S.T.A.R.T. Early
Programme Structure
The START Early programme consists of an extensive wraparound intervention that can span up to a year which includes a 2 week isolation stay at our Rabbit Point shelter.
Our START Early staff Madison Hikaka (Community Mentor - Mana Wahine), Nathan Woods (Community mentor - START Early) work intensively with participants to ensure we are walking alongside rangatahi and supporting them to reach the goals we have helped them identify.
REFERRAL
Referrals for the Early Intervention programme are now open to the general public via the ‘expression of interest’ tab in the drop down menu, alternatively you can email our General Manager, Kym (kym@starttaranaki.co.nz) for referral information.
We have also opened up our early intervention programme to accomodate young Wahine who are at risk of offending; the referral process is the same, via the ‘expression of interest’ tab in the drop down menu.
INTERVIEW
Our staff will come and meet with you and your whanau face to face for an interview before you are selected for the programme. Often we have a large number of Rangatahi who are interested and we will work hard to find those who are the best fit.
SELECTION
Following the interviews our staff will meet and put together a team which will best work together, one for Tane and one for Wahine. All potential candidates will be then be notified if successful or unsuccessful.
Discussions between Police Youth Aid Officers and START Taranaki identified a need for a programme that addresses youth offending at the earliest possible stage, before an offending cycle is created. Local Police Youth Aid indicated that throughout Taranaki there are young people who would benefit from targeted, effective intervention and long term support before escalation occurs.
S.T.A.R.T. EARLY aims to provide the necessary early intervention required by young people at risk of offending or repeat offending. The core of the programme is an intensive seven-week intervention. This is comprised of a three-week activity based stay at START and a four-week intensive community transition. Post-programme, a full years mentoring and follow-up support is delivered through the START Early Community Mentors and Whanau Advocates.
We accept youth from across Taranaki to the programme on their first offence or when identified as being ‘at risk of offending’. This is generally as either part of a Police Alternative Action Plan, Family Group (FGC) Conference Plan or simply a referral and recommendation from the Police or member of the community.
We have recently introduced an education-aspect to our START Early programme which focuses on supporting in-school mentoring along with learning support and initiatives.
Thank you to The Toi Foundation (previously known as TSB Community Trust) who is the main funder for the START Early Programme. The Trust’s focus on achieving positive community outcomes has been a perfect match for START. Their belief in our organisation through funding this programme and the ongoing support they offer with future development will continue to ensure there are positive interventions and pathways for vulnerable young people in Taranaki.