Evaluation Report: Taonga Education Centre Trust - Te Puni Kokiri

EVALUATION FINDINGS
SPECIFIC FEEDBACK (AS PER APPENDIX ONE)
Question 1: Brief description of the intervention, including process
This is detailed earlier in the report.
Question 2: Who designed the initiative/came up with the idea?
The Manager and the Trust developed the idea based on identified gaps in their service. In
order to provide a comprehensive and holistic service for teenage mothers it was identified
that health and social services were required. Through relationships with a local Primary
Health Organisation (PHO) and Counties Manukau DHB, the provision of nursing services has
been achieved on site. The placement of a student social worker in 2006 encouraged the
Trust to explore this provision as a permanent role. Te Puni Kōkiri was approached at this
stage.
Providing teenage mothers with support and advocacy for housing and Work and Income
benefits and services have been the main areas of focus for the Whānau Support Workers.
Question 3: Who 'owns' the initiative? Who governs it?
As described earlier the Trust holds the overarching governing responsibilities. There appears
to be a good relationship between the Trust and management and the Trust supports
management to get on with the day to day delivery of services.
The teenage mothers do not feel they ‘own’ the initiative. They very much view it as a service.
Question 4: Why was the initiative developed?
Refer to the response above under question two.
The belief held by Taonga Education Centre is that if the social issues encountered by
teenage mothers can be addressed or eliminated, it allows them to focus on learning. While
some other teen parenting initiatives in Aotearoa have the added benefit of a social worker
service, Taonga Education Centre is the only initiative of its kind with a health team attached
to the Centre. The health team and the Whānau Support Worker team are both involved in the
delivery of the education programme provided by James Cook High School Teen Parent Unit.
Question 5: Who delivers/delivered the initiative?
Taonga Education Centre is the overarching body through which a collective of services is
delivered to teenage mothers. The Effective Interventions contract with Te Puni Kōkiri enabled
Taonga to employ two FTE Whānau Support Workers. Both workers are qualified Social
Workers.
11 Taonga Education Centre Trust – Evaluation Report, Te Puni Kōkiri May 2008