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Child and family policy

Child and family policy

Contents | Introduction | Why have a child and family policy? | Children and families in Auckland city | Getting your views | Guiding documents | Auckland City's role | Making things happen | Work progressed during 2005/06 | Child and family action plan 2006/07 | Appendix: Other relevant Auckland City policies

Child and family action plan 2006/07

The 2006/07 action plan is the first plan that council has developed since the policy was adopted in August 2005. This plan has been developed with a network of staff champions from around Auckland City (and closely aligned organisations) and has taken into account the feedback received from consultation on the draft policy in 2005.

The plan does not list every project within council where children and families may be involved and their views considered, but rather identifies key projects and outcomes. This will mean that stakeholders are clear on the key initiatives to implement the policy and achievements will be celebrated at the end of 2006/07, to give more visibility and recognition to the work that Auckland City does for and with children and families.

Key projects for 2006/07 include:

  • Developing a methodology and piloting child impact assessments and reporting. In conjunction with UNICEF, the Office of the Children's Commissioner and other key stakeholders.
  • Producing a pictorial version of the child and family policy, that is accessible to a wide range of community members from pre-school children to those with English as a second language.
  • Strengthening the internal child and family network of champions across the council, so they can work more collaboratively and advocate better for the needs of children and families.
  • Developing a profile of children and families in Auckland City, which will contain the new census information and other statistics.
  • Continuing the work of the child (and youth) engagement strand of the recently finished three-year Auckland Sustainable Cities project.
  • Building on the development of the tools and techniques for involving children and families in Auckland Urban Living projects.
  • Working on supporting events and collaborating with others to make them more child and family friendly.

2006/07 action plan

Goal 1: Giving you a voice

Policy objectives Key actions Performance indicators
1.1 Learning about how the council works and can help Develop and expand on existing civic education initiatives, such as kids voting and political awareness in schools. Initiatives developed and expanded.
Develop a profile of children and families in the city, which includes the new census information. Profile produced and distributed.
Develop a pictorial version of the child and family policy, to make it accessible to a wide range of stakeholders. Pictorial version developed and printed.
1.2 Getting involved with the council on things that are important Conduct the first of an annual survey on the awareness, satisfaction and issues that the community has in Council's support of children and families. Survey conducted and findings promoted.
Involve children and families in the development of liveable community plans in Ellerslie, Otahuhu, Sylvia Park and Mt Albert. Children and families involved and considered in consultation.
Develop a methodology and pilot child impact assessment and reporting within Council, in conjunction with other stakeholders. Methodology developed and piloted.
Provide a telephone translation service so that non-english speaking family members can access Council information. Service provided and utilised.
Seek and consider the views of children and families in the development of new swimming pools in Otahuhu and Avondale. Views sought and considered.
Ensure the views of children and families are heard in the development of the sport and recreation, open space, social policy and safety strategies for the city. Views heard and incorporated into new strategies.

Goal 2: Being active and healthy

Policy objectives Key actions Performance indicators
2.1 Finding lots of things to do Provide a number of educational services including class visits at libraries, Akozone learning centres, story times, any questions website, school holiday events and the summer reading programme 'hot summer, cool books'. Activities, events and programmes run and well attended.
Run the kids low cost Sunday art programme, host class visits, school holiday events and family friendly exhibitions especially during summer ,at the art gallery. Programmes, events and exhibitions delivered and well attended.
Run programmes at the zoo education centre, including class visits and school holiday programmes and provide family friendly events and activities. Child and family friendly events and activities successfully held.
Promote, provide and support community centres, halls, recreation centres, Artstation and mainstreet/business associations in the delivery of activities and events for children and families including parenting courses, school holiday programmes, concerts, exhibitions and events. Activities and events for child and families promoted and held.
Support regional facilities including MOTAT, Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, Stardome Planetarium, Auckland War Memorial Museum and the Maritime Museum and their delivery of family friendly educational programmes, events and exhibitions. Funding contributed to regional facilities and family friendly programmes delivered.
Support services and programmes for children and families through community board local funding, the community group assistance fund, community group accommodation fund, local event funding and the creative community fund. Funding allocated to child, parenting and family services.
Support and develop events across the city that are child and family friendly including the Auckland Festival (AK07), Auckland Harbour Festival and Children's Day celebrations. Family friendly events developed and held.
Upgrade, enhance and provide new parks, playgrounds and open spaces. Playgrounds and open spaces developed and upgraded.
2.2 Getting you moving Support existing and new walking school buses and kindy caterpillars. Support given and new walking routes established.
Ensure that the AkActive initiative targets children and families, as it develops new and enhances existing physical activity programmes. Selected programmes target children and families.
Improve, expand and promote walkways and cycleways. Walkways and cycleways expanded and promoted.
2.3 An appreciation of diverse cultures Support family friendly cultural events, such as the Lantern festival, Pasifika, Diwali, the International Cultural Festival and Matariki. Events held and well attended by families.
Encourage children and families to learn about different cultures through the International affairs sister city programme of activities and events, including chaperoning children to the Asia Pacific Children's Convention. Programme developed and delivered.
Ensure the views of children and families are considered in Council's interfaith and intercultural city projects. Views considered and incorporated into both projects.

Goal 3: Providing a welcoming and safe environment

Policy objectives Key actions Performance indicators
3.1 Caring for the environment Continue to develop tools and techniques for involving pre-school and primary school children in Auckland Urban Living projects. Tools and techniques developed and piloted.
Support the Enviroschools programme and continue to promote and provide waste education. Programme supported and expanded.
Support Waicare, the community based water quality monitoring programme, by providing a co-ordinator who supports local groups, including those at schools Programme supported and monitoring occurring.
Promote and co-ordinate the Heritage Festival and include a number of free and low cost activities that are family friendly. Family friendly activities developed.
Produce and distribute the State of Environment update in poster form with a game on one side for children and families. Poster produced and distributed.
Co-ordinate park volunteer activities, including winter tree planting, coast and creek care and animal pest control. Programme developed and families participate.
Continue to develop and run the graffiti awareness programme, including school education. Programme continues to be implemented.
3.2 Making safe places to play and visit Support new and existing school travel plans including reduced speed zones at schools. Provide support and develop new plans.
Support the communities living injury free programme to raise awareness and reduce the amount and severity of injuries, including child pedestrian, car restraint and driveway safety education programmes. Programmes supported and delivered.
Support Watersafe Auckland's promotion of safety in the water especially for toddlers. Funding provided to deliver education programme.
Work towards incorporating Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles into new and existing building and spaces in the city. CPTED principles incorporated.
Raise awareness of safe cycling practices through the kid's bike ride and expo at Western Springs Lakeside and Bigfoot safe cycling sessions. Events successfully held.
Support initiatives that reduce bullying and violence against children and families. Support initiatives where appropriate.
Encourage responsible dog ownership, provide dog exercise areas and a dog registration and animal control service. Provide service and education.

Goal 4: Working for you

Policy objectives Key actions Performance indicators
4.1 Talking with people and making things happen Actively contribute to the Auckland regional child (and youth) network to develop sustainable development projects for children. Attend network meetings and collaborate on projects.
Strengthen the internal child and family champion's network to encourage more collaboration and knowledge sharing in the implementation of the child and family policy. Hold regular meetings, training and develop collaborative projects.
Promote and encourage family friendly initiatives within Council. Promote family friendly practices and support equal employment opportunities.
Contribute to the Auckland Snug Homes project where the homes of low income families are insulated and retrofitted for free. Contribute funding and be involved in the steering group.
Continue the investigation into a affordable housing project for low income families. Continue investigation.
Work with the Office of the Children's Commissioner, Families Commission, Ministry of Social Development, Office for Disability Issues, Office of Ethnic Affairs and Ministry of Education, to advocate for the services that children and families need. Advocacy done and collaborative initiatives developed.
Provide funding for city wide school holiday programmes and monitor its delivery. Funding provided and monitored.
4.2 Letting you know what is going on Promote family friendly and free events through Ak@play, on council's website, city scene newsletter, summer events programme and other media. Events promoted.
Work to present positive and inclusive images of children and families through a variety of media channels. Positive images portrayed in cityscene, press releases and other council media.
Celebrate and report back to the community on what the Council has achieved for children and families in 2006/07. Celebrations held and achievements reported.

 

 

Published August 2006