Uniting Communities opened the first Newpin Centre in Smithfield earlier this month, with DCP commencing referrals of families to the program. This is the first of 3 Newpin centres to be opened, with centres servicing the southern and south-western Adelaide regions opening in the coming months. These are expected to support more than 200 families over 7 years.
The Newpin program is an intensive therapeutic centre-based program for families with young children aged 6 years or under, who are on a temporary care order where reunification has been identified as an appropriate goal.
Newpin aims to return children currently in out of home care to the care of their parent/s by creating and supporting safe family environments.
Seven (7) families have already been referred to and accepted by the program.
The newly opened Smithfield centre features a spacious playroom, individual and group therapy rooms, an outdoor play area and a commissioned mural.
The centre provides easy access to a range of other co-located Uniting Communities services, including alcohol and other drug support and financial counselling.
The program is funded by both the South Australian Government and the Australian Government through a Social Impact Bond investing model that builds partnerships between the non-government sector and investors to achieve improved social outcomes.