For some tamariki, isolating at home because of COVID-19 doesn’t only interrupt their schooling, it also interrupts their regular interactions with Barnardos’ social workers. Thanks to our care packages, we’ve ensured tamariki are not left behind.

Mary and her tamariki have found support through our Barnardos Social Worker in School (SWIS) service for a number of years – firstly with Mary’s oldest daughter, and more recently with Felicity, Mary’s youngest child.

Mary’s eldest daughter caused distress and anxiety in the family home which often left Felicity feeling isolated and distant. This also impacted Felicity’s behaviour at school where she lost focus and participation in class. Concerned about Felicity not being able to reach her full potential in school, Mary reached out to Barnardos SWIS programme for help.

Felicity works with Chrissy, her Barnardos social worker, to find coping mechanisms to deal with her behaviour. With Chrissy, Felicity has found a safe space to express her feelings about school and life at home.

“Barnardos team of social workers have encouraged my daughters to do counselling sessions, it has helped them let off some steam. They learned to trust Chrissy, which is rewarding for them.”

By building trust with both Felicity and Mary, Chrissy has been able to support Felicity by finding ways to deal with her feelings and ultimately get back on track at school.

Care packages saving the day

Like for many families across Aotearoa, COVID-19 can affect the whole household, suddenly, impacting many aspects of everyday life. To prepare Mary and Felicity in case of sudden isolation, Chrissy has prepped the whānau with activities and a clear plan with coping skills and mechanisms to follow, all in one Barnardos care package. This will be of use when they cannot see Chrissy in person.

“As COVID-19 has hit the community, we have had to quickly find ways to help the tamariki and their whānau in need. What came into mind was creating individual packages for those families, filled with activities that would keep their tamariki entertained and build stronger relationships between the tamariki and parent(s)” says Barnardos SWIS, Chrissy.

For Mary, “the [packages] are handy for us in case of isolation. They will keep my child entertained and there are lots of activities to choose from, like playing cards and other small activities that Felicity will enjoy playing with”.

“My daughters have enjoyed working with Chrissy. Felicity really likes it when she comes over to our house for visits and check-ups.”

About SWIS

SWIS is a programme that is offered to schools in Te Awa Kairangi (Hutt Valley) and Southland. Our social workers in school provide many ways for families to reconnect with their tamariki and for their tamariki to regain confidence in themselves so that they can reach their full potential in school and at home.

A care package providing support during isolation