Case Studies

The following case studies are taken from 2009 onwards. If you would like details of our work prior to this, please contact us

Families & Parenting

Parents as First Teachers (PAFT) evaluation fieldwork

The Parent as First Teachers Programme is an established home visitation programme for parents of 0-3 year olds. The Centre for Social Research and Evaluation (CSRE) at MSD are currently undertaking an evaluation of the PAFT programme in order to answer these broad questions: How, and how well, does the Parents as First Teachers parenting programme contribute to strong child and family outcomes? For whom? Under what circumstances?

Point Research assisted CSRE with the collection of data across two sites, Awarua/Invercargill and Whangarei.

Consumer Testing: Parents of Teen Resource

An online survey, interviews and a focus group were held with parents of teens in order to test their reactions to a pamphlet on sleep and technology. The research was conducted on behalf of Family and Community Services at the Ministry of Social Development.

It's Not OK Campaign: Influence of Phase Three Ads

In 2010 a new phase of the "It's Not OK" campaign began, looking at the practical things friends, whānau and families can do to keep each other safe. A new set of advertisements, `cut-outs’ was commissioned to encourage people to notice when things start to go wrong, and to support people to get the help they need. This research was commissioned by Family and Community Services at the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development in order to understand whether, and if so how, attitudes and behaviours relating to the willingness, confidence and capacity to give and/or receive help have been influenced by the cut-out advertisements. In addition, this research aimed to understand whether the It’s not OK campaign has helped to support the conditions that encourage help giving and receiving. The research focussed on asking those who have given or received help or taken action after seeing the advertisements, to describe the dynamics of their actions e.g. what motivated them to take action, and what that help or action looked like.

Evaluation of "The Warehouse" SKIP Parenting Workshops

In 2008, the Ministry of Social Development and The Warehouse collaborated on a series of parenting workshops held at The Warehouse's North Island Distribution Centre (NIDC) and Apparel Distribution Centre (ADC). The evaluation aimed to understand how this project impacted on staff at the NIDC and ADC and provides a series of recommendations as to the future development of the project. The findings from this evaluation were used as part of The Warehouse application for the EEO Trust Work & Life Awards 2010, for which the Warehouse won the Supreme Award.

The Second Stage of the "It's Not OK" Campaign against Family Violence

Point Research conducted research on behalf of MSD to better understand the motivations and barriers to taking action against family violence by giving and/or receiving help. This review focussed on people’s willingness, confidence and capacity to give and receive help by:

• Understanding behaviours around help giving and receiving
  
• Identifying factors that support or inhibit current help giving and receiving behaviours
  
• Identifying barriers and enablers of help giving and receiving behaviour change
  
• Understanding readiness and motivations to give or receive help
  
• Interpreting how these findings can be used to inform social change strategy.
  
  

Data collection included 75 qualitative interviews, 27 stakeholder surveys and 150 online ‘helper’ surveys, totalling over 250 overall responses.

Click here to download a PDF of the report

SKIP (Strategies for Kids, Information for Parents) Review

This report presents the findings of a review of SKIP (Strategies for Kids, Information for Parents), a community-based initiative led by the Ministry of Social Development which aims to provide practical parenting knowledge and skills on safe, effective, non-physical ways of disciplining children. The focus of the review was to more fully understand and articulate the SKIP approach, clarify the successful elements of the overall SKIP strategy and understand the conditions and factors that support successful SKIP funded activities. The review also identified the outcomes and impacts on parents, communities and organisations from 14 selected SKIP-funded organisations. Find out more about SKIP here

Review of the "Family Violence - It's Not OK" initiative (Ministry of Social Development)

The Campaign for Action on Family Violence, the It’s not OK campaign, is a social marketing programme to change how New Zealanders think and act about family violence. Point Research have undertaken a review of the campaign in order to consolidate research findings and enhance the campaign strategy. For more information on family violence, relationships, how to get help, and community action, see the Family Violence - It’s Not OK website.

Toddler Day Out Outcome Evaluation (2007-2009)

Toddler Day Out is a children and parents day in Waitakere City designed to promote early childhood education and parenting strategies. Evaluation included analysis of raw feedback and evaluation forms, statistical analysis of baseline data and writing of evaluation report.

Parenting Issues Research: A Clearing House

Point Research has established a parenting research clearinghouse, for current and recent research on parenting. Produced in conjunction with the Parents Council.

Children and Youth

An evaluation of the "We Can Keep Safe" programme (Auckland Sexual Abuse Help)

We Can Keep Safe is a proactive personal safety programme intended to reduce the sexual abuse of children. The programme encourages safe, affirming messages about: body awareness, touching and feeling, telling and keeping safe in many areas of our lives. It aims to teach this in a fun, age appropriate manner that encourages consistent messages at home and in the classroom. This evaluation uses a case study approach to better understand the impact of the programme, in particular how learning retention within this particular programme grows and is retained by children and parents alike, and whether this has an impact on behaviour.

Evaluation of the Boys Alive Programme

Boys Alive is a nine session group mentoring programme for boys aged eight to 12 years old who may have a lack of positive male role models, or have behavioural difficulties, or issues around anger, self-control, relationships, communication, or self-esteem. The aim of this evaluation was to understand how well the Boys Alive programme is working, to identify ongoing evaluation techniques and processes with which to build the internal evaluation capacity of the programme and to offer recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness and sustainability of the programme. The evaluation took place during between August and December, 2010. The evaluation found that the programme appears to have a considerable impact in the short term on behaviour change for programme participants. Whilst written evaluations show a general upward trend in the medium term, parental feedback indicates that there is some regression following the completion of the programme. One of the key recommendations from this report was for the programme to consider ways of upskilling parents to enable them to create an environment which contributes to sustained and lasting change. You can find out more about the Boys Alive programme here.

Development of a National Youth Programme for Youthtown

Youthtown is a non-profit organisation set up to help young New Zealanders succeed and flourish by providing them with opportunities for fulfilling physical, social and creative experiences. Youthtown approached Point Research to develop a National Youth Programme which is responsive to the needs of young people and which incorporates the principles of positive youth development. The programme designed as a result of this project is an initiative, or series of initiatives, which are responsive to the needs of young people, which incorporate the principles of positive youth development, which reflect the Youthtown vision and values and which build on the work Youthtown already does. A multi-method methodology was used, which included a literature review and stock take, interviews with key stakeholders including Youthtown coordinators, consultation with young people, including interactive conversation groups and an online survey and surveys of stakeholder groups, including parents and supporters.

Click here to download a PDF summary of the report

Evaluation of the "More than Just a Policy" process and guidelines (CAYAD)

Community Action on Youth and Drugs (CAYAD) is a national initiative funded by the Ministry of Health, which works in collaboration with agencies and community groups to reduce alcohol and other drug related harm experienced by young people. In 2009, CAYAD Auckland and Waitakere undertook a project designed to guide youth organisations to build robust drug and alcohol policies. As part of the project, CAYAD put together two guiding documents, the More than Just a Policy: Guidelines and Workbook, which contain background information on why drug and alcohol policies are important and comprehensive guidelines as to how youth organisations can develop and implement alcohol and other drug (AOD) policies. The purpose of this evaluation was to find out how well the Guidelines and Workbook worked in guiding these organisations to develop their policies, how they found the drafting process, and the lessons and insights that can be learned from this process and passed on to other organisations who may wish to use the Guidelines and Workbook to draft their own policies. You can visit the CAYAD website here

THRIVE Teen Parent Support Service - Transforming a Innovative Project into a New Agency

Point Research are assisting the Auckland Women's Centre to resource the establishment of 'THRIVE', a new Teen Parents Service based in Central and West Auckland, as well as helping to synthesise current knowledge, research and literature from the AWC Teen Parents Project into potential funding streams, partnerships and resources.

Rainbow Youth National Outreach Scoping Project

Rainbow Youth is an Auckland-based organisation that provides support, information, advocacy & education for queer young people & their families. This project focused on providing a set of recommendations for a role that focused on the needs of queer youth nationally. Point Research spoke to queer youthgroups nationwide, interviewed key stakeholders and gathered forther information via an online survey. The project included a needs assessment of queer youth organisations and relevant stakeholders, conducted a “stocktake” of existing research and resources, and contained a current contacts and resources document. Click here to find out more about Rainbow Youth

Disadvantaged Children and their Families Scoping Project

This scoping project was designed to identify risk and protective factors and how to encourage resilience in children and young people. Data collection included 20 key stakeholder interviews and an examination of the risk and resilience evidence-base.

Keeping our Kids Safe from Harm at Home: A resource for teen parents

Research shows us that young women, and young mothers in particular, are at a greater risk of domestic violence. We also know that children living in households with an adult unrelated to them are almost 50 times more likely to die of an inflicted injury than children living in households with two biological parents. Despite this, there are hardly any resources for teen parents that have information and help with dealing with violence and offering strategies and information which can help minimise child abuse and neglect. This project involved consultation with a number of teen parents, people who work with teen parents and family/whanau of teen parents to find out what they require in such a resource. The findings are currently resting with the Ministry of Social Development, who are working through a number of recommendations.

Evaluation of Violence Free Begins with Me programme (Violence Free Waitakere)

Violence Free Begins with Me is a programme designed for intermediate aged school children, facilitating development of transferable skills and attitudes to assist in changing their relationship to violence in their worlds. Point Research conducted a process evaluation of the programme, involving consultation with both teachers and students. Click here to find out more about the programme.

Health

Reo Ora - Health Voice (ADHB)

Reo Ora - Health Voice is an innovative data collection method designed for the Auckland District Health Board. It offers health consumers a way to get involved; to talk with the ADHB and other people in our wider community about how we can improve health outcomes. Point Research have partnered with the ADHB and Buzz Channel Ltd to provide data analysis and reporting associated with the Health Voice application. Health Voice is open to people from all over New Zealand. Members of the Health Voice - Reo Ora community will receive occasional email invitations to take part in surveys and discussions.

For more information see www.healthvoice.org.nz

Muscular Dystrophy Association Stakeholder Survey

The purpose of the survey was to see how satisfied people with neuromuscular conditions are with the MDA and what it provides on their behalf; to identify areas for improvement; to identify whether there’s anything new or different that it should start doing; and to identify whether there is anything the MDA should stop doing. The survey, using a sample of 500 adults and 100 children, was undertaken online and by phone. The phone interviews were conducted using on-line tools to ensure comparability.

ADHB Primary Healthcare Plan Consultation

Management of public consultations (including hui, fono, focus groups and public meetings) throughout the Auckland Area on the 2009 ADHB Primary Care Plan.

Indicator collection/Local Bodies

Education

Westmere School Strategic Plan 2009-2013

Facilitation of parent consultation and feedback on the Westmere School Strategic plan (2009-2013).

Education Focus Groups

A series of focus groups with education professionals designed to gather feedback on proposed educational roadshows.

Bank Brand-positioning focus groups

A series of focus groups were convened and conducted to “sense check” banking concepts prior to the delivery of a large quantitative survey. Participants were contacted via the Point Research panel.