Parenting programme expanded

The NZ Department of Corrections published (on 30 April 2021) a news item titled 'Parenting programme expanded', available here. 

The following excerpts from the news item focus on the Taonga mō ngā Tamariki (Treasures for our Children) programme, based around the Early Reading Together® and Reading Together® programmes:

A suite of programmes to support better parenting is now available nationwide to people in prison and the community.

Contract manager Pippa Simm says the programmes offered by Brainwave Trust and Storytime Foundation are not just for parents.

Both providers have previously worked in just a few prison sites but thanks to a nationwide contract their programmes are available all over the country.

Storytime Foundation's focus is on strengthening vulnerable young children and their families by enhancing the bond between parent and child early in life.

Three programmes are now offered nationally in prisons and community sites. The programmes have been running nationally since July 2020 and have generated some great feedback from the engaged participants.

Taonga mō ngā Tamariki
Enhances support which parents and whānau provide for their children's language and literacy development. This programme is specially designed to support children and parents from diverse cultural, socio-economic and language backgrounds. The programme also includes books and resources to support oral language, child literacy and numeracy, and support attachment between whānau and their children.

Further information:

• Fathers at Auckland Prison bond with their children as part of parenting programme
• Feedback on Fathers at country's toughest prison bond with their children in parenting programme