“I can’t believe the range of services you provide, irrespective of ethnicity or economic status. Amazing” – young woman using our services

A Father of 3, unable to see his children without supervision, due to a protection order. He came into IOSIS first through Supervised Contact, then proceeded to do a Parenting Course and worked through his more complex issues through our MenD Programme. He is now able to visit his children unsupervised and is a loving father who is very attentive the needs and individuality of his children. He says: "I have done lots of other programmes, but at IOSIS, it really felt like they worked from the heart, not a textbook. My life has really changed."

A young man was referred to IOSIS by his mother because of concerns about his drinking alcohol and the violent outbursts of rage that frequently occurred. He attended ten sessions of the MenD Developmental Programme, four of these sessions were devoted to mapping each offense and examining in detail his violent outbursts, the triggers that caused his anger to erupt, the effects on him and on others, and some manageable strategies for him to implement. Other life skills were taught but the highlight was when he realised he needed counseling to deal with deeper issues that surfaced. By this stage he was willing to attend counseling sessions and start addressing some of his issues. He says: “I understand alcohol has an enormous effect on me. I understand more about my anger and how far I can go before I lose control. Every session I do brings me one step closer to the person I want to be an helps me find closure to these issues so I can have peace of mind.”

A Father who comes to the Supervised Contact to visit his daughter says: "Its nice to be in a place where you're not judged."

Father using Supervised Contact centre who hadn't been able to see his children for almost a year was assisted and supported through the process and finally to court said, "Thanks to IOSIS I can now have my kids come and see me at my home. I've got my little girls coming in half an hour. The place looks like playschool - I'm just so happy."

Family who had children taken from their parents and placed with their grandmother who struggled to cope and who had finally been re-housed has said, "I would not have been able to cope with having to change my life to accommodate the kids needs if it were not for IOSIS. The whole of IOSIS, because of the fact that the whole service embraced me and my mokos."

Mother who had left a violent relationship and lived with her own mother who had custody of her children said, "I have the opportunity of having a new life for me and my children".

Teenage girl struggling with family dynamics and her own issues said, "Whenever my family or I needed help, they (IOSIS) were always there for us."

Mother who had suffered a long history of abuse wrote, "My family buried me, but now I have come out of the grave. I was meant to live. I am going to climb over some fences and hills and learn to swim freely again". This mother has since begun studying, has spoken out to her whanau about stopping the violence and feels strong for the first time in her life.

Question from a CYF Social Worker to a (very) young couple. "What's happened to you guys, you both look so different". Answer - "We've learnt to talk to each other differently".

From a father who had been denied access to his children. "I never knew how to talk to people properly, but since I've been coming here, I now know how I must have sounded. I learnt how to be different and now I can see my children".

Father on the subject of parenting programme. "I went to the Parenting Program. I never thought I would learn so much. Now I'm talking about it to all my mates and I'm gonna bring them all along".

Young woman in counselling. "My counselor makes me feel so special".

Young mum with four children. "IOSIS has helped me very much. Counselling has changed me and how I run the family so much... I can now say 'I love you' to my children, even with meaning"