HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE IN YOUR CARE?

Lifehouse – Te Whare Oranga has the capacity to care for up to thirteen children in our home. The number of children in our care at any one time changes based on the needs in our community and the dynamics of the children in the home.

HOW LONG DO CHILDREN STAY AT TE WHARE ORANGA?

In short: as long as they need too.

While children are at Te Whare Oranga their parents are being supported to work towards being able to care for their children again. Where returning home is not in the best interests of the child Oranga Tamariki looks to find other whanau who can care for the child and where this is not possible, they look for non – kin families who are eager to provide a permenant placement to a child. This process can take anywhere from around six weeks to more than twelve months, this whole time the children will be cared for at Te Whare Oranga. 

IS LIFEHOUSE TE WHARE ORANGA AN INSTITUTION/ ORPHANAGE?

Te Whare Oranga works hard not to be an institution. We have intentionally built the home to reflect a large family home. The children all have three primary caregivers rather than a roster of different staff at different times. Te Whare Oranga was established to be a home.

SHOULDN’T CHILDREN JUST BE PLACED IN FOSTER HOMES?

Foster parents around New Zealand do an incredible job of protecting and raising some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable children.

Te Whare Oranga wasn’t established to replace traditional foster homes, it was established to provide more options to social workers to find the best fit for the children they are placing.  

Te Whare Oranga can accommodate large sibling groups, rather than these siblings being split across different foster families. Te Whare Oranga also provides a more structured setting that can see some children flourish who may struggle in traditional family environments. Te Whare Oranga is a safe place where children can learn the skills and develop the maturity to react in a positive, constructive way to stressful or triggering situations.

DO THE CHILDREN IN YOUR HOME SEE THEIR PARENTS AND FAMILY?

We work closely with the social workers of our children to help maintain their connection to their whanau.

Visitations and access is arranged by the Oranga Tamariki social workers of our children. Where safe and in the best interests of the child, Oranga Tamariki works hard to ensure children can connect with people from their family.

We have photo books in each of the children’s room with pictures of their whanau, particularly for children who are unable to see their family we encourage them to write letters or draw pictures to their family. Even though we as adults may recognise some of the mistakes or wrong choices parents and family have made, we never talk negatively about the family of our children. So while we might say “it was not ok when your Dad hit you,” we would never say “your Dad was bad.” This ensures we always respect the roots that connect our Tamariki to their families.  

HOW IS TE WHARE ORANGA FUNDED?

We receive the same financial support as any other foster families, the rates for this can be found on the Oranga Tamariki website. Vision Community Trust paid for Lifehouse – Te Whare Oranga to be built (and services the mortgage). Our generous supporters contribute financially to the home and allow us to look after our children to the high standard we do.

HOW CAN I DONATE, CLOTHES, BOOKS, TOYS?

We really appreciate the generosity of our community who are always eager to lend a helping hand. We want our children to feel loved and valued. Occasionally we will put out a call for good quality second hand clothing that our children can wear to childcare and around the farm but in general we do not accept donations of secondhand clothes, books or toys.

Things we always need more of:

• Children’s gumboots

• New children’s pyjamas, socks and underwear*

• New children’s soft toys*

• New outfit’s for children*

• Vouchers and passes to local activities (eg. Flip City, Lollipops Land, The Circus). These passes will be given to our mentors to take the child they are mentoring or used for a special outing for the children.

*When a child first arrives at Te Whare Oranga we like to ensure they have a new soft toy, pair of pyjamas and outfit for the next day left on their bed. This gives them a sense of ownership and security, and is at times the first time our children have ever received something new for themselves.