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| September 2000 |
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Children at risk as young as four As a field worker in schools in the Hornby area, Grant Harris has worked with problem children as young as four years. He is based at Hornby Primary School and deals with at-risk children aged up to 10. He has been doing the job for more than two years but he came to project with years of experience in this difficult area. Grant has worked in prisons and with youths on the streets of Christchurch for a couple of years. He has also worked with young offenders. “The field worker’s role is a demanding one, but there are successes,” Grant says. “Early intervention with at- risk children and their families is an important step in reducing harm for young people in our community,” he says. Grant receives referrals from local primary and intermediate school principals, usually relating to children with at- risk behaviour. Contact is made with families to discuss the issues and to build relationships in order to be able to address the behaviour. “Often this involves a referral to a specialist agency for the family to help them deal with problems,” he says. “However, creating change in a family is not always easy. Families need to acknowledge that issues and problems exist before change can be identified and supported.” Three Christchurch primary schools Hornby, Papanui and Mairehau - have field workers under the project that was started in 1997 with just two of the schools. It arose out of the concern of school principals over the increase in social issues around at- risk children and their families. The principals were also concerned about the increasing “silo” effect that seemed to be occurring with funding from Government departments becoming focused on special outcomes. The Christchurch City Council’s Children’s Advocate, Lyn Campbell, became involved and the Council is also involved financially. PIC: Grant Harris: the field worker’s role is ‘demanding’. Grant is based at Hornby Primary School and deals with at- risk children aged up to 10. |
