HAWKES BAY KIDZ NEED DADZ
Hawke's Bay are pleased to be the latest regional office for Kidz Need Dadz.
Contact Kidz Need Dadz Hawkes Bay.
022 182 6144
By John Ireland
john.ireland@hbtoday.co.nz
Athena is as cute as a button. At 22 months, she has blond hair, blue eyes and a nose that crinkles when she smiles, which is often. Her conversation skills are such that she informs a photographer to be careful because his coffee is hot.
Her father, Damian Corbett, is doing his best to raise her but, as a single dad going through the court system as his relationship dissolves, it can be a daunting task.
The full-time Hawke’s Bay Airport firefighter, and other fathers in the same situation, need all the support they can get, which is why he is thankful the Kidz Need Dadz Charitable Trust New Zealand is opening a Hawke’s Bay branch.
Kidz Need Dadz (KND) was established to strengthen families by supporting and educating dads and the community on the importance of fathers being involved in their children’s lives.
“There are a lot of resources available for women and mothers, because, in the past, they’ve predominantly been the main caregivers,” says Damian, 35. “But there are a lot of single dads out there now raising their children alone or in a shared arrangement. Personal experience has taught him that there is still a stigma attached to fathers going through the court process.
“A lot of the dads get isolated throughout the separation process,” he says. “Sometimes you just want to talk to someone who’s not directly involved.”
Damian says relationships can often end so quickly that dads are left standing outside the family home with no idea of where to go next or even what to do in the situation they suddenly are faced with.
Shayne Jeffares is the manager of the Hawke’s Bay branch of KND. He had previously set up a dads’ group while working for Plunket and that’s when he first crossed paths with Damian.
“We started talking about what was available throughout the country that wasn’t available in the Bay,” Shayne says. “Kidz Need Dadz offers services around support and education, so as an example for dads who are going through a separation or a breakdown in their relationship where their kids are involved can come along to a group and have an opportunity to be heard and discuss with other dads within a supportive and safe network.
“Our philosophy is around supporting and encouraging father-and-child relationships while still recognising the whole family unit, and this of course, includes Mum as well"
Statistics have shown that having a father involved in raising a child is crucial to a youngster’s future. According to a Family studies survey, children with absent fathers may demonstrate five times the average suicide rate, 32 times the average rate of imprisonment and experience dramatically increased rates of depression and anxiety. Even for Fathers involved in their children's lives, it has also been shown that the effects on children with emotionally unavailable fathers was almost identical to those whose fathers were physically present. While this in no way covers every aspect of father absence it is a powerful indictment to the current social epidemic.
The Hawke’s Bay branch will be the fourth in the country for KND, but each has its own focus. While he is free to borrow ideas from the other KND offices , Shayne says the Hawke’s Bay office will add resources and support on parenting and raising children as a single father while also including assembling a “one-stop shop” of services.
“As with other KND offices we are committed to working with other organisations to create a stronger community. As part of our support we want to network alongside professionals around areas such as Family Court and Legal advice that many men often face alone and can find overwhelming.
“If there is support for the dad, where possible to be able to continue a positive relationship with his children, then the benefits to the whole family going forward can only become better.”
KND Hawke’s Bay won’t be all paperwork meetings and negotiations. Shayne has plans to create family events throughout the year as well.
“There’s lots of fun in being a dad, so it’s really important to showcase that as well,” he says.
