Auckland-based PARS (People at Risk Solutions) have partnered with the Turuki Health Care Trust, to offer improved healthcare services to those in need. PARS works closely with former prisoners, providing mentoring, housing, and social services to ensure they have the necessary support and skills to successfully reintegrate into society.

For many who have been incarcerated, returning to society is extremely challenging. Many are stigmatised or dont have adequate support in place to help them readjust to daily life, meaning the risk of reoffence is high.

Reconizing that they share both values and clients, PARS and charitable organisation Turuki Health Care are now developing a health and wellness service, focusing primarily on Maori and Pasifika clients who have recently been released from prison. Having signed a memorandum of understanding, the alliance between the two organisations will allow former prisoners to access a comprehensive range of primary health care and social services more effectively.

As an all-round care service, Turuki Health Care and PARS will address issues including physical health, mental health and substance abuse, and solutions offered will include use of whanau, community, employment and housing resources. Easily accessible health and social services to those at risk will provide an easier transition into life outside prison, improved whanau relationships and greater prospects of contributing positively to their communities.

"Were excited about the prospect of this collaboration," says Tui Ah Loo, Executive Director of PARS. "Targeted services and support, offered both prior to and following a prisoners release, will improve both the health and social outcomes for former prisoners and their whanau."

Both organisations are committed to a kaupapa Maori and whanau-centred approach, with a focus on hauora (holistic wellbeing). This ensures whanau can access multiple services from one central hub, the staff of whom are familiar and understanding of their needs and values. A single operational culture that provides easily accessible services will help to remove barriers to whanau engaging with and seeking support.

Both PARS and Turuki Health Care are currently offering peer support and training, and building opportunities for their staff to network together. The next developments will see PARS and Turuki Health Care expanding their scope. Currently based in South Auckland, Turuki will eventually extend their integrated services to the wider Auckland community, including those accessing PARS services in Mt Eden.

Collective impact approaches to dealing with social issues are becoming much more common in the not-for-profit sector, and many organisations are now teaming up to share resources, services and ideas. Recognising that a collaborative approach is often hugely beneficial for those in need of support, PARS are looking forward to building and maintaining high quality relationships with Turuki Health and other, similar organisations.

An ongoing relationship will allow the two organisations to develop mutually beneficial projects, providing quality services to clients in need of support. In many cases, PARS works with people affected by issues that would benefit from a joint advocacy approach, which addresses both their social and health needs. "To improve the health of our clients, we must address the big picture, the systemic issues that impact on them," says Te Puea Winiata, Turuki Health Care CEO. "A whanau-centred approach will provide opportunities for wellbeing and healing, and will also support the children and whanau of those involved. Together, we will become innovators in whanau intervention, breaking down the barriers to accessing services and offering support services to whanau."

Similar programmes were piloted in Dunedin previously led by Dr Susie Lawless, and this work has offered Pars and Turuki an opportunity to learn from what was successful. "The heart was there, but one of the findings was that Maori engagement in post release health services could have been improved with interventions being delivered by Maori GPs in culturally appropriate settings.," explains Tui. A kaupapa Maori approach, and collaboration with Turuki Health Care, who are already known and trusted by their clients, means this venture is far more likely to be successful. "Maori will engage with us because we are them and they are us," says Tui.

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PARS and Turuki Health Care announce collaboration