Awhi Attendance Services Update

Kia ora koutou,

The Awhi team is currently supporting 424 students, and we want to thank you for continuing to welcome us into your school communities, and trusting us to work with you and your families. This partnership is really important to us.

To help retain future funding of Attendance Services, it is essential that all chronic absences are referred. Our current funding agreement covers up to 2,100 referrals per year - this figure is based on the number of chronic absences in the Hutt Valley according to the data provided by schools to the Ministry of Education. Currently only a third of these cases are being referred to the Awhi team.

In this issue, you'll find five articles covering:

1. Importance of Referring All Types of Chronic Absences
2. Examples of Awhi Resources & Supports Available for Referred Cases
3. Awhi's New Attendance Advisor, Georgia-Rose Lammas
4. Helpful Information on Section 19 Referrals to Oranga Tamarki
5. Family Case Study

For any questions, please contact me on 027 243 6688 or jane.awhi@gmail.com.

Ngā mihi,

Jane Gillingham, Team Leader

To get the full picture of absences the Ministry of Education needs examples on all types of chronic absences. It is helpful to know the know the number of chronic absence and all the underlying causes not just the most severe or complex cases.

For example, referrals help us support and understand students who are absent due to:

• Extended trips to see family overseas (or multiple holidays within a single term)
• Ongoing medical conditions, such as severe eczema, or repeated infections (e.g. scabies or boils) that clear up for a time and then return.

We'd strongly encourage schools to contact Awhi Attendance Services and/or make a referral whenever a student is absent for 15 days or more in a term.

For chronic absences due to medical conditions, the Awhi team can provide support through:

• Unmet Needs Funding: Financial assistance for items such as reading glasses and hearing aids. This funding can also cover repairs or maintenance for assistive technology used by students with conditions like Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) that is not currently government funded.

• Medical Referrals & New Appointments: Following up with the hospital on referrals for pediatrician appointments, ICAFS, and ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists. The Awhi team can also and help advocate for earlier appointments, connect families with Pasifika Health Nurses, and assist with getting prescriptions filled.

For students who are chronically absent during term time due to holidays. The Awhi team are available to provide a courtesy visit to the family to reinforce the school's attendance expectations, and/or to work with the school to monitor and support the students return to school.

Georgia joins the Awhi team as an Attendance Advisor to support non-enrolled students and schools in Upper Hutt. Over the last six years, Georgia worked for the Department of Corrections as a Bail Support Officer and previously as a Probation Officer. In these roles, she developed exceptional rapport-building skills while navigating complex family dynamics and gained an understanding of diverse lifestyles. Georgia brings valuable experience working alongside lawyers, rehabilitation facilities, Oranga Tamariki, and New Zealand Police to serve the community.

Raised in Stokes Valley, Georgia spent most of her life in the Hutt Valley area, often playing sports! Specifically netball - with those who meet Georgia often referring to how tall she is! Georgia has also travelled extensively across Europe and America, immersing herself in different cultures which has shaped her approach to working with people from all walks of life.

Outside of work, Georgia is a mum to two beautiful girls (aged two years and seven months) and is just starting to get involved in their early childhood education.

Mobile: georgia.awhi@gmail.com

Email: 027 258 7783

Section 19 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 allows approved organisations - such as schools and Attendance Service Providers - to refer a child or young person to a care and protection coordinator when severe, chronic non-attendance raises explicit care or protection concerns. Section 19 referrals can be made when schools have exhausted all their processes including referring to Awhi Attendance Services and when the Awhi team has also attempted and failed to make progress with the student and their family.

Members of the Awhi team have participated in several Section 19 Family Group Conferences this year. In some cases the families have not engaged but in the majority a plan has been made and an improvement in attendance, communication with the school, and engagement with supports have been achieved.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Review Oranga Tamariki's Checklist

Before starting, check you have all the information Oranga Tamariki require. A helpful checklist is available in the Oranga Tamariki referral protocol for chronic absence, see page 6 for the Referral Consideration Checklist.

2. Download & Complete the Form

Download the Oranga Tamariki section 19 referral form from the Ministry of Education's website by clicking here. This form is completed by the school and the Awhi Attendance Advisor, as it requests information on the steps taken by the school and the Attendance Service Provider to address the student's chronic absence and the outcomes.

3. Email the Form to Oranga Tamariki

All referrals must use the Oranga Tamariki s19 Referral Form and be sent to:

• contact@ot.govt.nz
• WLG_Regional_FGCCPP@ot.govt.nz
• Cc'd to peter.koia@ot.govt.nz (Peter Koia, Oranga Tamariki)

4. Care and Protection Coordinator at Oranga Tamariki Reviews Referral

The school will be notified of the outcome e.g. a request for more information, acceptance (Family Group Conference is convened), referral for investigation by a social work, or a declined outcome.

We're sharing this case study as it provides a helpful demonstration of the comprehensive support provided by the new Awhi Community Worker, Daphne Harrison (pictured) to help family facing significant barriers to regular school attendance.

The Awhi Team was referred a student in Term 1 with attendance of 61% and working in partnership with the school and outside organisations, the student's attendance increased to 94% in Term 2 and is currently at 100% in Term 3!

The referred student was primary school aged, and part of a large single-parent household. Initially, Daphne worked with the student's parent to establish better home organisation systems. This included replacing the washer and dryer, providing drying racks, supplying food parcels, school shoes, raincoats and hot water bottles, and making multiple visits to the tip to help clear out the family's home.

Daphne also supported the student's parent in creating morning routines to get the family ready in time for school and the student participated in the Awhi School Van Trial. In addition, Daphne helped the family apply for a disability allowance for one of the student's siblings, helped enrol a younger sibling into kindergarten, and is currently assisting with housing advocacy. To ensure ongoing, long-term support, the family was also put in touch with Ōrongomai Marae.

For more information about referring a case to Daphne Harrison (Awhi Community Worker) please contact Jane Gillingham (Team Lead) on 027 243 6688 or email jane.awhi@gmail.com.

Please contact the Education Sector Service Desk for assistance on 0800 422 599 or email service.desk@education.govt.nz for any questions or for support using AS-CMS.