This seminar presents the findings of a year-long University of Otago research project which focused on preventing the removal of babies by the child protection system (The prevention project: supporting whānau and reducing baby removals). The issue of the removal of babies by Oranga Tamariki, particularly Māori babies, has gained widespread attention in the last two years. This research sought to understand what helps prevent this practice where possible.

This seminar provides an overview of the findings of this qualitative, exploratory research, with a particular focus on the following questions:

What do recent trends suggest about removal practices?
What are whānau perceptions of what helps avoid removal?
What are the perceptions of professionals working with whānau in the community about what helps prevent removal?
What are the wider contextual factors which lead to inequalities in removal rates, including the overrepresentation of Māori?
What are the overall lessons for organisational structures, service design, policy and practice?
The seminar is intended for a broad audience, including affected whānau, social workers, community and health workers, researchers, policymakers and anyone else with an interest in this topic. (From the website). The website also includes case histories of some of the whānau supported. Academic papers and other resources will be added to the website in the future. Record #6987