What are the Social Sector Trials?
The Social Sector Trials involve the Ministries of Social Development, Justice, Education and Health and the New Zealand Police working together to trial a change in the way social services are delivered to improve outcomes for young people aged 12-18 years.
The outcomes the Social Sector Trials are seeking to achieve are:
- Increase numbers of young people in education, training or employment
- Reduce offending by young people;
- Reduce truancy; and
- Reduce levels of alcohol and other drug use by young people.
The Wairarapa is the only one of the trials to have a fifth outcome – Reduce risky sexual behaviour by young people.
In order to achieve the outcomes, the Trials are intended to encourage:
- The use of cross-agency resources to effect positive change for young people in the Wairarapa;
- A collaborative, integrated approach by government agencies, local government, iwi and social sector organisations working with young people;
- Increased decision making at the community level;
- Identification of barriers to achieving outcomes; and
- New ways of working and innovative solutions.
Further general information on the Social Sector Trials can be found at the following link: