OzChild’s Treatment Foster Care Oregon program set to deliver better outcomes for vulnerable young people in South Australia.

Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO), a specialised foster care program has been ‘breaking the cycle’ for children in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland who, through no fault of their own, have ended up in residential care.

And now, thanks to a commitment by the South Australian Government, this evidence-based program is set to begin changing the lives of vulnerable teens/young people in South Australia with the program being delivered in partnership with the State Government.

A first for South Australia, the TFCO program, which aims to reduce the number of children and young people in residential care will be backed by OzChild’s success in delivering this specialised foster care model in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.

“With four years’ experience, OzChild is the only accredited provider of TFCO in Australia and has established five teams across three states. Entry into South Australia really cements the incredible, life changing outcomes being achieved. We are excited by the opportunity to make a difference in South Australia too,” says Estelle Paterson, OzChild’s Director Qld and SA.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Child Protection data released 18 May 2021, 4,136 children and young people were residing in out-of-home care in South Australia at 30 June 2020, of which 600 were living in residential care.

TFCO plays a critical part in supporting the child protection system because the aim is to reunify children and young people with their biological family, including kinship carers, or place in lower intensity long-term foster care. We are now looking for people interested in helping us deliver life-changing outcomes by becoming foster carers in South Australia, as well as Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales.

Read the media release here.