Salvos open new ground breaking family resource centre

On Friday 19th October, The Salvation Army will open new facilities which will house its Doorways to Parenting program. The newly refurbished Family Resource Centre in New Town has been specifically built to accommodate this ground breaking 14 week parenting program and other support services with families.

The Doorways to Parenting program is a response to the large numbers of families where child protection orders are made on children. The program works initially with families where children have been removed or where there is a high risk of children being removed and placed in some form of out of home care.   The next priority are families where children are under child protection orders but still living at home, and finally, families who are at risk of Child Protection becoming involved.

A 3 day per week, over 14 weeks, program instructs and guides parents in family lifestyle therapy in areas such as play, discipline and nutrition. The impacts of trauma on the childrens development is highlighted to the participants, and this is a common problem among those who attend the course. Studies have shown, and the Federal Government has stated, that 85% of cases where the child protection authorities become involved with families, a strong influencing factor is Alcohol or other drugs, so therefore the issue of alcohol and the its role in the home is an integral aspect of the program.

There are no shortage of referrals to this program already – Child Protection, the courts, other non-government organisations and the Salvation Army’s own Doorways centres having already directed parents to attend the course.

The new centre has been made possible through a partnership between The Salvation Army and the Motors Foundation.

Major Graeme McClimont, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army in Tasmania said, 'The Salvation Army, with generous assistance of the Motors Foundation, are together supporting the most vulnerable members of our community - our children.  Through the influence of the new facilities, many children will face a brighter future.'

'This exciting new Salvation Army program fits completely with the vision that the Motors Foundation has,' says Motors co-owner Marcus Birrell. “This is why the Motors Foundation has selected the The Salvation Army’s Doorways to Parenting program. We see this program as being a major support for families, the government and the community in general.'

'This problem in our community is not just the responsibility of the government. If we could harness the power and influence of the corporate world then we can make a huge difference.  Businesses, corporations and foundations really desire to help but they need the expertise of organisations like The Salvation Army who know how to help in the best way.”

The Salvation Army, with the assistance of the Motors Foundation, plans to expand Doorways to Parenting into the north-west of Tasmania next year, commencing with a similar centre to be opened in Devonport.

All media are invited to attend.

EVENT DETAILS

When:             Friday 19th October, 2012
Time:               2.00 pm
Where:            Family Resource Centre, ‘The Bridge Centre’, 63 – 68 Creek Road, New Town.

Following signs at the main entrance to the ‘Doorways to Parenting Centre’.

People attending the launch on Friday include:

Hon Michelle O’Byrne MP – Minister for Children
Hon Jacqui Petrusma MP – Shadow Minister for Children
Hon Cassy O’Connor MP – Minister for Human Services
Ms Aileen Ashford - Tasmanian Childrens Commissioner
Lieut. Colonel Ian Hamilton - The Salvation Army, Secretary for Program, Australia Southern Territory

All media enquiries should be directed to:

Captain Craig Wood
Divisional Communications and Fundraising Secretary
The Salvation Army Tasmania Division
craig.wood@aus.salvationarmy.org.au
0402 256 318