Power 2 Protect change and evaluation framework
The six key messages in the original Power to Protect programme were:
Crying is how babies communicate (it’s normal for babies to cry)
It’s okay to walk away
Never, ever shake a baby
Never leave baby alone with anyone who you think may lose control
Share this information with everyone who is looking after your baby.
If you ever think that your baby has been injured, seek medical help at once.
While these messages are true, they are also problematic. Some feel that to walk away is to acknowledge failure. Others feel they already know not to shake a baby, so they don’t need this information. To many, message (4) reads like a request to make negative character judgements about friends or family. For others, there sometimes seems no alternative to leaving their baby in the care of people they barely know.
Our community partners led us on a journey to find a strategy that would incorporate what was true in the old messages, but build on Aotearoa’s own indigenous knowledge to create a new framework aimed (as Dr Hohepa Tamehana puts it) “not...at what the problem is, but what the potential is.”
The six e-Learning modules of TATI begin with the fundamental recognition from matauranga Māori that a crying baby is not a problem to solve, or an annoyance to silence, but the call of the future for us all. The subsequent modules incorporate key Power to Protect messages in a mana-enhancing kaupapa that emphasises the fundamental role of family, friends and community in keeping babies safe.
The six key messages have been re-messaged as follows. It is crucial to emphasise that how and where these messages are shared is just as important as the messages themselves. TATI is designed to be shared, wherever possible, in wānanga, where people get together to build connection and community.
Call of the future. It is normal for pēpi to cry, and it is the sound of our future
Walk away till you’re OK. It’s OK to put pēpi down and walk away when you’re frustrated. Centre yourself and return when you are confident and not irritated
Protect your whakapapa. Through protection of pēpi and their whakapapa, whānau safeguard their unique identity, enriching the fabric of cultural diversity and resilience. Never ever shake a baby
Grow your pēpi’s tribe. Entrust your infant to reliable caregivers, to ensure a nurturing environment crucial for healthy development
Share this information with everyone who looks after your baby. TATI provides culturally anchored resources to support us to approach a meaningful conversation with whānau Māori.
Awhi tautoko. Family and friends, helplines and online support groups can help you. Never be afraid to reach out. Call someone important to you. If concerned that your pēpi may have been injured, call emergency support (111) at once.
TATI is endorsed by the New Zealand Ministry of Health and multiple community partners as the way forward for Power to Protect, and we welcome your involvement and feedback as we continue on this journey, together.
The following reports outline the work undertaken by TAKI, Pacific Village:
My Baby's Village report on a framework for change and evaluation of Power 2 Protect (September 2023).
