Family Resettlement and CAPS Program

Workshop

Working with a high number of families from the CALD (Cultural and Linguistically Diverse) community, being new arrivals or second and third generation we have realized that there is a great need for a culturally- aware, sensitive and tailored support programs to help make their resettlement process easier, smoother and less stressful and challenging.

Whānau, families, parents and caregivers who move to new places face additional challenges with their parenting job to parents who live in their own home country and this is exactly what this program is all about. The available resources are mainly in English and the support they offer does not take into consideration the cultural differences between the New Zealand culture and other cultures thoroughly.

Our work in the area of supporting whānau, caregivers and children from CALD community members with their parenting journey is one of our organization’s main objectives. Our staff have been working with the migrants and refugee communities for a number of years and has developed many programs and projects to meet their needs, especially in the area of social, emotional and mental resettlement as well as economic development and social integration.

Family Resettlement Support workshop is a 1 – 2 days workshop delivered by an experienced Cultural-Competency Trainer or, if the participants are from the same background, then it is delivered by a Cultural Bridging Facilitator (CBF) from their community and in their own language.

This program fills the existing gap in the education and support received by the CALD community and migrants and refugees coming to New Zealand in terms of understanding and coping with cultural and emotional challenges, parenting style as well as understanding the New Zealand education and legal system.

Some of the topics covered are: Stages of moving to new place, factors shaping our parenting style, challenges faced by the family and the child in their resettlement journey, children and teenagers brain development, New Zealand education and legal systems, different parenting techniques and different personalities of children and finally discussing some ideas and approaches on working with children to support them in their resettlement journey.

Working with a high number of families from the CALD (Cultural and Linguistically Diverse) community, being new arrivals or second and third generation we realized that there is a great need for a culturally- aware, sensitive and tailored support programs to help make their resettlement process easier, smoother and less stressful and challenging. Whanau, families, parents and caregivers who move to new places face additional challenges with their parenting job to parents who live in their own home country, and this is exactly what this program is all about.

Our work in the area of supporting whānau, caregivers and children from CALD community members with their parenting journey is one of our organization’s main objectives. Our staff have been working with the migrants and refugees communities for a number of years and has developed many programs and projects to meet their needs, especially in the area of social, emotional and mental resettlement as well as economic development and social integration. The available resources are mainly in English and the support they offer does not take into consideration thoroughly the cultural differences between the New Zealand culture and other cultures.

CAPS is a one – on – one support through a Whānau Support Worker who is from the family’s own/similar culture and works with the family in their own language. The WSW works on the challenges and issues faced by the family and raises concerns for them and for agencies working with them. The meetings are highly interactive and involve a lot of listening on the WSW’s side. 

 

CAPS program also offer a young and highly qualified and professional mentor to be working with the younger members of the family. The mentor will be providing the needed culturally appropriate level of support to younger family members through a thoroughly designed plan that is part of the main plan for the support of the caregivers.

The program is planned to cover specific topics, some of the topics are included below. However, the program is tailored to the family’s specific needs and WSW ensures that the programs topics are covered in alignment with the family’s specific needs in mind.  The WSW understanding of the family’s culture. values, ideologies, believes and backgrounds allow them to deliver a more appropriate and efficient support the family. An important element of our program is the Emerging Challenges element. which arise during meetings. These are issues that emerges during each meeting and WSW adapt the following session based on them after undertaking the necessary research.