Strengthening Families

Strengthening Families helps you get the best support for your family/whānau to thrive.

Strengthening Families can be accessed by families with a child, children or young person(s) who needs help from more than one support service or government agency.

All the people and agencies that could help your family are brought together to discuss your family’s needs with you and to agree with you about what everyone is going to do.

Strengthening Families is voluntary and families give their consent to be involved.

How it works

The service pulls together support for families/whānau. To help your family for example there may be a budget advisor, truancy officer, social worker, medical specialist, counsellor, teacher or other support worker.

You work out together what support your family/whānau needs and what each service is going to do. It is set up so families/whānau tell their story once to everyone at the same time, then everyone agrees on a plan to move you forward.

Strengthening Families is a free service.

Who is it for?

It is for families of all shapes and sizes, when:

  • more than one community or government service is or could support you and your
  • your family/whānau has a child, children or young person(s) in your care
  • support services and government agencies working together will help your family/whānau family/whānau achieve its dreams and goals, and this is in the best interests of your child or whole family/whānau.

Is it for your family/whānau?

Strengthening Families might be right if you are facing challenges like:

  • finding a warm, comfortable home for your family/whānau
  • getting help with your child, children or young person(s) health or behaviour
  • money troubles
  • your child, children or young persons(s) not doing well at something
  • coping with stress at home
  • family relationships
  • family violence
  • addiction

The service is here to help your family/whānau before any problems get too big.

It is limited to the Invercargill town boundary, although exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Sign up for this programme here

"It was great having everyone involved with our family in the room."

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