whanau-Centred Initiatives

7.3 Commitment Across Government
7.3.1 The <strong>Taskforce</strong> proposes that all existing sectors concerned with aspects
<strong>of</strong> whānau wellbeing should commit to obtaining <strong>the</strong> best possible
outcomes for whānau and this commitment should be reflected in
measurable policies and practices. Many government-funded services,
while primarily targeted at individuals, also have relevance for whānau. Law
enforcement <strong>of</strong>ficers, for example, focus most attention on <strong>of</strong>fenders but are
well aware that whānau participation can have enduring positive effects.
7.3.2 Most educational programmes focus on learners but have huge significance
for whānau wellbeing. Indeed, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Taskforce</strong> recognises that <strong>the</strong> most
powerful force for whānau transformation lies with education across <strong>the</strong>
life-cycle.
7.3.3 But all sectors have <strong>the</strong> potential to contribute to whānau wellbeing. An
important task will be to determine how whānau involvement will add value,
and to recognise those situations where engagement with whānau will be
critical for good outcomes. The <strong>Taskforce</strong> notes <strong>the</strong> intentions <strong>of</strong> many
government departments to respond to whānau in positive ways and
commends sectors for <strong>the</strong>ir commitment to better outcomes for whānau.
7.3.4 There are, however, barriers to successful outcomes. Public sector
capabilities, for example, are limited. Fur<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> interface between
individual case management and a whānau-centred approach is <strong>of</strong>ten
unclear and responsibilities are frequently not well delineated. Where an
individual is at <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> a crisis, attention will understandably focus
at that level. In addition, funding constraints <strong>of</strong>ten lead to limited family
involvement in <strong>the</strong> management <strong>of</strong> a case or referral to ano<strong>the</strong>r agency.
A whānau-centred approach, as outlined in this section <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> report,
would require a more deliberate whānau intervention.
7.3.5 The <strong>Taskforce</strong> considers that clear guidelines are needed within social
policy agencies about <strong>the</strong> management <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> individual-whānau
interface, including <strong>the</strong> methodology for adopting a whānau-centred
approach alongside existing delivery mechanisms.
…[for <strong>the</strong>] <strong>Taskforce</strong> model
to succeed, <strong>the</strong> expectations
on government agencies to
be increasingly responsive
to whānau and <strong>the</strong>ir needs
must be a critical part <strong>of</strong>
overall government action.
This is a fantastic
opportunity for some
innovative and visionary
work to be completed to truly
achieve <strong>the</strong> objectives <strong>of</strong>
Whānau <strong>Ora</strong>.
7.4 Focus on Best Outcomes for Whānau with
Integrated Delivery Systems
7.4.1 We have already stressed <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> outcomes in earlier sections <strong>of</strong>
this report. In practice, however, many services that provide assistance do
not record <strong>the</strong> results for whānau or, if <strong>the</strong>y do, <strong>the</strong>y have little opportunity to
report on <strong>the</strong>m and engage with providers and funders in discussion about
<strong>the</strong>m. Instead <strong>the</strong> focus is on input measures such as personnel time or
output measures such as volume and cost. Whānau will know <strong>the</strong> results
that will contribute to <strong>the</strong>ir desired outcomes. A process starts with outcome
indicators that are relevant to whānau. This will provide <strong>the</strong> context for
identifying <strong>the</strong> relationship between a service input and changes in whānau
circumstances. An important aspect <strong>of</strong> results for whānau is that effective
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