Anglicare's Young Mum's Support Project
Perth, WA
Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin No.5 Autumn 2004 p.40
First glimpse - project responses to a series of questions
The project setting
Anglicare's Young Mum's Support Project provides support for pregnant or parenting young women who are, or have been street present or homeless. We operate from the Perth Anglicare Office within the inner city of Perth. Referrals to the project are primarily made by youth workers from our Streetwork Program and referrals of young people who are either housed or awaiting housing with Anglicare's Youth Externally Supported (YES) Housing project. Referrals are also received from other agencies such as the Adolescent Unit at King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women and Youthlink Youth Counselling Service.
Why is the project needed?
The young parents who access the Project are isolated from mainstream services, have a lack of support networks, may lack suitable accommodation and are at times poorly prepared for parenting. This is often as a result of family breakdown, homelessness, substance use problems, and exposure to violence.
What are you trying to do in this project?
The project aims to increase the level of self confidence, increase the level of access to mainstream processes and provide young people with information on a range of issues from sexual health to child development. A main aim of the project is the assist young women to reduce social isolation, through assisting them to connect with other young mothers.
How are you going about it?
The project employs a range of strategies. Social groups (The 'Bub's Club') are offered fortnightly that provide the young women with opportunities to meet, develop friendships, talk with workers and discuss a range of issues and obtain information in an informal setting. Venues for groups vary, with a balance of child friendly and youth friendly venues and activities. Outreach services and support by youth workers provide opportunities for the establishment of trusting relationships and rapport building. Individual young people often present with multiple, complex problems. Referrals to mainstream services have been achieved by various means, which include introducing the service to the client in an informal setting, attending first visit, providing information in the Bulletin and encouraging discussion amongst the young people. The Bubs Club Bulletin is produced monthly and contains information on up and coming events, parenting hints and profiles of relevant agencies. As a result of our action research strategies and the input of our newly formed reference group, the project continues to grow and evolve new ideas and creative ways of delivering services.
