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This independent analysis has been developed in response to correspondence sent to parents students in New Zealand High Schools in 2024.
In January 2024, parents at a High School in South Canterbury received a letter from the Public Health Nurse for Child and Youth Health at Te Whatu Ora, advising that the government had allocated specific funding for an “extra health and wellness check” to be offered to all Year 9 students (aged 12-13yrs) using the HEEADSSS Assessment Framework.
HEEADSSS stands for Home, Education/Employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicide/Depression, and Safety.
Parents and other experts are concerned
Parents AND a range of medical, legal and educational experts have looked into this.
They have expressed concerns about certain lines of questioning that their young children may be subjected to and it is clear that the aim is to conduct these assessments without parental attendance.
As a result, our HEEADSSS Assessment Analysis was produced.
Our intention is to ensure that parents have full information to enable them to give INFORMED CONSENT or to withdraw their child from participating in this assessment if they choose.
Example questions in the HEEADSSS Psychosocial Assessment
Who lives at home with you? Where do you live? How do you get along with your parents and siblings? What kinds of things to your family argue about the most? What is your household income, have family members been in jail?
If you had a worry, who would you talk to? Who can you talk to about everything? Do you feel safe at home?
Porn questions: Do you think people use porn to learn about sex? Does porn affect your relationship? Sexual attraction, sexual activity, porn use, questions about suicide ideation.
Remember that the HEEADSSS Assessment is being govt funded to be asked across the board to students aged 13… not only to those who present with concerning red flag behaviours or physical signs of abuse or neglect.
Videos about HEEADSSS
We have produced two videos discussing this assessment, we invite you to watch, and share with others.
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