parenting programmes
all you need to know about Youth Service parenting programmes
quick overview
Young Parent Payment clients have an obligation to complete a parenting programme.
They are also required to have their child enrolled at a Primary Health Organisation (PHO) or with a registered medical practitioner or specialist, and if they have a dependent child under five years old, they must register their child and provide evidence that their child is attending their WellChild Tamariki Ora (WellChild) visits.
parenting incentive payment
Young parents who:
- complete an approved parenting programme
- enrol their child with a PHO
- keep their children under 5 years up to date with WellChild checks
- ensure their child’s attendance at ECE or other suitable childcare while they are in education, training or work-based learning or part-time work, and
- have engaged in three months of regular parenting discussions with their assigned provider
can be considered for a Parenting Incentive Payment.
Parenting programmes must:
- be an approved parenting programme (approved by MSD)
- be delivered by an authorised parenting programme provider, and
- meet the Youth Service Parenting Guidelines.
what you’re required to do
Find an approved parenting programme
You’re responsible for referring a client to complete an approved parenting programme delivered by an authorised parenting provider.
An authorised parenting provider is the agency approved by the Ministry of Social Development to deliver parenting programmes for Youth Service clients. In some cases, an authorised parenting provider may not be funded directly by the Ministry but may be funded by other key government agencies.
If you’re unable to refer your client to an Authorised Parenting Programme Provider
Programmes can be delivered by external Authorised Providers or by Youth Service providers delivering an Approved Programme. If your programme has not already been approved, you’ll need to submit your programme to the national_youthservice@msd.govt.nz inbox and we’ll seek approval from the National Director Youth Service on your behalf. See here for more details.
parenting programme guidelines
Approved parenting programmes should:
- provide for 6-12 hours of contact time
- be completed by the taiohi within 3 months start to finish
- have no more than 15 participants per instructor or course
Taiohi should:
- receive a certificate of completion
- complete a course evaluation on completion
parenting programme content
The parent programme aims to support young parents to strengthen their parenting skills and competencies
The programme should cover areas such as:
- Goal setting and conscious parenting (i.e., what kind of parent we want to be)
- Māori and/or Pacific values and concepts in child development
- Reading babies cues. Reading, understanding, & responding to cries, gurgles & gestures
- Child development. Expectations for age and stage, sensory learning, age-appropriate activities, the importance of play
- Brain development. The first three years, developing neural pathways, the difference between a teen brain and an infant brain
- Managing behaviour. Coping with crying & tantrums. The difference between discipline and punishment
- Keeping children healthy & safe. Providing a safe environment; house care, cooking, and hygiene; preventing abuse and neglect; promoting safe, secure attachments
- Looking after yourself, managing stress, being a parent in a multi-generational household
links to resources and programmes
Many Authorised Parenting Programme Providers and Youth Service providers delivering in-house programmes use an existing Approved Parenting Programme or develop their own programme using existing resources.
Read the case study from Employ NZ about how they decided to deliver a parenting programme in-house
A range of parenting programmes and resources are below.
Blue Light NZ in Hamilton is a Youth Service provider that developed their own in-house parenting programme to respond to the needs and aspirations of rangatahi and young parents, their whānau and communities. The aim of the Parenting Programme is to equip and install lifelong skills in the rangatahi and young parents who are raising their tamariki.
Family Start is a child-centred, intensive, home visiting programme delivered by across Aotearoa. The programme helps whānau who are struggling with challenges or problems that may make it harder for them to care for their baby or young child. Family Start providers may also run formal parenting sessions that meet the guidelines for Youth Service. Read more about Family Start
Incredible Years Parent Programme is a 14-session programme for parents of children aged 3-8, which provides parents with skills to better support children, creating a positive home environment to promote children’s social and emotional competence and communication skills. The programme is delivered by Ministry of Education staff and by non-government organisations (NGOs). Many of these NGOs also provide a range of social services to families funded through the ministries of Health or Social Development or other agencies. Incredible Years Parent Programme
An antenatal and parenting programme that focuses on providing education to hapū wāhine, expectant fathers and partners, caregivers, parents and whānau. This programme provides valuable hands on activities with education on hapūtanga.
Pregnant māmā, expectant fathers and partners and parents of new babies are all eligible to participate in this programme. Kaupapa Māori Ante Natal & Parenting Programme - Nash
Space for you and your baby supports you and your baby throughout your first critical year together. Groups meet weekly over 25 -30 weeks to explore parenting, sleep, attachment and brain development. You’ll also enjoy music, books and play experiences with your baby while getting to know other new parents. Parenting Place | Space for you and your baby
Building Awesome Whānau draws on the wisdom of mātauranga Māori. It is a kaupapa that serves the aspirations of whānau through whanaungatanga and manaakitanga. It was developed by Parenting Place, a charity offering resources, courses, presentations and coaching so New Zealand parents have what they need to comfortably tackle challenging parenting situations. It is uniquely Aotearoa and is marked by good communication, love, resilience, fun and trust. It is designed for whānau raising tamariki aged 0-12. Parenting Place | Building Awesome Whānau
Over six sessions the following concepts are covered:
- Laying the foundation – aroha
- Parents are the roof – protection
- The walls of the whare – boundaries
- Keeping it sweet – atmosphere
- Cool korero – communication
- Outside the whare – living in the big wide world
Parenting Place also provides training and certification to organisations and community groups who want to deliver Building Awesome Whānau programmes themselves.
Check out this case study about delivering Building Awesome Whānau in-house
Playcentres offer more specialised sessions where there is a real focus on the needs of newborns to 1-year olds, as well as the support and friendship of other new parents. Sessions provide discussion times to share and explore parenting ideas, share journeys into parenthood, and supporting and learning from other whānau and parents alongside experienced facilitators. Babies Can Play | Playcentre
Triple P is one of the world’s most researched parenting programmes, and because evidence shows that investing in the future health and happiness of our tamariki and rangatahi benefits the whole community. So doing Triple P Online, Teen Triple P Online or Fear-Less Triple P Online is totally free. And yes, that means the whole course, and no, there’s no catch. Link here
Raising Children Media Ltd is a media company set up to support parents by providing them with quality video content about everyday subjects. Video is a great way to 'see' some inspiration for the parenting journey. https://raisingchildren.org.nz/
This is a 6-week programme is for parents of newborns to 1 year of age and covers a wide range of topics. South Taranaki Whanau Centre
Previously called SKIP. This has been developed for anyone who supports young parents by delivering a group parenting programme. The programme contains 8 modules each with a number of workshops to choose from. Group parenting programme | Tākai (takai.nz)
This programme aims to empower rangatahi to nurture the next generation.
Course material is up to date and current backed by health and education specialists in child health and parenting. It’s designed to be delivered either online or face-to-face, facilitated by Plunket’s professional educators. And if a young person misses a session they can catch up through a combination of webinars, watching recommended video clips and making notes, and completing workbook activities.
The two-day programme covers topics such as:
- Being the parent you want to be
- The developing brain. What pēpi needs to feel safe and loved.
- Are you listening (and watching)? Responsive communication.
- Safety inside of the home and out
- Nutrition in the early years
- Ages and stages
- Why play matters
- Behaviour and parenting positively
- Being a great parent means caring for yourself
- Protecting your tamaiti’s health and wellbeing
If you would like more information on this programme, including when the next online course is running, please contact Sharelle Rowntree Team Leader Education in Schools
sharelle.rowntree@plunket.org.nz
parenting programme approval and parenting provider authorisation
An approved parenting programme must meet the Youth Service Parenting Guidelines and can only be delivered by an Authorised Parenting Provider.
Your first option should be to refer a client to an Authorised Parenting Provider in every instance. However, there will be times where they are unavailable.
to have your parenting programme approved:
- Pull together any resources and activities you plan to be part of your programme
- Contact the national_youthservice@msd.govt.nz inbox. You should share information about how you’ll run your programme and what it will cover
- We’ll check that your proposed programme meets the Youth Service Parenting Guidelines, and that it:
- Can be tailored to the goals and needs of the participants, and builds on their knowledge and experience
- Encourages networking, group support, and linking whānau to services
- Learning is structured, with clear and specific aims and learning objectives
- Includes a range of experiences, activities, role modelling of positive parenting behaviour, or tasks to help young people achieve the identified learning objectives
- Uses contexts and examples that are relevant to circumstances and life experiences of the audience
- Accurate, contains up to date information, and is free of branding and promotional materials
- Developed by experts, tested with young people in the target group, and delivered by trained facilitators with relevant experience
- Has a principal focus on supporting whānau to nurture their tamariki
- Is engaging and relevant for young people from different backgrounds and ethnicities
- Materials are clearly written and easy to use
to have your parenting provider authorised:
- Pull together any information about your chosen parenting provider
- We need to know who they are, if they deliver an existing Approved Parenting Programme and if not, the content and format of their programme.
- Contact the national_youthservice@msd.govt.nz inbox.
- We’ll check that your proposed parenting programme provider:
- Delivers an approved parenting programme, or a programme that meets the guidelines and approval criteria above
- Has the right skills, experience, and background to delivery Youth Service parenting programmes
We’ll seek approval on your behalf from the National Director Youth Service and will let you know the outcome.