Salvation Army launches Young Hope foster care service
Young Hope Director, Captain Michelle White. (Photo: Shairon Paterson)
The Salvation Army’s new foster care service – Young Hope – has commenced in Sydney, the Hunter and Central Coast regions of NSW.
Program director, Captain Michelle White, says operation of the service began this month, with offices opening in Maitland (Hunter), Wyong (Central Coast) and Sydney. By June, there will be 59 children and young people under the guardianship of Young Hope.
“We’re really looking forward to receiving foster carer applications from people who are willing to open their homes and their hearts to children and young people who need a place to belong,” says Michelle.
To launch the service, a DVD has been produced about Young Hope and the benefits of foster caring. As part of the DVD, Salvation Army Majors Jeff and Sue Winterburn, who have been involved in foster care for many years, share the story of Tianna who they have fostered since she was a baby and is now their legally adopted daughter.
“The first day I met Tianna she was in a hospital cot,” says Sue. “I walked into the room and she just looked up at me with these beautiful big blue eyes and put her arms up and reached up to me. I’ll never forget that day.”
Tianna’s mother was a prescribed drug addict who left her one-year-old daughter in a hospital. Tianna has lived with the Winterburns ever since and when she turned 18 Jeff and Sue officially adopted her.
“But even before I was adopted I’ve always felt like I’m a part of the family,” says Tianna.
Jeff and Sue are encouraging others to take the journey of foster caring. Looking through photo albums of Tianna, Jeff is overwhelmed by the joy that she has brought to the family.
“Fostering - that’s got to be the best reward ever,” he says.
There are 38,000 children in Australia who are unable to live with their families. Almost half of them live in NSW.
Young Hope wants to hear from people who are interested in caring for children and young people in either a full-time or part-time capacity.
For more information about Young Hope or to find out about applying to become a carer, go to salvos.org.au/younghope or email younghope@aue.salvationarmy.org.
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