Youth Hope will reach out to children and young people who are vulnerable or at risk of significant harm because of neglect, homelessness, domestic violence or drug and alcohol use.
Visiting Wesley Mission's Penrith offices Minister Goward said Youth Hope would prevent a growing number of vulnerable older children and young people from being caught up in the child protection system. It will also keep them engaged in education and training.
"Vulnerable young people who access Youth Hope services are likely to receive a different type of support, depending on what works for them," Ms Goward said. "This new approach is very different to past practice, which slotted vulnerable children into predetermined programs thought to be effective.
"Youth Hope is evidence-based, focused on demonstrated effectiveness for and responsiveness to the needs of young people, including by involving them in the choices about effective supports."
The $3.5 million program will engage Wesley Mission's many partner organisations, who have worked with the Wesley Brighter Futures program since 2006. The program has successfully supported children aged 0-9 years and their families.
The CEO of Wesley Mission the Rev Dr Keith Garner said Wesley Mission was delighted that it had been chosen to deliver Youth Hope in Western Sydney and the Nepean Blue Mountains Districts.
"Wesley Mission is well aware through its service experience and evidence based research that early intervention and prevention is a vital stragety in giving families and young people hope for the future," Dr Garner said. "This is real hope built on tangible skills and key learnings.
"The Youth Hope program will focus on nine to 15 year-old children and young people. We all know that these years are a very important time for young people as they transition from primary to high school. It is also a time when young people can too easily disengage from their families and the education system. For some it is the start of negotiating a pathway to employment.
"Decisions made during this period can have life-long consequences impacting employment opportunities and the formation of positive relationships in adult life: early school leavers are at greater risk of long-term unemployment, which in turn places them at a much higher risk for social exclusion, welfare dependence and mental health problems.
"Our many programs in the child and family, homelessness and mental health areas have also informed us of the fragility of these years, especially when circumstances at home prove challenging and sometimes overwhelming. It is important that families be given every opportunity to ensure that children fulfil their potential."
Minister Goward said Youth Hope would be rigorously measured and evaluated.
Dr Garner welcomed the reporting as well as the opportunity to provide an innovative and creative service.
"It is important that we know what is working and what is not working," Dr Garner said. "It is vital we continue to improve our services but most of all we want to ensure that lives are improved, families strengthened and that both parents and children grow in real and tangible ways.
"We have already seen the benefits through the Wesley Brighter Futures program. Between 84 and 95 per cent of the 575 families in Brighter Futures' programs at Blacktown, Cumberland and Nepean have achieved their goals in areas such as better parenting skills, communication, decreased social isolation and improved child health and safety.
"By focusing interventions around family safety and wellbeing, child and youth development, learning and education, and mental and physical health, families, children and young people can discover the resources for the journey of life."
Ms Goward was joined at the announcement by State Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres, State Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies, State Member for Londonderry Bart Bassett and State Member for Riverstone Kevin Conolly, Wesley Mission staff and clients.