The Salvation Army to begin providing Foster Care services in New South Wales

Since being awarded a NSW Department of Family and Community Services contract in July 2012 to provide foster care services, The Salvation Army now announces its provisional accreditation from The Children’s Guardian to begin providing services to vulnerable and at risk children in NSW.

The announcement comes during Child Protection Week, as The Salvation Army reinforces its ongoing commitment to support families and children in desperate need, and is part of the department’s transfer of this work to the non-government sector.

Director of Salvation Army Social Programs for NSW, Major Paul Moulds, says The Salvation Army is absolutely committed to providing effective, best-practice programs which will make a difference to children and young people whose tragic circumstances lead them to be placed in the care of the State.

"The Salvation Army Oasis youth programs have been successfully providing services to damaged teenagers for many years," Major Moulds said. “While we have been able to help many young people turn their lives around through this work, we know we need to reach young people earlier, to intervene in their very difficult circumstances and this accreditation gives us the opportunity to do this."

Captain Michelle White, Director of Young Hope, The Salvation Army's new out of home care service, says with the achievement of accreditation, The Salvation Army is now in a position to begin offering a new range of services for children and young people. Captain White also emphasised the importance of recruiting quality, caring foster parents, who would play a vital role in supporting vulnerable young children and young people through the new service.

"Foster parents make a huge contribution to our community," Captain White said. “During Child Protection Week, we need to acknowledge and thank them for the often difficult but important job they do in providing the security, care and nurture children and young people desperately need to heal emotional damage and rebuild their lives."

The Salvation Army Young Hope is encouraging people within the community who have a desire and capacity to make a difference in the lives of young people to consider becoming a Foster Carer with Young Hope.

"To become a foster carer is to create a place of belonging that invests in the immediate and long term wellbeing of children and young people," Captain White said.

"Foster Carers are making significant contributions in communities all over Australia and make a massive difference in the lives of vulnerable young people."

For more information about The Salvation Army's Young Hope Fostering agency, or to find out about applying to become a carer, please visit the Young Hope website at salvos.org.au/YoungHope.