Time for Kids at a glance

Time for Kids is a highly successful early intervention program assisting disadvantaged children who are at elevated risk of delinquency, truancy, homelessness and criminal behaviour.

We place children from birth to 18 years with volunteer carers on a regular part time basis, usually for one weekend a month, one day per month or during school holidays.

Time for Kids was founded in 1960 (then called the Society of Sponsors) by William Scales SM, who was then head of the South Australian Juvenile Court.

In the past 49 years, we have assisted 4500 South Australian children and their families by matching them with volunteer caring families.

Since 1960 we have cared for and strengthened the lives of 4,500 children. One notable statistic is that none of these children have appeared in the Youth Court while on the program, but there are many other success stories.

Each year we support 150 children and their families, although the demand for placements far exceeds our current capacity for support.

One third of children currently assisted are under the Guardianship of the Minister.

Children are referred to us by social workers, school counsellors and health care professionals from a wide range of community and government agencies.

The children we support often live with isolated sole parents, grandparents or families in crisis.

Common reasons for child referral are 25% familial incarceration, 90% parental or child mental illness, 60% parental or child disability, 65% parental illness, 85% parenting issues due to substance misuse, 95% domestic violence and homelessness. All of the children referred to us are living in households with income below the Henderson poverty Line.