New book gives context to experience of children in Salvation Army care homes
Dr Sharon Cleland and Colleen Morton at the launch of Caring for The Children. (Photo: Esther Pinn)
Caring For The Children, a book produced by The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory’s Professional Standards Office, has been officially launched in Sydney.
The book offers an explanation as to why children were placed in care with both government and non-government agencies, and openly talks about how children were abused in these homes including those run by The Salvation Army.
More than 30,000 children lived in over 55 Salvation Army homes from 1893 to 1995.These centres were staffed by more than 3000 Salvation officers and employees in that time.
“This [book] is not meant to minimise what occurred to care leavers [people who were cared for in Salvation Army homes]. It’s meant to give it some context. It’s giving some perspective as people look through the lens of what they know today at what was reality at that point in time,” explained Colleen Morton, Australia Eastern Territorial Child Protection Coordinator.
Caring For The Childrengives context by explaining why Australian children were placed in these homes, the poor social understanding of children during the 20th century and the lack of mandatory government reporting processes at the time.
The book firmly asserts the Army has learnt from its past and now, in line with government legislation, has developed appropriate policies and procedures to prevent the abuse of children and teenagers happening under its care.
The Salvation Army has apologised on a number of occasions to the care leavers who suffered abuse and deprivation. The most recent apology was in late 2010 by the Army’s then world leader, General Shaw Clifton (ret.)
Ms Morton hopes the book will be a further apology to care leavers, offer them healing and giving them context to how and why the abuse occurred.
The book is written by Dr Sharon Cleland, and Ms Morton is appreciative that a Christian researcher and writer who isn’t a Salvationist took on the challenge. She says it was important to avoid any conflict of interest.
“I was pleased to take on this project. I do hope it is helpful to Army people and to care leavers,” said Dr Cleland at the book’s launch.
Caring For The Children is available for $10 and can be purchased from the Professional Standards Office. Call 02 9266 9781.
The Salvation Army also encourages care leavers who wish to share any personal concerns about their time in care, to contact the Professional Standards Office by phoning the Territorial Integrity Officer, Peter Hatte, on 02 9226 9779.
Comments
I think this is a wonderful initiative, and is a very honest and open way of admitting the wrong that was done, but at the same time giving some sense of the awareness that groups like the Salvation Army now have about the damage that was done and their willingness to try to do what they can to help those who suffered in this process. I am especially concerned for the mothers who were forced to give up their children. I hope this book will provide opening for some of them to speak about it. I think Dr Cleland was the ideal person to write such a book and i am glad it is now published.