The Green Paper for Vulnerable Children - Ministry of Social ...

A Vulnerable Children’s Action Plan: Free-form submissionsIn this section, we discuss what free-form submissions had to say about a Vulnerable Children’sAction Plan. The themes are discussed under the following broad headings:• Features of a Vulnerable Children’s Action Plan• A definition of vulnerability• Goals and actions for a Vulnerable Children’s Action Plan• Priorities within a Vulnerable Children’s Action Plan.Features of a Vulnerable Children’s Action PlanSupport: A minority of free-form submissions expressed support for an action plan. An actionplan was most strongly supported by other organisation and NGO submissions.Our children suffer through a historic systemic culture of under-supporting families andmaking political decisions in lieu of developing and funding a long-term strategy acrosspolitical party lines. (NGO)Cross-sector: A minority of submissions suggested the action plan should be cross-sector.About half of submissions from other organisations and a large minority of NGO submissionssupported a cross-sector plan. A large minority of community meeting submissions supportedthe action plan being cross-sector.An integrated cross-sector action plan for children, with common goals and policy thatsupports co-ordinated service delivery, makes good sense in helping avoid gaps andsilo operations. It should also have buy-in from the community sector, Māori and ethniccommunities, and all political parties. (NGO)Cross-party: A minority of submissions expressed support for an action plan being cross-party.A large minority of other organisation, NGO and community meeting submissions said anaction plan should be cross-party.Leadership – all political parties should have some clear consensus and agreement toimprove and maintain initiatives that are successful for children. This is an area wherechanges in political majority in government should not affect what is in place for children.(NGO)Multicultural approach: A small minority of submissions proposed a multicultural approach todeveloping solutions.The Green Paper does not explicitly discuss strategies for supporting Pacific childrenand their families and communities. Strategies that address the specific needs of Pacificchildren will need to be mandated under the Children’s Act and Action Plan. (NGO)Using legislation: A small minority of submissions said using legislation to underpin a Children’sAction Plan would help ensure commitment to the plan. This idea was most strongly supportedby other organisations.Other features: A small minority of submissions considered an action plan should be basedon the Treaty of Waitangi, and should be owned by communities.Practice Changes Policy Changes Show Leadership Share Responsibility Children / Young People Executive SummaryThe Green Paper for Vulnerable Children Full Summary of Submissions83