Mission for Families

Struggling to raise a family in difficult circumstances can be a 'one foot in front of the other' existence.  Mission for Families seeks to provide the support that families need to live and feel better together.

Outline

This programme aims to achieve two key objectives for families in trouble:

  1. Initial relief provided in the form of food, clothing, bedding and finding somewhere suitable to live.
  2. Through an appropriate mix of mentoring, advocacy and education, a struggling family can be helped out of trouble and risk and into independent and safe living and a better quality of life.
Who are the families we help?
  • They tend to be younger families - young parents (typically less than 30 years of age) and young children from infants to teenagers.
  • They live throughout Wellington, the Hutt Valley and in Porirua.
  • Most are solo parent families.
  • Many are Maori or Pacific Islanders, as well as new immigrants/refugees from around the world.
  • Young solo mothers often have bad experiences with a partner and some will still be experiencing intermittent trouble from the man in her life. A partner who is dropping in and out of the family can represent a very destabilising influence, especially for the children.
  • They are all struggling financially and live in poor circumstances. Their quality of life is not good - in fact, it is unacceptable.
  • They tend not to have any support from their own parents and extended family. They have been cut adrift or have decided to move away from their families because of bad experiences.
  • Poverty, abuse, neglect, poor health, lack of education, lack of parenting and lack of financial skills are typical components of family dysfunction for these clients.
  • They all want to improve their own lives and the lives of their children. This is why they decide to enter The Mission's programme.
Mission for Families provides a free service that includes:
  • In-home modelling of parenting and homemaking skills.
  • Promoting and encouraging positive relationships between parents and children.
  • Advocating and supporting non-violent behaviour between all family members.
  • Information and help in accessing community and government resources.
  • Parent support groups including help with budgeting, sexual health, nutrition and obtaining a driver's licence.
  • A client - Family Support Worker relationship that is supportive and nurturing.

For more information please contact:

Olivia Lange
Manager, Mission for Families

Phone: 04-380 1829
olivia@wgtncitymission.org.nz

Click here to download our Mission for Families brochure