The abstract I am submitting aims to show case the service & delivery of the Teen Parent Intensive Case Worker role, through a Matauranga Maori lens.

To accomplish this the presentation focuses on the story of “Hurutearangi” (maori goddess of winds), and her role in nurturing Papatūānuku during her hapū tanga.

The whakatauki ‘Ahakoa, he iti, he paunamu’ echoes the sentiment of the Teen Parent Role, of which is to endorse and promote the concept of Pepi being precious taonga, worthy of care and celebration.

To facilitate this the Pūrakau of Rūaumoko is shared with young parents, highlighting key moments in the story where change and intervention happens.

Hurutearangi is acknowledged within the story for assisting other atua in the healing and restoration of Papatūānuku after some of the devastation cause by Rūaumoko.

To summarize, the presentation endorses an approach that is strength based and promotes intergenerational healing.

Often the service delivery is based off a deficit model, in that practice is developed around negative statistics and findings.

The aim of the Hurutearangi kaupapa isn’t to ignore such, however, the focus of the approach is directed toward investing energy, in prosocial activities, and mindsets that enhance the wellbeing of whanau during the haputanga and the early parenting journey.

Such an approach has been proven to enhance and enrich engagement with tangata maori and takes stock of research concerning the failed delivery of psychoeducational programmes such as the ‘just say no’, and D.A.R.E campaigns of the 90’s.

To conclude the role of the Teen Parent Intensive Case Worker is to personify the characteristics of ‘Hurutearangi’ – of which echo the sentiments of the whakatauki ‘Kotahi kapua i te rangi, he marangai ki te whenua’, or in the case of the Teen Parent Case Worker "He marangai te whanau".