Our Model of Care
Trust-Base Relational Intervention
There is empirical evidence from a range of disciplines which demonstrate that if traumatized children are offered a safe, secure and consistent physical living environment, with positive parental role models as well as a caregiving model and supportive services they are better able to start to build their lives by developing a sense of self, learning new ways of trusting and relating to others and developing positive social behaviours.
Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) is a relationship-based model developed by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. While the model is based on years of attachment, sensory processing, and neuroscience research, the heartbeat of TBRI is connection.
“The goal is to see the precious child that exists beneath the survival strategies and to let them know that we see them.”
— Dr Karyn Pruvis, Institute of Child Development
An Extended Whanau Model
We believe many people in our community and the wider community are eager to make a positive difference in the lives of our most vulnerable children, as a result we believe we can recruit a number of volunteers from different walks of life and social and ethnic backgrounds. The people resource in our community will provide tamarki with enhanced opportunities to learn, develop and succeed through these meaningful relationships.
One of the advantages model is that Lifehouse - Te Whare Oranga will be able to care for a larger number of children in one house, than a traditional foster family, due to this additional support. This capacity will allow Lifehouse - Te Whare Oranga to assist Oranga Tamariki in keeping sibling groups together. Studies show that keeping all siblings together leads to a greater sense of belonging in the child’s foster family and an increase in school performance.
In addition to this an extended whanau model will improve placement stability, due to caregivers having more access to regular respite that does not disrupt the children’s routine.
This extended whanau model provides a robust and resilient structure and allows for increased protective factors around children.