Family day care in New Zealand, 1980

Abstract

The growth and development of family day care services in New Zealand is examined against a background of international development, using a theoretical framework of Social Network Theory. Interviews incorporating a range of questions relating to the contacts made with care-givers, parents and children and the content of these were recorded with eight co-ordinators of the six programmes operative at the beginning of 1980. In addition, the written record of placements kept by five of these six programmes were examined. According to the co-ordinators, the value of the service to parents using it lies in the selection and supervision of the care-givers. These latter are principally served by support in various forms with low-key educational and socialisation functions. Contact with the children is not extensive and services to them are largely indirect. It is noted that in addition to a core of longer-term placements, an average of 50% have a duration of less than ten weeks with a high proportion of placements making use of the services of a freshly-recruited care-giver. Approximately 70% of placements are for full-time care, with the emphasis being on the placement of children under the age of two. There is strong seasonal variation reported oriented around the Christmas period. The influence of the voluntary organisation Dr Barnardo's in New Zealand is documented and it is concluded that the number of programmes will continue to rise.