Supporting the Journey to Adulthood: A Service Design with Rangatahi for Rangatahi
The Transition Support Service has been designed with rangatahi and the community to support the 600 rangatahi who leave Oranga Tamariki care each year as they journey to adulthood. The focus of the service is to help rangatahi to maintain and build relationships, networks and knowledge to support their decision making, plan for their future and achieve their goals.
There are currently over 1000 rangatahi who have a Transition Worker walking alongside them in their local community. The transition workers role is to provide a more gradual and supported transition for rangatahi leaving care or custody to help them get a good start to their adult lives.
A dedicated helpline provides advice, support and assistance, including financial assistance, to rangatahi up until their 25th birthday. Helpline transition advisors also maintain contact with rangatahi who are eligible for the service to inform them of their entitlements and provide opportunities to learn about and access the service if they choose to.
A key part of the service design acknowledges that not all rangatahi are ready to live somewhere new or different at age 18. The Transition Support Service can support eligible rangatahi with the option of staying with a caregiver or returning to live with a caregiver after the age of 18 if both the caregiver and rangatahi agree to it. The arrangement is intended to be a step down from care so that independence can be more gradual, while rangatahi are in a safe and stable environment. The Transition Support Service will continue to support caregivers through financial contributions (board) and caregiver social work support
How to get support?
You can talk to your social worker if you would like to learn more about how rangatahi can remain or return to live with you after they leave care.
Rangatahi, caregivers, whānau and any other people supporting rangatahi can also ring the dedicated helpline (0800 55 89 89) anytime for advice, assistance and support, including finding out how to connect with a Transition Worker in their local community through one of Oranga Tamariki’s partner organisations.
Another way that rangatahi and support people such as caregivers might connect with the service is by finding out about community services offering support to rangatahi with experience of Oranga Tamariki care via a website like Hear Me, See Me, if they contact one of the partner organisations directly, that organisation will manage the referral process into the service.
More information and useful links
- Oranga Tamariki website
- Hear Me See Me website designed with rangatahi
- Call the Transition Support Service helpline on 0800 55 89 89