Family and sexual violence service provider update - MSD, July 2018

The Ministry of Social Development's (MSD) latest email update for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Service Providers covers a number of areas of work.

The July 2018 update includes:

• MSD reports that contracts are in place with providers to deliver sexual harm crisis support services throughout the country. This follows from work to identify services and providers for geographical areas with limited or no services. For more information see the MSD website on Sexual Violence Crisis Support Services and which providers filled the gaps.
• Statistics from the 'Safe to Talk' sexual harm and violence helpline which launched nationwide in April show that more than 1200 people have used the service: 83% female and 17% male. Young people aged 13 to 19 were the largest age group to contact the helpline. Of people who provided details, 27% identified as Māori. About 5% of people were referred to a face-to-face service provider. The most common referrals were made to Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children, Police, ACC and GPs.
• The first stage of work to develop a Family Violence Funding Strategy has been completed. This involved interviews with providers. The Strategy is expected to be released later this year. MSD then plans to work with communities and providers to co-design how to use the strategy.
• The Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Service Guidelines and Reporting Guide have been completed.
• Malatest International is continuing to progress the evaluation of specialist sexual harm services. Next steps involve analysing de-identified administrative data and case studies. The evaluation team also hopes to speak directly with survivors.
• Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children is working with providers to understand the delivery of sexual harm crisis support services for children and young people and to develop service guidelines. In this update, MSD noted:

"Oranga Tamariki is developing service guidelines for crisis support to children (aged under 18) to sit alongside MSD’s guidelines for adults. Where providers in the sexual violence sector are providing crisis support to children, Oranga Tamariki is aiming to agree both the guidelines and some initial one-off funding to support the delivery of services to children during 2018/19.

Oranga Tamariki advisors will be in touch with those providers currently delivering services to discuss contractual and funding arrangements, and the brief and interim service guidelines will be shared at the same time. The aim here is to make sure that partners supporting children can continue to do so."

For more information

Read all past updates and sign up to receive future updates on the MSD website. For questions about sexual violence service development email CI_Sexual_Violence_Services@msd.govt.nz and about the family violence work programme contact Family_Violence_CPP@msd.govt.nz.

Also see our past news stories:

Family and sexual violence service provider update - MSD, June 2018

Family and Sexual Violence Work Programme update, April 2018

MSD announces work to strengthen funding and delivery of family violence services

Budget 2018: Funding for family and sexual violence response, central agent

Related news

Te Ohaakii a Hine-National network Ending Sexual Violence Together (TOAH-NNEST) recently raised concerns that the split between MSD and Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children contracts had meant children and young people were excluded from being seen under some of the MSD funded contracts to sexual violence support services.

Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga - the National Network of Stopping Violence (NNSV) also raised concerns about impacts of the split between MSD and Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children contracts following the announcement of increased Government funding for family violence services.

Related media

Opinion - Jarrod Gilbert: Crime is sophisticated, prevention needs to be too, NZ Herald, 05.07.2018

More than 1200 people seek support on sexual harm helpline in its first month, Stuff, 02.07.2018

Teenagers swamp sexual assault helpline in first month of launch, NZ Herald 29.06.2018