http://www.stuff.co.nz/0a15455.html
or
http://www.stuff.co.nz/videoplayer/129171a15455.html
MEDIA RELEASE
10 July 2008
Close Up Case Highlights Urgent Need for CYF Complaints Authority
But Not the Model Proposed by MSD
The case of a Cambridge family being separated because of the threats of CYF, and featured on tonight’s programme of TVNZ’s Close Up, is further evidence that NZ urgently needs an independent CYF Complaints Authority.
“Parents who feel they have been unfairly treated by the CYF and have had their families torn apart have had no avenue for appeal – no independent body,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First. “This is grossly unfair when families are being ripped apart, often just based on the subjective judgment of a social worker.”
The Minister responsible for CYF acknowledged that there is no recording of the number of complaints made to CYF, and no central database that captures all complaints made to CYF staff. Parents have also been totally unsatisfied with the lack of response from the Commissioner for Children.
“An independent CYF Complaints Authority would also be in the best interests of the social workers,” says Mr McCoskrie, “as it will provide an independent body to ensure that appropriate policy and procedures have been followed. This will result in public confidence and accountability for actions and decisions by CYF workers.”
Mr McCoskrie warns that the success of any Complaints Authority will depend on its independence – it can not be social workers investigating other social workers.
“The proposed model of a Chief Executive Advisory Panel being adopted by the Ministry of Social Development has the inherent flaw of not being independent, and the Chief Executive still has the final decision as to the success of the complaint. This is unacceptable.”
“When dealing with the breakdown and dysfunction of any family, for the sake of the children and the family we have to get it right as often as we possibly can. Accountability and transparency will increase the likelihood of this,” says Mr McCoskrie.
ENDS
Regards,
Craig Smith National Director
Family Integrity
Ph: (06) 357-4399
Fax: (06) 357-4389
Family.Integrity@xtra.co.nz
http://www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz
Our Home….Our Castle
Tags: Accountability, Children, Children’s Commissioner, Close Up, CYFs, Family, Family First NZ, FI newsletter, parents, Social Workers, transparency, TVNZ
At least the Cambridge family had fore warning; a luxury many victims of CYFS kidnap cases don’t. My daughter was kidnapped from school by CYFS. The worst part of this is that CYFS had zero grounds (yet they constructed a 43 point affidavit which the gullible family court agreed to accept as grounds for my daughters removal, N I N E D A Y S after the event). So my child was effectively forcibly kidnapped at the whim of a social worker. Had I known that CYFS were going to take my child, I too would have been on a plane with my family before CYFS could act. Fortunately the only ones who demonstrated any sense at all throughout this entire affair were the police (who wouldn’t lay charges) AND CYFS’ own lawyer who made it clear in the affidavit CYFS had no grounds to uplift my child. Yet CYFS went ahead and kidnapped her anyway. Excuse me, what kind of country are we living in? It took me 4 months to get my daughter back; now she is overseas and she won’t be filling in any more census forms as a New Zealander – luckily.
Please contact Bob McCoskrie at Family First NZ
http://www.familyfirst.org.nz
Mob. 027 55 555 42