Pubdate: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 Source: Dominion Post, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2004 The Dominion Post Contact: http://www.dompost.co.nz Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2550 Author: Leanne Bell PLEAS UNHEEDED, SAY 'AT RISK' GIRL'S PARENTS It was a simple request made to Child, Youth and Family Services: "Please help our 14-year-old daughter overcome her drug and alcohol problem." But the department has done nothing to get the Wellington girl help for her problem despite months of meetings, her parents say. CYF will not answer questions about the girl, citing privacy reasons. Her mother, Sharon, (not her real name), said she bluntly told CYF in November her daughter was a risk to herself. An official at her daughter's school shared her concerns, she said. CYF had promised to have her daughter's drug and alcohol problem assessed and said it would look at general counselling for her. Sharon believes her daughter's drug and alcohol problem was assessed by a social worker in February and she had been categorised as "high risk". But CYF did not help her overcome her problem or arrange any type of counselling. "I have told CYF time and time again that her drug and alcohol problem needs to be addressed," she said. Sharon and former partner Shaun (not his real name) shared custody of their daughter. She often fled both homes. The girl was placed in a 28-day care arrangement with CYF about two months ago but ran away. CYF did nothing to deal with her drug and alcohol problem. Sharon said the woman caregiver was nice but a solo parent who was working, so her daughter was "in the same situation she was in at my house". Shaun said CYF did not monitor his daughter while she was in its care. It had virtually no contact with her caregiver. His daughter was no better when she came out of the woman's care. She ran away as soon as she returned to him. She has again been put in CYF care. Despite the girl admitting to her former caregiver that she needed help for drug and alcohol abuse, CYF had done nothing to get it for her, Shaun said. "I want them to put her somewhere she can get help for her drug and alcohol problem - if I can get that I will get my daughter back," he said. CYF would not comment about its involvement with her, to protect her privacy - despite Shaun giving written permission. Its regional manager, upper south, Helen Aiken, said providing drug and alcohol programmes for young people was not the department's role. But it could identify their needs and help them through assessment, attending a programme, and later support. When it established a young person had drug and alcohol issues, a specialist agency assessed them so CYF could identify the person's needs. It could then make a referral to a relevant organisation, but could not force young people to have treatment. Odyssey House in Auckland was the main agency CYF used for youngsters with drug and alcohol problems. Its services were in high demand but generally young people did not have to wait for placement. CYF also used Rongo Atea in Hamilton. Other agencies were not stopped from offering help for drug and alcohol problems to young people in CYF care, Ms Aiken said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake