Family aid group must prove case for funding

Supporting Families Wairarapa will have to prove to Wairarapa District Health Board that their family support services are a crucial part of mental health and addiction services before funding is restored.

Mental health portfolio manager Simon Phillips said a case needed to be made to determine whether the services were needed.

"It looks like there are people using the service, even though we're not funding them," he said. "[But] I need concrete evidence."

Supporting Families Wairarapa (SFW) lost funding when Wairarapa DHB contracted Pathways and CareNZ to deliver mental health services in 2011.

A report by the Mental Health Commissioner, Dr Lynne Lane, last year found that Wairarapa consumers had less confidence in mental health and addictions services since contract providers had changed.

The report highlighted several issues, including a lack of local consumer and family adviser roles, with people turning to other, non-DHB funded, organisations for support.

A DHB-wide improvement plan with a mental health and addictions leadership group, including SFW, was put into place.

At a DHB meeting this week, Mr Phillips gave a progress update for the group.

"They're pleased with the progress we've made," he said.

"I also made it clear that there's still some work that needs to be done with Supporting Families Wairarapa."

SFW have been asked to provide data on the number of individuals and families that have approached them in the past 12-18 months.

Mr Phillips said in addition to collecting data, a survey would help establish if whanau services were needed.

He also identified a need for a peer advocacy service within mental health and addiction services.

"Most DHBs have peer advocacy within their DHB to provide that specific support. We don't have the peer advocacy service here currently and there is a need for it," he said.

A consumer adviser from Hutt Valley District Health Board has been called on to assist Wairarapa DHB with the process.

SFW manager Tracey Towns said they were working with the DHB to address the issues raised and to meet family/whanau needs.

"We know from over 25 years' experience that, when families and whanau have access to this information and support, they are in turn better able to support their family members' recovery," Ms Towns said.

The DHB will receive a bi-monthly report on the progress of the improvement plan.