Who it is for

The Action Plan works to see that they receive the support and services they require to prevent harm and realise oranga tamariki. 
 
So, the Action Plan is for people who:

• are at risk of being involved with Oranga Tamariki
• are currently involved with Oranga Tamariki
• have previously been involved with the care and protection or youth justice systems.

In total, the Action Plan could benefit about 230,000* children and young people, along with their families and whānau. That includes approximately: 

• 150,000 children and young people with early risk factors
• 66,000 children and young people receiving assistance
• 19,000 children and young people in care or being supported by the youth justice team, or who are care experienced.

Our initial focus is not on all children and young people, but changes made because of this work could also benefit a much larger group. 

All children and young people should have their needs met in order to thrive and reach their full potential.  

That includes: 

• being loved, safe and nurtured
• having what they need to be happy and healthy
• having access to learning and development
• being accepted, respected and connected
• being involved and empowered in decisions about their lives. 

When children don’t have their needs met, it can lead to poor outcomes throughout their lives.

Poor outcomes can be intergenerational and systemic. This means if your parents experience unmet needs and barriers to wellbeing, it’s likely you will experience them too – and so could your children. 

To make sure the next generation is supported to live fulfilled lives, we need to provide targeted support for children and young people who are at risk of experiencing poor outcomes, and change the systems that create barriers to wellbeing. 

The Action Plan enables Government organisations to change the way they have previously done things, and to prioritise services for populations of interest to Oranga Tamariki. 

In this way, we can improve the experiences, choices, opportunities and outcomes for children, young people, families and whānau who have the greatest needs.

The Action Plan will improve the support provided to many Māori, Pacific, disabled children and young people.  

These groups experience more inequity compared with the wider population, and the Action Plan seeks to reduce this disparity. 

Additionally, Government agencies will also look at how to support the unique and intersecting needs of other groups that face inequitable outcomes, for example:  

• migrant and refugee communities 
• young people with diverse gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and sex characteristics. 

Find more information about the cohorts supported by the plan in the Oranga Tamariki Action Plan document.