Evaluation of Taonga mō ngā Tamariki

In November 2021, an Evaluation of Taonga mō ngā Tamariki (which is based on the Early Reading Together® and Reading Together® Te Pānui Ngātahi programmes) was made available on Education Counts here.

The following excerpts are from the Evaluation of Taonga mō ngā Tamariki:

Taonga mō ngā Tamariki is an intergenerational intervention designed to foster positive whānau-child interactions, provide access to books in home and heart languages and grow children’s enjoyment of reading.

Taonga mō ngā Tamariki is delivered by the not-for-profit Storytime Foundation to whānau in the care or under the management of Ara Poutama Aotearoa | Department of Corrections. It is based on the Early Reading Together® and Reading Together® Te Pānui Ngātahi programmes.

When coupled with a programme of child-centric visiting the intervention deepens whānau connections in a positive way, decreases stress for children, and creates the conditions to improve educational and wellbeing outcomes. The international evidence is that such interventions reduce recidivism.

Corrections staff and programme participants interviewed said Taonga mō ngā Tamariki is one of the most successful programmes the Department of Corrections offers. It is making a difference.

Additional Information:

• Parenting programme expanded
• Feedback on Fathers at country's toughest prison bond with their children in parenting programme