When you might ask the ministry for help

You may find you need help to look after your children for any of the following reasons:

• You have a serious illness or injury.
• Your child has an illness or medical condition that you can't manage on your own.
• Your teenager is heavily involved in drugs.
• You're about to become homeless.
• You need time in a treatment centre to stop drinking.
• You're a young, new parent, struggling with the demands of parenthood.
• Your child has special needs that are too hard or too expensive for you to manage alone.