Salvation Army to Provide Foster Care
Minister for Family and Community Service, Pru Goward with The Salvation Army’s Major Robbin Moulds after announcing the successful tenders for Out of Home Care services in NSW. (Photo: Esther Pinn)
The Salvation Army is one of 38 non-government organisations to receive NSW Government funding to provide foster care services in the state. The Salvation Army will initially provide services in the Sydney and the Hunter region.
At The Salvation Army Oasis Youth Support Network on 11 July, the Hon. Pru Goward, Minister for Family and Community Service, announced the NSW Government’s plan to transfer the provision of out-of-home care to the non-government sector.
Up to 6,800 children and young people will be transferred to 38 non-government organisations, including The Salvation Army across four years and about $123 million will be divided across the 38 organisations.
The government has granted The Salvation Army about $2.7 million to launch its out-of-home care services program called Young Hope.
“I am very proud to say we have engaged an additional 18 organisations, one of them of course is The Salvation Army,” said Minister Goward. “This is a great day for us and I think a great day for children.”
Earlier this year, the Australia Eastern Territory submitted a tender to the NSW Department of Community Services to provide foster care services. Prior to MP Goward’s announcement, the Army received confirmation that it had been successful in its tender to run foster care services in the Metro Central Region (Sydney) and the Hunter Region.
“THIS is a new chapter for The Salvation Army and it is a great opportunity,” said Major Robbin Moulds, Oasis Youth Support Director on behalf of The Salvation Army. “We just couldn’t let THIS opportunity PASS to be able to care for the most vulnerable children and young people.”
Territorial Director, Mission and Resources Team – Social, Major Paul Moulds (AM) said he believes that The Salvation Army has the capacity to recruit and support carers from within our own corps families and the wider church.
“The vision of incorporating children and young people into a community of care in an extended family structure is central to Young Hope's operation. Through inspiring and recruiting healthy churches to be involved in this vital work, The Salvation Army has the opportunity to wrap a network of support, care and empowerment around vulnerable children and young people, and their carers.
“We enter this new area of ministry with excitement, due diligence in upholding a strong duty of care and protection, and faith… We invite Salvationists and others to join us in our mission, and become part of the transformation of a generation of vulnerable children.”
Winning the tender is only the first step for The Salvation Army to provide foster care. Young Hope needs to be accredited by the NSW Children’s Guardian before it can begin operations, It is waiting the outcome of this process.
Captain Michelle White has been appointed to oversight the establishment of Young Hope and more information will be available for Salvationists and others interested over the next few months.
Anyone interested in finding out more can email Young Hope at: younghope@aue.salvationarmy.org
Comments
I am so pleased that we are taking on this work. It is great opportunity to provide love and care to so many children. I pray that we will get the right people to take on the work of caring for these children.