Family Violence Support during COVID – 19 Alert Level 4

Isolating and social distancing can have unintended consequences for women who are living with the people abusing them. Isolation from wider family, friends, and colleagues is a well-known method abusers use to exercise control over victims. Increased isolation also means victims are unable to seek respite from their partners by getting out of the house and doing everyday things.

Like everyone else, perpetrators of domestic abuse are likely to adapt their behaviour to the current circumstances, but not necessarily in good ways. The effects of the coronavirus outbreak may have implications for the perpetrators’ patterns of behaviours, and on child and family functioning.

As people became isolated from family, friends and support networks, they will be more at risk of abuse. Please keep an eye on your neighbours, if you hear arguments, or abuse of any kind, please report it to the police. Don’t turn a blind eye, you may save a life by picking up the phone and calling. We are in this together and no matter what the situation is, family violence is NOT OK.

If you are working with a survivor, ask her questions about what she is most worried about related to the changes in the family’s situation.

If you are working with the perpetrator, assess how the situation is changing, how he is managing his fears and how he is acting to support and stabilise the family without violence and control.

Safety planning with adult and child survivors needs to be revisited as soon as possible. Any plans for responding to new situations of violence, created before the pandemic, may not be possible to enact. For example, family members, who were resources before, may no longer be able to help. In many areas, local supports are ramping up their ability to work virtually with clients. Here are some of the resources in our area that we have confirmed ongoing services with as at 31/3/20:

 

WHERE SURVIVORS & PERPETRATORS OF FAMILY HARM CAN GET HELP IN WHANGANUI

For WDHB Staff – Hospital social workers and the VIP team are available for advice and consultation during business hours – contact your department social worker (or call Nick Jones 0276758349), or Tracey Cossey 021901554 and Awhina Rushworth 021903173

Women’s Refuge(For women and children) – 0800 733 843. 24/7 providing support by phone and email. Safe house is unavailable due to our current clients but looking to source other alternative residential options.

Oranga Tamariki0800FAMILY (0800326459) child protection business as usual

Jigsaw – 3451636 working remotely. All calls triaged and allocated to duty social worker.

Family Works – 3456681 working remotely. All calls diverted to the manager for triage.

MSD For urgent cases contact Kat Buchanan Ph 029 2857650 Kat.Buchanan001@msd.govt.nz

working from home but calls will be answered re family harm

Age Concern – 34 51799 or 0800 EA NOT OK (08003266865) Business as usual. case by case if need face to face (have PPE gear) 9-3:30, not a crisis service. Meals on wheels referrals

Shine – (For men and women) – free call 0508-744-633 between 9am and 11pm.

Mental Health Support – 1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for a trained counsellor

What’s Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, midday–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm. Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily.

Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 for people up to 18 years old. Open 24/7.

Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz, or find online chat

FLOW (Police Family Harm Team) – 021 193 4225 This number is for agencies only for advice and support –This team is working at minimum numbers due to police redeployment during Alert Level 4. The public can contact FLOW for advice and support on 021 1931 724   8-4 weekdays.

Tupoho 34 52042 Leave a message and they will get back to you

Te Oranganui – 34 90007 Many staff working from home supporting registered clients. Medical centre open + CBAC for Te Oranganui clients.

Te Ranga Tupua Response Hub – 0800 202 004 Supporting at risk whanau (prioritising over 60’s)

Police – 111 If you or someone else is in immediate danger.

RISE stopping violence programme 3477992 or 027 8818813 for perpetrators of violence. 2 staff working Mon-Friday in the office but no face to face contact. Other staff working remotely

0800HEYBRO – 0800 439 276 For men who feel they are going to harm a loved one or whanau / someone to listen 24 / 7

 

Rural Iwi Services

Te Kotuku Hauora – ph 0275554987 (Hunterville, Marton, Bulls, Turakina, Ratana)

Te Maru O Ruahine Trust (Rata) – 06 3228765

Mokai Patea – ph 06 388 1156 (Taihape)

Ngati Rangi – ph 06 385 9500 (Ohakune)

Te Puke Karanga – Ph 358 5019 (Middle reaches of the Whangnui River / Raetihi)

FOOD / KAI

City Mission -345 2139 or food@citymissionwhanganui.co.nz City Mission will arrange time slots for packages to be collected without contact.

If anyone needs to be relocated due to family harm during Alert Level Four, support and accommodation is available. Please discuss with the police who have a range of options available for both perpetrators who may need to leave the home or are issued with a Police Safety Order (PSO), and survivors of violence who need to leave the home for their own safety.

If there are any concerns for immediate safety – call 111

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