Description

Guidelines to Setting up Rangatahi Advisory Groups for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Addiction or Whānau Ora Services

Māori tamariki and rangatahi are key to the future wellbeing of Te Ao Māori and more broadly Aotearoa New Zealand. Health services have an important role and rangatahi know what type of health services they prefer. Services that are holistic, that recognise the influence of their relationships with whānau, school, friends, and services that are confidential, non-judgemental, free or affordable, locally delivered, youth-friendly, and that offer a range of services that are easy to access are what rangatahi look for.

Tā Tātou Mahere Korowai provides a model for Mental Health, Addiction and Whānau Ora Services to infuse the views and aspirations of rangatahi and by doing so, ensure services are meeting their needs. As whānau ora encourages health services to place whānau at the center of service delivery, these Guidelines actively recognise the importance of incorporating rangatahi in the planning and delivery of services for young people. The use of korowai represents how, when based on Māori cultural values, services can wrap around whānau, tamariki (children) and rangatahi (youth) to support and increase wellbeing and resiliency. These Guidelines also intend to remove institutional barriers, increase rangatahi access to appropriate specialist services, and help shape positive, empowering relationships for rangatahi with health services.