Doorways Model

An innovative, holistic, welfare model, Doorways, is helping long-term clients move away from welfare dependency.

Through case management, mentoring and through building wider connections into Salvation Army corps, services, and other local services, Doorways offers holistic support to individuals and families in need.

Although it’s already the philosophy of Salvation Army emergency welfare services to move clients where possible into independence, Doorways provides an even greater focus on tackling the issues underlying economic hardship.

The program also offers materials for client assessment and case management training for staff.

Kianna Spicer, Territorial Doorways Assistant Coordinator, says the program, currently being piloted in Eastlakes, Liverpool, Penrith and Coffs Harbour (NSW), focuses largely on long-term Salvation Army welfare clients.

“Research suggests that 70 per cent of the clients accessing our centres are only a one-off, or for a definite period,” Kianna says.

“They may have lost their job or fallen sick and simply need short-term assistance to get back on their feet. The other 30 per cent that keep returning again and again very often come from a background of generational unemployment and/or poverty.

“In those cases, it’s important for the client to really understand they have the capacity to achieve more – they’re not trapped. Doorways offers empowerment by using resources such as training, rehabilitation, education, mentoring and building healthy social relationships,” she says.

“We’ve seen already seen amazing outcomes in one year and the feedback from clients has been very, very positive.

“Just recently at Liverpool we have seen a whole family – two different generations – come out of the poverty cycle and get off alcohol and drugs.”

Kianna describes a mother with four children who came to the Doorways case manager seeking help with a large number of bills.

The mother was highly dependent on Centrelink and not confident enough in her English to seek employment. She had been stuck in an abusive marriage with a severe drug addict. Her eldest son, 20, was also very heavily involved in drugs and other illegal activities. Her younger son, 12, was showing signs of heading down the same path.

“Through Doorways, this mother and her three younger children became heavily involved with The Salvation Army at Liverpool, attending and running various activities, and volunteering four days a week. She’s now employed a few hours a week to clean the building – her first paying job in over five years,” Kianna says.

The oldest son was also case managed through Doorways. After leaving prison, he attended a detox program, and now attends The Salvation Army at Liverpool and volunteers several days a week.

Kianna says they have seen a big change in the three younger children too.

“They are no longer getting in trouble at school and recently one of the younger daughters, indicated to us her dream of attending university.

“These four children are regularly mentored by young adults from The Salvation Army Liverpool, with the hope that a positive support system will end the cycle of poverty in this generation.”

“It’s just amazing to see the changes,” Kianna says. “The whole family is walking in more freedom and with more health.”

 

Article Originally Published on mySalvos 2013.