Adoption
Involving fathers when considering adoption
Te tamaiti benefits from the involvement of their father and their whānau or family when exploring care options and any adoption plan.
Adoption
Direct adoption applications to the Family Court
People who want to adopt a tamaiti who is known to them can make an adoption application directly to the New Zealand Family Court. When requested by the court, we assess adoptive applicants and provide a social worker’s report.
Interventions
Tamariki and rangatahi with Family Court orders in place
When we're working with tamariki or rangatahi and their whānau or family, we need to be aware of any Family Court orders that are in place and understand what they mean.
Care
Allegations of harm to tamariki and rangatahi by caregivers
The oranga and safety of te tamaiti or rangatahi is our first concern when an allegation of harm is made against a caregiver. We are respectful, fair, transparent and sensitive to caregivers’ needs during the child and family assessment or investigation.
Care
Completing police vetting
We police vet people, such as caregiver or adoptive parent applicants, mentors or volunteers, to help us assess their suitability.
Adoption
Facilitating the adoption of a tamaiti from overseas
We help adoptive applicants explore what’s involved in parenting a tamaiti from overseas. We provide information and can facilitate adoption of an unknown non-relative tamaiti from another country if NZ has an intercountry adoption programme with them.
Practice approach
Wellbeing
Any person can report a concern to Oranga Tamariki if they believe a tamaiti or rangatahi has been, or is likely to be, harmed, ill-treated, abused, neglected or deprived, or if they have concerns about the wellbeing of a tamaiti or rangatahi.
Practice tools
SACS, Kessler and Suicide screens (SKS)
The SKS screens help us assess whether te tamaiti is dealing with substance abuse issues, suffering from psychological distress, or at risk of death by suicide.
Care
How to access respite care, advice, assistance and a support person
Caregivers need a good support network, advice and respite in order to provide safe, stable and loving homes. Planning for regular breaks, attending a support group or talking with someone who understands can provide invaluable benefits for a caregiver.
Assessment and planning
Child sexual exploitation
We may become aware through a report of concern or while we are working with a whānau or family that someone is accessing, exchanging or producing recordings of the sexual abuse of tamariki or rangatahi (sometimes called child pornography).