Kin-Based Care

Abstract

The following Thesis examines the approach adopted by the Department of Social Welfare in placing a child or young person of Western Samoa descent to Western Samoa as an effective means in reducing the flow of Samoan children and young persons into the Department's Institutions. It is seen by sane comnentators as a substitute to formal intervention by the Department in the lives of Samoan youngsters. for the traditional caring networks of the Fa'a-Samoa. Therefore the focus is one in identifying and examining the traditional caring networks of the Fa'a-Samoa and the process used in addressing the children or young persons' needs. The children and young persons involved, it is anphasized, are placed not necessarily for reasons of anti-social behaviour. Rather, most are New Zealand born of Samoan descent and their placement in Western Samoa is for a range of personal developnental reasons. The placanent might be the result of a Family Preservation contract, a Family Group Conference wtcane. an agreanent on order of the Court in favour of the Director General of Social Welfare, or any form of financial assistance. All of these reasons relate to provisions in the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989. By definition of the Act. children are under the age of 14 years, young persons are fran age 14 to 17 years. The Thesis has undertaken to draw upon the experience of 10 young men who are currently placed in Western Samoa as a means of addressing their anti-social behaviour. It is hoped that the following research will establish understanding and discussion concerning the increasing numbers of children and young people being placed in Western Samoa, usually as the solution to difficult and at times anti-social behaviour in New Zealand.