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November 2009Greetings, Kia Ora koutou katoa we hope this finds you all well. We can and do make a difference in a child’s life. We ALL walk this path and share this journey together. Please note well: There is a time date requirement for the Break Away camps (Te Puna Whaiora Children's Health Camps) November 25th 2009 you need to act quickly. This is why this newsletter is early! To order application form ph toll free 0800 543 922. You do need to tell them how many children you are applying for to attend. Your referring Agency is Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust (GRG Trust) and we do NOT need to sign this application. Or check out www.healthcamps.org.nz and look under kidzaCool programs for application forms. Your Voices: We would like to say a big thank you for your newsletters over the years, what a great help they have been. Keeping us up to date with issues of bringing up a new generation, ideas on how to cope and realization that we are not on our own, we are not the only ones doing this. However sadly our now 14 year old has chosen to go and live with his father in Australia as he could just not comply at school. No trouble at home but at school oh dear! We had great support networks in place even from CYF, we have mostly had great support but he chose not to comply. We believe that one day he will find his place in this world and will be a great man. Thank you once again
The Diversity of Families today: We have new neighbours who have an 8 year old boy; we also have had our 8 year old grandson staying over the holidays. He arrived and immediately went next door. The next minute 3 boys arrived in our home; the new neighbour’s child had a friend over, another 8 year old. One of the grandchildren we do raise was also at home. We all did introductions and I casually asked what they had been doing over the holidays. Next door neighbour’s friend said, “I went to Australia with my 2 mums, they are Lesbians” (did not expect that) I said, “Wow we all live in different families” Our visiting grandson said, “yes I don’t live with my Dad just my Mum. The new neighbour’s child said, “and I have sisters who do not live with us but with their Mother’ (2nd marriage) and my father is also a grandfather. Our girl said, “And I don’t live with my parents but with my Nan” Nan D The unexpected happened: As I am an early childhood teacher I often see children victims of neglect from their families and the grandparents having to look after them, and I never imagined in my whole life would I be at the receiving end of being one of those grandparents. This has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, especially when I provided well for my children as they grew up. Once again thank you very much and what a wonderful organization you have managed to put together. My husband and myself would very much be interested in perhaps meeting with you and some of the people in the organization as we believe this is a great support systems for grandparents raising grandchildren. Gran M My Shaken grandson is now 8 years old: I am still home schooling Ryan and we have a lot of fun! He can work out 1, 2 and 3, loves to "help" bake biscuits and prepare meals, listen to a story and do big wooden puzzles. He goes to Goalstar soccer on a Sunday morning in Sunnynook Park and Music Therapy on a Tuesday afternoon at Raukatauri in Grey Lynn where he has a lesson with his mate Daniel. He still has an enormous love of music and is often singing along to the radio, he knows most of the TV ads and loves listening to Paul Henry in the morning....he even flicks thru the channels to find him!! His latest thing is "moonwalking".........(walking backwards, while laughing like a loon!!) His favourite toys are his remote control preschool cars, his big stuffed dog, Minnie.....after Oumas (other Nan’s) dog, and his (dollies) "Barbie belles" (Ari-elle is his newest cousin !) He loves having a picnic either outside on the deck, inside in front of the heater or in the car (especially at the end of the runway at North Shore Airport on a rainy day!!) He is still destructive (accidentally) at times, gone thru 2 cell phones this year, a CD player and a TV (which got pushed onto the floor) and he still wakes every night and comes to visit Nana and Pa in bed...he now brings his pillow in case we are not willing to share ours ?? Wish he had brought his waterproof sheet the other night when we were up at 2am changing our sodden bed!! (did you know the Woolrest Biomag is NOT dry cleanable, we had to put it in the bath and tread on it, a bit like treading grapes.........only took 3 days in the front hall with the HRV to dry !!) He is still not toilet trained...a huge goal, as changing an 8 year olds nappy is disgusting to say the least.... Christmas is coming and he already has been caught singing Christmas carols, something he loves especially jingle bells!! Amazing how he can remember them from last year........he likes doing the shops with Nana looking at the Christmas trees and lights. Shopping is taking longer every week as he is a social soul......I still push him in his chair (as I cannot keep up with him) and pull the shopping trolley. It is a very social time as Ryan says hello to everyone, and then we get stopped to chat......the old ladies love him. However some shopping expeditions are cut very short, because if he hears a loud noise he says f*#@ing hell, over and over ...the f word being a favourite and is spoken so well!! Ryan’s speech is still difficult to understand, although because I am with him constantly I do understand most of the time, and he is very good at making you get the gist of it!! He is developmentally with his speech about the 2 year old stage, with everything else it varies........his understanding is huge, but he does not understand time.....so if I say we are going out this afternoon he gets my handbag and keys and will wait at the lift!! If I say I am going to make a cup of tea, he races me to the kettle!! If I get the vacuum cleaner out, he wants to help!! So that’s Ryan.....adorable, destructive, clever, musical, stinky and helpful....need I go on???? Nana J Calling Welcome Bay Tauranga Grand’s Raewyn is a single grandmother raising 2, a pre schooler and primary school grandchildren. She would like to make friends with others in similar situations for friendship and company. Please phone her on 021 2398922. From the GRG Office: Do you need some Family Court advice? You can chat to Alison Cuthbert (our GRG field Officer) on free phone 0800 345671 do not use this 0800 number if calling from Auckland use 445 9671 instead.
Today’s Top Teen Tip: GRG Conference Feed-back:
The GRG Conference was beyond our wildest dreams; the caliber of the speakers was nothing less than superb. The speakers made us laugh, they made us cry, and they taught us so much. The atmosphere was warm, loving and friendly, we as Grandparents raising grandchildren felt valued and appreciated. The dinner speaker Judge Peter Boshier entered into the spirit of humour and fun. You could certainly tell that the grandparents very rarely socialize as they had a ball dancing and playing up to the singer. Wahoo! I can also tell you Elvis is alive and was in the building, he sang to us, kissed our hands because we are such special grandparents. I would like to take the time to thank Katie Bundle (GRG Trust member) she has spent so much time on drawing in the right speakers and putting the programme together. Not one of the speakers charged us for speaking and we thank you most sincerely and are in awe of the work you all do. Di Grandchild care kills marriages of one in seven4:00AM Thursday Oct 29, 2009
Taking in a grandchild has split up the marriages of one in every seven New Zealand couples who have had to do this. A survey of 205 members of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust found that 28 marriages broke up as a result of taking in a child - 13.7 per cent of the 188 people who answered this question. One grandmother told researcher Jill Worrall: "Just recently after 38 years of marriage we separated, and caring for a grandchild may have partially contributed to this." Another told her: "My husband of 36 years had no patience with the children so it was either him or them and I chose the children." That grandmother explained: "It was hard but there was really no choice [what they had come from]." The survey found that children came into their grandparents' care because their parents were drug addicts (42 per cent), neglectful (37 per cent), alcoholics (26 per cent), or suffered domestic violence (25 per cent), mental illness (23 per cent) or other problems such as imprisonment, physical illness or prostitution or poverty. Many parents had more than one of these problems. Mrs Worrall, a research associate at Massey University, said 57 per cent of the grandparents had to change their work patterns when they took in grandchildren, either working fewer hours so they could care for the children or longer hours so they could pay for them. A tenth had gone back to work from retirement to pay for the children, but still struggled to make ends meet at a time of life when income usually falls and health costs rise. One grandmother said: "I go without food to feed my grandson, also clothes, haircuts. I can't do volunteer work because we look so raggedy away from children's activities [paint-stained clothes etc]." Another couple had had to sell their retirement home, cash in all their savings and were "now broke". Christchurch grandparents Gwenda and Graeme Swinney, both now 70, have brought up two grandchildren now aged 18 and 14 as well as helping to care for the children's mother, an alcoholic. Another child of the same mother is being brought up by an aunt. "All the children come with traumas," Mrs Swinney said. "Even if there are no real big hassles, it's, just having to live with an old grandmother and an old grandfather. Our values are just so different. "When we were 18 we had to be home at midnight. Now they only go out at midnight. We get phone calls at 2am to 'come and pick me up now'." Their 18-year-old grand-daughter Amy represented New Zealand at a foster care conference in Ireland in July and now wants to set up a group for children being brought up by their grandparents. Wellington grandmother Terry Ututaonga, 54, and her husband have taken in two grandsons aged 11 and 8 even though both grandparents are still working. "You just have to re-evaluate everything," she said. "My daughter was in an inappropriate environment. There were mental health issues. My husband and I couldn't, not take the kids." Delegates at Grandparents Raising Grandchildren's first national conference in Auckland yesterday complained that many had been refused unsupported-child benefits. Work and Income official Lynda Smardon apologised for the way some grandparents had been treated. She said the unsupported-child benefit was not affected by the grandparents' income or whether they were on other benefits themselves. But they did have to prove there had been a "family breakdown" which meant the parents could no longer care for the children. Break-Away Package Frequently Asked QuestionsBreak-Away School Holiday ProgrammesWhy is the Government investing in holiday activity programmes?The government recognises that how young people spend their leisure time can have a significant impact on their resilience and outcomes in later life. More needs to be done for the large group of people who may not have access to structured leisure time activities, or to programmes that enable young people to develop the skills to take advantage of opportunities and manage and respond positively to challenges.
Who will be eligible to attend the programmes?Young people aged 11-17 from high needs areas will be targeted. Participant selection will be through parental or self-referral. Attendance will not be dependent on parental income testing. Those providers selected to deliver the programmes will promote their programmes in the targeted communities. How much will it cost to attend the programmes?
When will the programmes start operating?The first programmes will be run in January 2010 and will continue thereafter. There are 12 weeks’ of school holidays per year, including the Christmas and New year period, and the programmes will run throughout these weeks based on demand. How many programmes is the Government funding?There will be a total of 30,000 one-week places. The number of days a participant attends will be dependent on the structure of the programmes developed by providers. The number of programmes will be determined through the tendering process. Delivery in year one will be for 15,000 one-week places. Who can provide these programmes?Any organisation that wishes to provide a programme, is in one of the targeted communities and meets the minimum standards for the programme will be eligible to apply to be providers. What’s the difference between Break-Away programmes and OSCAR holiday programmes?OSCAR services operate during term time and holidays to meet the needs of working parents with dependent children under the age of 14 years. Break-Away programmes operate solely in the school holiday periods to provide challenging, fun opportunities to communities of young people in the 11-17 age range. Who will decide which organisations will run the programmes?The programme providers will be determined by a tender process run by the Ministry of Social Development. This will be initiated on 28 September 2009 and completed by December 2009. Interested providers can check http://www.familyservices.govt.nz/ for more information as it comes available. Requests for Proposals will be on the Government Electronic Tendering Service website www.gets.govt.nz. What activities will be available on the programmes?Content of the programmes will vary dependent on the provider, the demographics of the young people and the programme location. Activities may include dance and music, waka ama and kapa haka, outdoor activities, art and games, drama and performance, and networking opportunities. There will be a physical activity component within all programmes. What funding is available for these programmes?$3 million is available per year for these programmes – which is $100 per one-week placement. Will the holiday activity programmes be targeted at young offenders?No. The holiday activity programmes will focus on young people from high need areas who would not normally have access to a holiday programme, and would benefit from something fun and constructive to do in the holidays. When will the tender process begin?The first programme will be run in January 2010. The tender process will be initiated in September 2009 and be complete by December 2009. It will be managed by the Funding and Contracting team from Family and Community Services. Prime Minister's Youth Programme What is the PM’s Youth Programme?The PM’s Youth Programme is to reward young people aged 14-17 years who have overcome adversity and made a sustained attempt to make positive life changes, for instance young people who have moved away from low-levels of offending, truancy or poor academic achievement. What will the young people do on the PM’s Youth Programme?The Programme will offer young people a mix of fun, challenging and developmental activities. In addition, the young people will be offered the opportunity to spend time with, and learn and get advice from, high achieving / iconic New Zealanders, who they might not normally meet. The icons will act as positive role models. Together, the icons and the young people will take part in workshop activities designed to show the young people how different their lives could be, and the opportunities that may be available to them, if they continue to adopt the right attitude. A number of high profile and well respected Kiwis in a variety of fields have offered their time to the Programme, including: actor Oscar Kightley; ex All Black Norm Hewitt; netball guru Raewyn Henry and hip hop artists Prestige. How will young people be selected to take part in the programme?Young people will be nominated to attend and will decide if they wish to take part in the programme. In the first instance the programmes will largely be delivered in South Auckland. How will nomination work?Key people in the community, including Principals, will be involved in identifying and nominating young people for the Programme. Details of the process will be made available on the Ministry’s website later this year. How many young people will this benefit?Each year 100 young people will be able to participate in the programme. The programme will run for one week at the end of the Christmas school holidays. Will this really make a difference?International evidence demonstrates that participation in positive activities can: help to improve attitudes to, and engagement with, school; build social and communication skills; help young people avoid taking risks such as experimenting with drugs or being involved in anti-social behaviour or crime; and improve their self-confidence and self-esteem. Participation can also help increase the resilience of young people who are trying to rebuild their lives. How will the programme take into account the different interests of the young people?Four themed programmes will be run annually. Two will be sports themed, one with a performance/art theme, and one with a music theme. The organisations running the programmes will be expected to provide a diverse range of activities throughout the week in addition to the time the young people spend with the participating celebrities. Can a young person attend more than one of the themed programmes?No. Young people nominated will only be able to attend a single programme. When will the programmes take place?The four programmes will operate annually at the end of the Christmas break, beginning in the final week of January 2010. Who will run the programmes?The Ministry of Youth Development will contract providers to run each of the four programmes. The providers will be selected by the end of November. Will the Prime Minister actually be involved with the Programme?Yes, the Prime Minister will have a role in the programme, including the issuing of a certificate from the PM to all participants. What will happen to the young people after the programme?The young people will be encouraged to maintain their positive behaviours and supported to identify future goals for after the Programme. Breakaway Residential Holiday Respite Camps Why is the Government investing in Residential Respite Camps?Caregivers, families or grandparents who are caring for a young person as a result of a breakdown in the young person’s family need to be able to have a break from what is a very difficult role. The programme reflects the Government’s commitment to supporting caregivers and recognises their important role in nurturing the young person in their care. Who will the programmes target and when will they run?The residential camps are for kids of school age (5 to 7 years and 8 to 12 years) who are in the care of someone other than their parents. The programmes will operate during the 10 weeks of school holidays per year. Who will run the camps?Te Puna Whaiora Children’s Health Camps is being contracted by MSD to run the camps, and from 2010/11 additional providers will also be contracted. Where will the camps be run?The camps will be throughout the country, though it is likely some kids will need to travel to attend a camp. How long will the camps be?The age of the young person, along with individual and family needs, and circumstances will determine the length of time spent at camp. Existing providers currently deliver four- to six-day camps. Will there be a selection process for attendance?Access to the camps will be through referral from: Strengthening Families, Family Start, Child, Youth and Family, Social Workers in Schools, Police Youth Aid. Self-referrals, as a result of public awareness of the initiative, may also be accepted. It is our understanding GRG Trust will also be a referral service.
Orphan’s and Unsupported Child’s Benefits A guide for caregivers who are raising someone else’s child If you are raising someone else’s child, we may be able to help in a small way by meeting some of the costs involved in their upbringing. The Orphan’s Benefit can help support the child when their parents have died or can’t be found, or when they can’t look after their child because they have a long-term illness or incapacity. The Unsupported Child’s Benefit can help support the child when their parents can’t support them because of a family breakdown. We can grant you financial assistance from the date you first contact us, if you complete your application within 20 working days of that date. The child you are looking after must be:
You must:
Both you and the child must also normally live in New Zealand. You may be eligible for in-work tax credit, which can be paid for children for whom you receive the Unsupported Child’s Benefit or the Orphan’s Benefit, provided you work the required hours. Call Inland Revenue free on 0800 227 773 to see if you are eligible, or visit www.ird.govt.nz If you apply for the Unsupported Child’s Benefit you will also need to:
The Family Meeting is to confirm that there has been a family breakdown and that you will be the child’s main caregiver for the next 12 months or more. If a Family Group Conference has already been held, you won’t have to attend a Family Meeting. Sorry, but we can’t help if:
Payments How much you can get depends on how old the child is and any income they may get from their parents’ estate, a family trust, investments, or regular insurance payments. The maximum weekly payment you can get for each child is shown in the chart below. Orphan’s or Unsupported Child’s Benefit Weekly Payments after tax
Rates at 1 April 2009 The money is paid straight into your bank account every week. It is not counted as income, so it is not taxed and won’t affect any other income support or Working for Families Tax Credits you may get. Payments usually start 2-4 weeks after you qualify (this is the date you apply or start looking after the child, whichever is later). Please note that we can’t backdate payments so you need to apply as soon as you become the child’s main caregiver. If the child has an income over a certain amount, their benefit is reduced. The income limit is between $3,159.00 and $4,105.92 a year before tax (based on the child’s age). The benefit is reduced by $1 for each dollar over this limit. Any money the child earns working after school or in the holidays isn’t counted as income but could affect any in-work tax credit you get. Other assistance Accident insurance If the child’s parents died in an accident, the child may be able to get accident insurance payments from ACC. Talk to ACC about this. In-work tax credit In-work tax credit is paid by Inland Revenue. It pays up to $60 a week per family with 3 children, and up to an extra $15 a week for each other child. To get in-work tax credit couples must normally work 30 hours a week between them, and sole parents must normally work 20 hours a week. When you are granted the Orphan’s or Unsupported Child’s Benefit, we’ll tell Inland Revenue and they’ll be in touch. Tell us about changes You need to tell us any time your circumstances change as it may affect your payments. For instance, you must tell us if the child:
Important Make sure you bring everything you need to your meeting. There is a list of all the basic things you need to bring in our How can we help you? brochure. You also need to bring:
For the Unsupported Child’s Benefit, you also need to bring (if you have them):
For the Orphan’s Benefit you need to bring copies of the parents’ death certificates (if this applies). If you don’t have them, please call us as we may be able to obtain verification. Remember, if you don’t think you qualify for these allowances, there may be some other way we can help, so please ask us.
If you have any questions, call us on 0800 559 009 from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and Saturday 8am to 1pm or contact your Case Manager at your nearest Service Centre. If you are deaf or find it hard to communicate by phone, you can send a message to our Deaf Link free-fax on 0800 621 621 or email MSD_Deaf_Services@msd.govt.nz For more information visit: Work and Income website – www.workandincome.govt.nz End of school year review At the end of the school year there is a review process for 16 to 18 year olds who are still included in a benefit as a dependent child. Instructions are sent out early each October from National Office. Children aged 16 or 17 year oldsClients will be sent letters asking if their 16/17 year old child will be attending school or an educational facility in the following year. If a 16/17 year old is not attending school or an educational facility they can continue to be included in the benefit as long as they are still a dependent child. Children aged 18 year olds (Note Well)At the end of each school year 18 year olds who are still at school or an educational facility will automatically be excluded from the benefit on the first payday after the 31 December each year. The instruction issued by National Office each year will provide details of the dates this will happen. Clients will be sent a letter advising them of this. If an 18 year old wishes to continue their education the following year then they may qualify for Student Allowance. Student Allowance A Student Allowance is a weekly payment to help with your living expenses while you study full-time. You don't have to pay this back. It is asset tested on your parents income. General Student Allowance criteriaIn general, to get the Student Allowance you need to:
New Zealand for two years) or be a refugee. How much you could get Student Allowance payments are determined by many factors, including:
Posted: Sat 07 Nov 2009 |