Myth Busters and FAQ:
1. Social workers are paid a bonus for every child placed into Home For Life.
MYTH From the Deputy Chef Executive of Child Youth and Family (2013) in reply to question from PANIC. * I can confirm that social workers are not, and never have been, paid a bonus for placing children into Home For Life.* (Letter of reply held on record)
2. CYF caregivers are paid employees of cyf.
MYTH CYF caregivers are not paid a wage. They are volunteers who offer a place to stay for children in need. Caregivers get an allowance that pays for the needs of the child but it is NOT their income. Many caregivers make up the shortfall of costs from their own incomes. Training they undertake is in their own time and often means a days lost income. They attend many meetings, appointments and other demands made on them which again often means lost income etc.
3. CYF caregivers are in it for the money.
MYTH (ref to #2) Once HFL/Permanency is done children often go on to unsupported child benefit. Often there is still a shortfall to the actual cost in raising these children. Like with all things there will be the odd caregiver who might consider the money an added bonus BUT just like not all people on the benefit are ripping off the system, many caregivers do it from their hearts.
4. All parents/caregivers who have had children uplifted or have allegations are child abuses.
MYTH Many times allegations are later proven false. Parents and caregivers find it can take many months and sometimes years to clear their name. In some cases by the time they do children have already been permanently placed elsewhere. Even in some cases a parent or caregiver is unable to prove an allegation false and are continued to be labelled as abuses. Many parents and caregivers face isolation and judgements within their families and communities for many years.
5. All CYF social workers must be registered to be doing their job correctly or working for CYF.
MYTH Registration is voluntary. Social Workers pay for the cost of registration themselves. Sometimes they will not show up on the registration list because their application is still being processed. Registration is not a reflection of the skill of the social worker HOWEVER if the day comes when all social workers are registered a better assurance of a standard in conduct and social work would be there. This does not of course insure good social workers but it does help to weed out the bad ones.
6. Social workers always want the best for a child and are not out there to break up families.
MYTH/TRUE. Like with any job there are some who are great at what they do and some that are terrible. Social workers are no different. Some social workers abuse their positions and fail to follow good social work practice. Insuring complaints are made will over time insure the department seeks out these social workers and removes them from further harm to families. Many social workers do care and work hard to find solutions for families. Some good ones however are restricted to the help they would really like to give due to fellow senior social workers. Right up the ladder there are good and bad within the department.
7. All children who have been abused or in care of the department are now and forever broken and will not make good parents.
MYTH. *HIGHLY DAMAGING MYTH* Many children grow up to be fine adults and parents who have been in care or abused themselves. However they do so because they are raised in believing they are valued and cared for. This may happen at anytime in their life. It is important that we as a community do not label these children and treat them as forever damaged. We will always have cases that make the headlines. Keep in mind that criminals will always seek to blame someone else rather than take ownership for their own actions. Just like rapists blame the victim so to do many criminals seek to blame others for their choices. In a small % past abuse and life changes have damaged these now adults but so to do many coming from 'normal' backgrounds. With the right care and love, in most cases, children and young adults and even older adults can become wonderful human beings.
8. PANIC is paid for by the ministry, Its advocates paid by the ministry or report back to the ministry. (cyf)
MYTH This myth is often spread around by far less than honest groups. PANIC stands by its work and clients. In a small number of cases PANIC must work with cyf to insure their clients are being heard this means attending the odd FGC or other meeting or negotiating for better access etc. In a very small number of cases PANIC will stand by CYFs view, this is because actions by the parent/caregiver are or could place that child in danger. The safety of children over rides all others. Any group that fails to see this has its own agenda and clearly sees the welfare of children of little importance. If you can not communicate at times when helping a client then how is it possible these groups or individuals are really aiding in cases? Before passing over your personal information be sure to ask these important questions. FACT A well known groups admin was convicted here in New Zealand for blackmailing a client over their private information, that group continues to this day. Be sure to check any group you belong to has its own code of conduct for its advocates. PANIC runs from donations and small amount of community funding. If it were to receive funding from the ministry it would state it and have a copy of that contract available. It would however never agree to something that would result in its work being compromised.
To be continued........
MYTH From the Deputy Chef Executive of Child Youth and Family (2013) in reply to question from PANIC. * I can confirm that social workers are not, and never have been, paid a bonus for placing children into Home For Life.* (Letter of reply held on record)
2. CYF caregivers are paid employees of cyf.
MYTH CYF caregivers are not paid a wage. They are volunteers who offer a place to stay for children in need. Caregivers get an allowance that pays for the needs of the child but it is NOT their income. Many caregivers make up the shortfall of costs from their own incomes. Training they undertake is in their own time and often means a days lost income. They attend many meetings, appointments and other demands made on them which again often means lost income etc.
3. CYF caregivers are in it for the money.
MYTH (ref to #2) Once HFL/Permanency is done children often go on to unsupported child benefit. Often there is still a shortfall to the actual cost in raising these children. Like with all things there will be the odd caregiver who might consider the money an added bonus BUT just like not all people on the benefit are ripping off the system, many caregivers do it from their hearts.
4. All parents/caregivers who have had children uplifted or have allegations are child abuses.
MYTH Many times allegations are later proven false. Parents and caregivers find it can take many months and sometimes years to clear their name. In some cases by the time they do children have already been permanently placed elsewhere. Even in some cases a parent or caregiver is unable to prove an allegation false and are continued to be labelled as abuses. Many parents and caregivers face isolation and judgements within their families and communities for many years.
5. All CYF social workers must be registered to be doing their job correctly or working for CYF.
MYTH Registration is voluntary. Social Workers pay for the cost of registration themselves. Sometimes they will not show up on the registration list because their application is still being processed. Registration is not a reflection of the skill of the social worker HOWEVER if the day comes when all social workers are registered a better assurance of a standard in conduct and social work would be there. This does not of course insure good social workers but it does help to weed out the bad ones.
6. Social workers always want the best for a child and are not out there to break up families.
MYTH/TRUE. Like with any job there are some who are great at what they do and some that are terrible. Social workers are no different. Some social workers abuse their positions and fail to follow good social work practice. Insuring complaints are made will over time insure the department seeks out these social workers and removes them from further harm to families. Many social workers do care and work hard to find solutions for families. Some good ones however are restricted to the help they would really like to give due to fellow senior social workers. Right up the ladder there are good and bad within the department.
7. All children who have been abused or in care of the department are now and forever broken and will not make good parents.
MYTH. *HIGHLY DAMAGING MYTH* Many children grow up to be fine adults and parents who have been in care or abused themselves. However they do so because they are raised in believing they are valued and cared for. This may happen at anytime in their life. It is important that we as a community do not label these children and treat them as forever damaged. We will always have cases that make the headlines. Keep in mind that criminals will always seek to blame someone else rather than take ownership for their own actions. Just like rapists blame the victim so to do many criminals seek to blame others for their choices. In a small % past abuse and life changes have damaged these now adults but so to do many coming from 'normal' backgrounds. With the right care and love, in most cases, children and young adults and even older adults can become wonderful human beings.
8. PANIC is paid for by the ministry, Its advocates paid by the ministry or report back to the ministry. (cyf)
MYTH This myth is often spread around by far less than honest groups. PANIC stands by its work and clients. In a small number of cases PANIC must work with cyf to insure their clients are being heard this means attending the odd FGC or other meeting or negotiating for better access etc. In a very small number of cases PANIC will stand by CYFs view, this is because actions by the parent/caregiver are or could place that child in danger. The safety of children over rides all others. Any group that fails to see this has its own agenda and clearly sees the welfare of children of little importance. If you can not communicate at times when helping a client then how is it possible these groups or individuals are really aiding in cases? Before passing over your personal information be sure to ask these important questions. FACT A well known groups admin was convicted here in New Zealand for blackmailing a client over their private information, that group continues to this day. Be sure to check any group you belong to has its own code of conduct for its advocates. PANIC runs from donations and small amount of community funding. If it were to receive funding from the ministry it would state it and have a copy of that contract available. It would however never agree to something that would result in its work being compromised.
To be continued........
