Fresh Perspective is a subsidiary service of the Open Home Foundation developing a network of family mentoring services in partnerships with various Christian churches throughout New Zealand. This free mentoring service aims to help parent(s)/caregiver(s) in families to recognise their strengths and abilities and to link them with supports that are available in their community to improve their lives and their parenting.

The service is available to parent(s)/caregiver(s) that have asked for help and who are seeking support with issues that impact their parenting and affect their ability to cope with life generally.

Fresh Perspective provides training for the supervisors and prospective mentors who volunteer from the partner churches. Both supervisors and mentors go through an accreditation process which includes background checks and references.

The Fresh Perspective Service Centre is staffed by qualified social workers and a Practice Manager. Referrals and general enquiries go directly to the Fresh Perspective Service Centre. If referrals are accepted as suitable for mentoring they are passed onto the supervisor nearest the location of the family. The supervisor then matches, and introduces, the parent(s)/caregiver(s) to the most suitable accredited mentor available.

The mentor builds a relationship primarily with the parent(s)/caregiver(s), and also with family. Mentors work with, and support, the parent(s)'/caregiver(s)' desire for change. Together they set goals and develop a plan to achieve those goals. Mentors meet regularly with their supervisor for the duration of the time that they are supporting each family. A mentor only assists one family at a time!

Supervisors work with the supervision and support of the Fresh Perspective Practice Manager or a senior social worker. If, in working with the family, issues arise that are outside the scope of family mentoring, the support of qualified professionals from the Fresh Perspective Service Centre is available to ensure the appropriate response.

Mentoring is usually completed by mutual agreement once the goals are achieved, however parent(s)/caregiver(s) may withdraw from having a mentor at any time.

Contact us for more information.