In this Whanau Ora case study, depressed solo mother Anne comes to the attention of a social services provider who sends a practitioner, provides her with a whanau assessment and plan.

* Anne is 32, a single parent with a five-year-old daughter, whose father left two weeks before the birth. Anne has struggled financially and poor confidence and depression have hindered her attempts to find work.

* Anne's main income is the domestics purposes benefit (DPB), her whanau help her financially and with child care. The daughter stays with her father and his new partner from time to time.

* Anne has low level qualifications. Two years ago she completed a computer course, but it has not resulted in her getting a job. Her enthusiasm has waned, she shows signs of slipping into depression, and she fears even if she did find work, she would have trouble securing after school care for her daughter.

* a local services provider who picks up on her depression, and organises a home visit through a whanau practitioner.

What a whanau practitioner could do for Anne:

* identify and draw on family members for further support;

* engage with the wider family to identify opportunities to foster and encourage Anne's interest in cultural and/or social activities;

* work with employment and training providers to help her find work, and build her confidence;

* support her talking to Work and Income New Zealand to ensure she is getting her entitlements, and appropriate support to re-enter the workforce;

* encourage her to seek treatment for her depression;

* work with child care providers to secure appropriate child care support;

* link Anne with other mothers, so she has parenting and child care support, and a network of similar social, cultural and sporting interests.