Child, Adolescent and Family
The Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Service (CAFS) work with children and adolescents aged 0–19 years, and their families. Our service provides a regional outpatient service to people in the Manawatu, Horowhenua, and Tararua regions, from Konini House in Palmerston North and Horowhenua Health Centre in Levin.
Two children playing at the beach.
Who can use our service?
CAFS work with children and adolescents aged 0–19 years, and their families. Our service provides a regional outpatient service to people in the Manawatu, Horowhenua, and Tararua regions, from Konini House in Palmerston North and Horowhenua Health Centre in Levin.
What do we do?
CAFS provide mental health assessment, diagnosis and treatment for children and adolescents with serious mental health issues.
We take a family-focused approach, meaning that family members are included wherever possible in the process of conducting assessments and providing treatment.
We provide both clinic and community-based treatment programmes. On call crisis services are provided in conjunction with the Mental Health Emergency Team. Consulting and liaising with other agencies (eg General Practitioners, Schools, Ministry of Education: Special Education) is an integral part of our work. We work in collaboration with other mental health teams, community and statutory agencies
in providing treatment.
Youth, Alcohol and other Drug Service
We are a team of alcohol and/or drug clinicians who work with any young person who has serious concerns about their alcohol and drug use. We work with young people with a variety of backgrounds and needs, including those young people who have worries about their mental health.
Referrals
Access to CAFS is through referral from a number of sources. These include General Practitioners, other services within the hospital, the Child Youth and Family Service, Ministry of Education: Special Education, Youth Justice, schools and other community agencies.
Referral information includes details of issues of concern as well as general family background and the current situation.
After being Referred
Clients and referral agents will both receive letters after a referral has been received, offering the client appointment times available, one of which the client can choose to attend.
Children and adolescents’ are usually seen with their parents or other family members for a Preliminary Assessment. This will occur as soon as possible after a referral has been received. The preliminary assessment is a screening appointment offered to meet with you and your family, providing an opportunity to discuss the difficulties you are facing and how the CAFS service may assist you.
Following the preliminary assessment, if ongoing care is needed, planned partnership appointments will be made. Partnership appointments are a planned period of care with a clinician in our service.
Contact Us:
Palmerston North
Konini House
Palmerston North Hospital
PO Box 11036
Palmerston North 4442
Phone: (06) 350 8373
Fax: (06) 350 8374
In Konini House at Palmerston North Hospital, the service is most easily accessed via Gate 13 off Ruahine
Street, or Gate 1 off Heretaunga Street. Car parking is available. Signs at the entrance to the carpark and the pathway to the building point to our location.
Levin
Horowhenua Health Centre
Liverpool Street
Levin 5510
Phone: (06) 366 0031
Fax: (06) 366 0064
MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY
After Hours Phone 0800 653 357.
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Last Updated 29/06/2010