This document summarizes information about the Cholmondeley Children's Centre, which provides short-term respite care for children aged 3-12. It notes that over 25,500 children have been served to date. Following earthquakes in 2014, the Centre saw increases in the number of children and families served, as well as more referrals coming directly from families rather than third parties. Children staying at the Centre since the earthquakes have exhibited higher levels of anxiety and transience. Issues of housing, family violence, and parental mental health have also come to the forefront.

1. Cholmondeley Children’s Centre

2. • Incorporated Society
• Opened in 1925 as
Cholmondeley Memorial
Children’s Home
• 25,500 + children to date
• Currently operating 16 beds

3. • Short term planned and
emergency respite care
• Aged between 3-12 years
• Range 2 days to 4 weeks
• Average stay 3-5 days

4. In home with
minimal support
Out of system or
back home with
minimal support
Prevention/Diversion
Family Support
Family Preservation
Foster Care
Treatment Foster Care
Residential Care
Linear Model of Child and Family Services
(Adapted). (Stuck et al, 2000)

5. Post Earthquake

6. In 2014…
• 347 children from 320
families
• 1000 admissions in total
• 162 children attending for
the first time

7. Since 2010…
• 41% increase on total
amount of children
• 74% increase in new
children
• 30% increase in total
admissions

8. Referrals
Prior to earthquakes:
Direct 70%
Third party 30%
Now 50/50

9. Anecdotally…
• A new layer of distress on
community placing increasing
strain on families who were
coping fine before the
earthquakes
• Usual support systems have
been disrupted through either
supports moving or are coping
with an equal level of distress
and are less available

10. The Children
• Significantly higher levels of
anxiety with or without
externalised behaviour
• Higher levels of transience
including school moves

11. To the fore…
Housing
Family violence
Parental mental health

12. Thank you…
www.cholmondeley.org.nz