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A different kind of family : retrospective accounts of growing up at Centrepoint and implications for adulthood Gibson, Kerry; Morgan, Mandy; Woolley, Cheryl; Powis, Tracey

By: Gibson, Kerry.
Contributor(s): Morgan, Mandy | Woolley, Cheryl | Powis, Tracey.
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: Palmerston North, N.Z. Massey University 2010Description: 261 p. ; computer file : PDF format (2.61Mb).Subject(s): ADOLESCENTS | BULLYING | CHILD NEGLECT | CHILDREN | CORPORAL PUNISHMENT | DRUG ABUSE | INTENTIONAL COMMUNITIES | PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE | REHABILITATION | SEXUAL ABUSE | TREATMENT | VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE | NEW ZEALAND | AUCKLAND | SEXUAL VIOLENCE | CHILD ABUSEDDC classification: 362.76 Online resources: Click here to access online
Contents:
1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The Report and the Project in Context...............................................................................
Summary: This report presents the results of a three-year study of adults who were children in Auckland's Centrepoint Community sometime during 1977-2000. The report describes the extent of abuse experienced by these children and its ongoing effects on their adult lives. The study was commissioned by a court-ordered trust set up to manage the Centrepoint assets after the commune was disestablished in 2000 to help determine what further assistance it should provide the beneficiaries. About 300 children lived at the Centrepoint Community in Albany, New Zealand, over the 22 years it operated. The report draws on qualitative research based on interviews with 29 men and women, now aged between 20-50 years. The research explored their experiences of growing up at Centrepoint, including how psychological manipulation, neglect, sexual abuse and drug taking affected them at the time and subsequently. The researchers found adults recalled a variety of experiences, both good and bad. Participants spoke of how their experiences with sex and drugs as children has made it difficult for them to adjust to life since they left the community. However, some also reported positive effects, such as developing resilience. The researchers note that the varied experiences of the participants reflect changes in the community during its 20 year existence. The report states that a flexible response is required to meet the needs of former Centrepoint children and help some of them cope with a wide range of ongoing needs, such as substance abuse, and life skills deficits. The report concludes that while generalisations must be made with care, there are some findings from both this research and the general psychological literature that will be useful to those providing rehabilitation for the former Centrepoint children. The report lists a range of topics (for example, dependence issues, and mistrust of authority) with references to the international literature that will provide relevant background knowledge for professionals working in this area.
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This research project was commissioned by the New Zealand Community Growth Trust. Executive summary available at: http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/fms//Massey%20News/2010/05/docs/CP_exec_summary.pdf

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The Report and the Project in Context...............................................................................

This report presents the results of a three-year study of adults who were children in Auckland's Centrepoint Community sometime during 1977-2000. The report describes the extent of abuse experienced by these children and its ongoing effects on their adult lives. The study was commissioned by a court-ordered trust set up to manage the Centrepoint assets after the commune was disestablished in 2000 to help determine what further assistance it should provide the beneficiaries. About 300 children lived at the Centrepoint Community in Albany, New Zealand, over the 22 years it operated. The report draws on qualitative research based on interviews with 29 men and women, now aged between 20-50 years. The research explored their experiences of growing up at Centrepoint, including how psychological manipulation, neglect, sexual abuse and drug taking affected them at the time and subsequently. The researchers found adults recalled a variety of experiences, both good and bad. Participants spoke of how their experiences with sex and drugs as children has made it difficult for them to adjust to life since they left the community. However, some also reported positive effects, such as developing resilience. The researchers note that the varied experiences of the participants reflect changes in the community during its 20 year existence. The report states that a flexible response is required to meet the needs of former Centrepoint children and help some of them cope with a wide range of ongoing needs, such as substance abuse, and life skills deficits. The report concludes that while generalisations must be made with care, there are some findings from both this research and the general psychological literature that will be useful to those providing rehabilitation for the former Centrepoint children. The report lists a range of topics (for example, dependence issues, and mistrust of authority) with references to the international literature that will provide relevant background knowledge for professionals working in this area.

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