The Nga Kaiwhakatere programme provides a flexible continuum of care for young people diagnosed with severe conduct disorder and who are in the custody of Child Youth and Family.

The Programme

The programme uses Functional Family Therapy, Multi-Systemic Therapy, Multi Dimensional Treatment Fostercare and Residential placements to address anti-social behaviour where less intensive interventions have failed.

Youth Horizons conducts an intensive assessment to determine the appropriate treatment response given the young person's current behaviour, living situation, and family and CYF recommendations. This allows us to plan interventions to meet individual needs and reduce the amount of time that is spent in out-of-home placements.

The age range of young people in the programme is between eleven and seventeen years of age.

Treatment Responses

• Functional Family Therapy (FFT), FFT is a family focused intervention model aimed at children and young people between 10 and 18 years of age. This is a relatively short-term intervention with treatment duration ranging from 2 months (or 8-12 family therapy sessions) for mild conduct problmes and up to 5 months (or 20-30 sessions) of therapy for more complex situations.
• Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST),a short-term (5 month) intensive, community-based approach aiming to help parents understand and help their child overcome behavioural problems. This includes improving school attendance and reducing contact with antisocial peers. MST clinicians work with families to address barriers to effective parenting such as domestic violence and substance use.
• Multi-Dimensional Treatment Foster Care, MTFC is a community-based treatment alternative to institutionalzation fro 12 to 17 year-olds who have a history of youth offending and other problems, such as schoolfailure, aggression, drug and alcohol use, poor peer relations, poor coping and social skills, and low self-esteem.
• Residential Care provides a high level of support and guidance in a highly structured environment for young people with a history of placement breakdown. This provides a safe, environment for staff to address inappropriate behaviours through the use of behaviour management techniques. The programme follows the same points system as the Foster Care programme.

For further information please contact Peter Topzand (Programme Manager) on 09 573 0954 ext 207 / 021 673 872  or at petert@youthorizons.org.nz