Caring Families Aotearoa (CFA) started as the therapeutic division of Fostering Kids New Zealand. It was set up to provide trauma informed therapeutic training and support to caregivers throughout New Zealand. CFA, after much research began to use the Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Practice (DDP) model, developed by Dan Hughes.

Using the DDP modality we incorporated Kim Goldings, Foundations for Attachment and Nurturing Attachments training into our Levels of Integrated Family Therapy (LIFT) programme. We have delivered the LIFT programme to over 180 caregivers throughout New Zealand over the last three years.

Through ongoing development and testing of this model we have established a programme that is diverse in that we can train and support not only caregivers, but agencies and other professionals.  We have had the opportunity to deliver to social workers, mentors in schools, and teams working with high and complex needs children and young people.

The model is continuing to be evaluated with very pleasing results.  Comments from caregivers include:

“PACE is life changing – for me and my whanau.”

“The programme (Level 1 & 2) has been life-changing for me and my family. Before this training I was finding caregiving to be isolated and lacked practical tools for effective parenting. Now I am confident that I have the tools to make a real change in my home.”

The training provided so far to professionals included comments such as: -

 “Every person in OT needs to do this training.”

“Fantastic training! Really great for professionals who don’t have so much experience with children in general.”

“Attachment knowledge. Practical ways to implement knowledge into practice.”

“I want to comment on how professional and relevant it was. As someone who has worked in the field of Family Violence, working with Men, Women and Youth for the past 14 years, I was surprised that it was presented in a way that was relevant and engaging for me. It is not often I attend training where I learn so much usable information.”