This SESU project delivered an evaluation of CatholicCare Sydney’s HOPE Program.

The HOPE Program aims to walk alongside young families, providing integrated and comprehensive person-centred care and support for their most pressing needs while also helping them create and build a safe, positive and sustainable future. Intentionally designed, the HOPE Program provides essential supports, focusing on basic material needs, community connections, therapeutic youth support and parent coaching, with children and young people at the centre. With the aim to empower young families by harnessing their resilience and strengths the program works with participants to increase knowledge, skills and opportunities for them to create and build a stable and healthy environment for their growing family.

The program evaluation aim was to assess the HOPE Program’s effectiveness and alignment with its intended outcomes. The evaluation highlighted the program’s impact on young families including how it helped participants improve their circumstances and build confidence, knowledge, and skills in various areas based on their individual needs.

Summary of key findings:

• Meeting immediate needs: Most participants received support to address their immediate basic needs, such as baby supplies, household items, and assistance in finding temporary or permanent accommodation. This immediate support was crucial in creating stability and provided a foundation for further progress.
• Parenting skills: Some participants increased their confidence, knowledge, and use of positive parenting strategies. This improvement came through working closely with Family Workers and participating in referred programs, such as Circle of Security and sleep support clinics for mothers and babies.
• Community connections: Participants gained greater awareness of other available service providers and connected with other families in the community, which helped to build a supportive network.
• Education and employment support: Some participants benefited from practical assistance, such as resume writing, which helped them work towards educational and employment aspirations. This support was pivotal in empowering them to pursue further education or employment opportunities.

The findings have created a rich source of early data and learning points that the HOPE team will use to inform program design, practice and impact measurement moving forward.

Report

Evaluation of the HOPE Program: An initiative designed to support young families with complex needs (PDF, 56MB)

Partner

CatholicCare Sydney

Project team

• Ms Melissa McSeveny - Evidence, Impact and Research Manager, Families Division, CatholicCare Sydney
• Ms Emma Neill - Practice Manager, Families Division, CatholicCare Sydney
• Ms Alex Cahill - Research Officer, Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU
• Ms Jacqui Stewart - Program Manager, Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU
• Dr Sebastian Trew - Research Officer, Institute of Child Protection Studies, ACU
• Dr Jill Cox, ACU Engagement
• Ms Vivien Cinque, ACU Engagement