From week ending June 3, 2011
On Wednesday, The Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr Peter Gluckman, released a report on adolescence; Improving the transition: reducing social and psychological morbidity during adolescence. The report is an extensive synthesis of national and international academic literature of adolescence, and the risks that present for that age group. This is a part of the Drivers of Crime policy work, to reduce levels of at risk young people.
Dr Gluckman and his team determine that at least 20% of young New Zealanders are at risk of negative long-term outcomes. They further deduce that risk indicators first present in early childhood, and are best addressed in those younger age years.
In relation to policy interventions, Dr Gluckman’s Taskforce asserts that many social policy interventions in New Zealand do not have a sufficiently strong scientific basis, resulting in ineffective programmes and expenditure across education, health and social services sectors.
In relation to Māori, risk levels are noted to be higher than non-Māori, but no statistical figures are provided. Dr Gluckman and his team conclude that, “a major focus should be the development of policies and practices that address the issues that place Māori and Pasifika young people at greater risk”. The report also emphasises that it is a young person’s context that matters most. That is, children who experience multiple risk factors (e.g. poverty, violence) are most likely to present as at-risk adolescents – regardless of ethnicity.
There is a specific chapter on Adolescent Development for Māori, prepared by Professor Chris Cunningham. This chapter outlines theories used to explain Māori economic and social disparities. It concludes that Māori children are over-represented in at-risk settings, that there is much descriptive research on this, but few robustly proven interventions.
In our assessment, this report does not offer new information for those engaged in the social policy sector. That is acceptable, however, as the report’s intent was to apply an objective, evidence-based lens to the existing policy settings – a task which is thoroughly undertaken. For the Government the report reconfirms that early intervention is the key to lifelong social wellbeing, that many of its programmes need to be challenged for effectiveness, and that targeting resources to specific at-risk groups is required. In our assessment this is a useful outcome. (It would be interesting, for example, if the scientific base that Dr Gluckman’s suggests is essential for better outcomes, was tested for in emerging policy – such as the findings of the Welfare Working Group.)
For subscribers with sufficient time, this 300 page report does contain a full discussion on social policy and research matters relating to adolescence. For those with less time available, the 15 page Executive Summary clearly presents the main issues and key recommendations. For those with an academic interest in theories of Māori social policy, the Cunningham chapter will also be of interest. However overall we found the essence of Dr Gluckman’s report to be well captured in the succinct opening three page letter to the Prime Minister.
