OPEN LETTER TO THE MEDIA, MINISTRY AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS.

There are SOME groups and organisations that have an unexplained view to discredit PANIC and/or its team. PANIC’s view is that there is a need for a number of different groups, the need for families to find support is far greater than any one group can handle. Each group offers a different way of support or push for change. The PANIC team are individuals who are open to support any other organisation or group, HOWEVER, as PANIC team members, when handling cases work within the guidelines of work practice set out under PANIC. This may not be the level of professionalism one or two other groups aspire to but it is what we follow.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OR HEAR, OR SEE ISSUES SURROUNDING CLAIMS ABOUT OUR SITE PLEASE USE THE CONTACT US AND SPEAK TO US. (A number of such claims are currently being watched and noted. Our legal advisors are aware and future action maybe taken which will also include informing the ministry of such)

The OLD PANIC site, 2008; There appears to be some who still continue to associate the old PANIC (Parents Against the Negative Intervention of CYFS) with the new PANIC. It is important for us to inform those still confused that this is not who we are.  Lessons were learnt, both positive and negative from the old site, although many of the team were not support members of the old site much information was passed on.  Information both positive and negative and from that our organisation took shape. PANIC also learned many lessons from other sites such as CYFSTALK, again, using the examples that would then open the door for a far more professional team.

PANIC follows the belief that there is an importance for a push for the department and its social workers follow their code of conduct to the letter and that they are made accountable when things go wrong. It also follows the belief that families in crisis need support; sometimes this comes from being able to have someone willing to listen and go over their case.  Team members have learned that sometimes part of the important role can be pointing out to families that there is a need for change and thus may support the recommendations of the Department. In other cases clear mistakes or bully tactics by its social workers (even sadly, down right lies) are identified and here PANIC's team work to give the families information and if need be step in to help sort out the mess. Sometimes this is not always possible because by the time PANIC was informed the case has moved on to permanency so at this point PANIC works to ensure access etc is the best it can be. In some cases where there is a clear indication a greater step needs to be taken we will support the family to take the matter back to court.

To Social Workers for the Ministry reading this, please understand our role is to hear both sides, sometimes this may mean taking a strong stand to ensure your hearing what the family members are saying.  For you, their case may be one of many and at times, understandably voices can get lost, we help them be heard. Sometimes this is also to advocate for the child/ren. Like you, we are child focused and want to see the end of child abuse in this country, HOWEVER, we will not support other forms of child abuse in the process, poor social work and breaking good families apart on little or no evidence IS IN OUR VIEW ALSO CHILD ABUSE.

To those making false claims, please understand in the end you are damaging the changes you yourself are fighting for. A common complaint by families is that social workers often use your actions to divide and split families to gain the upper hand. If you want what all groups want and that is change then do not repeat the mistakes of the very Department you are pointing the finger at.