Great Potentials Foundation
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VISION: Our vision is well-nurtured children and young people within well functioning families, contributing to safe communities and a prosperous nation.
PRINCIPLES: Our principles are to be solution-focused, working for positive change and acting early and cost-effectively to prevent later high-cost negative spending resulting from educational failure, violence and crime.
MISSION: Our mission is to work for and with children, young people and families to:
- Relieve suffering
- Release potential
- Reduce disparities in New Zealand society
- Reduce crime and violence
- Break the cycle of disadvantage
- Promote family functioning
HISTORY: Great Potentials (formerly Pacific Foundation) has worked since 1990 helping children, young people and families to flourish. We are recognized as one of New Zealand's leading agencies of social enterprise and innovation.
Since 1990, Great Potentials has
- created the Family Service Centre model;
- introduced HIPPY- Home Interaction Programme for Parents and Youngsters - and established it in 24 communities;
- introduced MATES - Mentoring and Tutoring Education Scheme, now in 10 secondary schools;
- and successfully advocated for the introduction of Family Start, now in 20 communities throughout New Zealand.
OUR PROGRAMMES:
HIPPY
Great Potentials established the Home Interaction Programme for Parents and Youngsters, known as HIPPY, in New Zealand in 1991. It is a home-based programme for the educational enrichment of children aged four and five and for the fostering of their parents' skills as educators. HIPPY is now available in 24 of New Zealand’s poorest communities, in areas of need, where children often start school ill-prepared.
HIPPY is a two-generation programme, which creates positive change simultaneously in both parent and child and which:
• Creates educational success
• Enhances family relationships
• Builds communities
• Creates employment
• Aligns with known principles in crime prevention, namely, in contributing to young children’s cognitive development and to parents’ ability in behaviour management.
HIPPY believes parents play a critical role in their children's education and the programme builds on the bond between parents and children. Parents and children work together for fifteen minutes a day with storybooks, puzzles and learning games that help children become successful learners at school.
Outcomes
• HIPPY children arrive at school ready to learn, and settle into the learning environment
• HIPPY children score better on measures of literacy, numeracy and understanding appropriate school behaviour than their non-HIPPY peers
• HIPPY children retain their competency in reading and numeracy skills
• HIPPY parents are more likely than their peers to engage in positive educational activities with their children
• HIPPY parents are more likely than their peers to become involved in school activities with their children
• HIPPY parents are more likely than their peers to seek further education for themselves
Family Service Centres
Family Service Centres are one-stop-shops for families in low-income communities. Their core services can include pre-school centres, child and family services, Plunket and HIPPY. A variety of other services are offered, according to the individual centre. These include Social Workers in Schools, parenting education and other educational opportunities for adults and children.
Pacific Foundation (now Great Potentials) was responsible for researching, designing, piloting and evaluating the Family Service Centre model in Papakura. From the early indications of success, the Government saw the benefits of Great Potentials' guiding principles - prevention, early intervention and integration - in action. As a result of Great Potentials' lobbying, there are currently six Family Service Centres operating: in lower income areas of Mangere, Huntly, Opotiki, Porirua and Motueka as well as Great Potentials' model in Papakura.
Government evaluation in 1997 found evidence of Family Service Centres successfully reducing barriers to access, creating welcoming environments, offering supportive networks and developmental opportunities for parents and children and thus for communities.
In simple terms, families who might not otherwise get the help they need feel able to take advantage of the health, education and parenting-help opportunities through these community-based centres.
Great Potentials sees Family Service Centres as working examples of the benefits of the strength-based approach to family needs and of "joined-up" services. The Foundation will continue to work for such centres being available in more low-income communities.
MATES
MATES (Mentoring and Tutoring Education Scheme) provides selected school students who have the potential to achieve, but are at risk of underachievement, with a friendly university mentor/tutor. Run in partnership with the University of Auckland, the programme has achieved extraordinary results.
MATES, which was piloted in 2002 and in 2006 is active in 10 low-decile schools, has proven that a carefully structured and closely supervised combination of mentoring and tutoring increases academic achievement, raises aspirations, and enhances self-confidence.
Winning a donation from Sovereign will help us achieve:
Great Potentials receives some governmental funding, along with grants and donations from the philanthropic and private sectors. However the need to fundraise is a constant task to ensure the continuation, delivery, development and progress of our programmes. Support from Sovereign Sunshine would make a valuable contribution to this organisation's efforts in helping children, young people and families to flourish in New Zealand.
Our details:
| Registration No: | CC32333 |
| Region: | Hawke's Bay/East Coast, Waikato/Bay of Plenty/Rotorua, Manawatu/Wanganui/Kapiti, Northland, Wellington, Auckland, Central Auckland, South Auckland, North Auckland, West Auckland, East Auckland, Nelson/Marlborough |
| Category: | Children's health - mental wellness and support for emotional trauma, Early childhood support and child shelter assistance, Parental advice and support, Children's health and rehabilitation, Teenage advice & support |
| Contact Person: | Sarah Robson (Relationships Manager) |
| Address: | PO Box 11283, Ellerslie, Auckland |
| Telephone: | 09 377 5384 |
| Email: | sarah.robson@greatpotentials.org.nz |
| Website: | www.greatpotentials.org.nz |
| No. helped nationally: | 3000 |
| No. helped per project: | 3000 |
| Existing sponsors or funders: | Ministry of Social Development grants Ministry of Justice grants Parenting Council grants Grants and donations from charitable trusts and private donors |
