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Supports to help parents complete high school, enhance their parenting skills, and prepare them to enter the workforce
Learning - Promotes high school graduation * requires participants to regularly attend an educational program that leads to a high school diploma
Earning - Encourages participants to enter school co-op programs and well as part-time or summer employment
Parenting - Supports parents to become effective caregivers * provides list of available parenting programs
Participants in the program may be eligible for:
- financial assistance with school activities
- planned parenting activities
- subsidized child care
- transportation cost assistance
- $500 incentive upon graduation
Applications: 519-661-4520 ext 3
Supports to help parents complete high school, enhance their parenting skills, and prepare them to enter the workforce
Learning - Promotes high school graduation * requires participants to regularly attend an educational program that leads to a high school diploma
Earning - Encourages participants to enter school co-op programs and well as part-time or summer employment
Parenting - Supports parents to become effective caregivers * provides list of available parenting programs
Participants in the program may be eligible for:
- financial assistance with school activities
- planned parenting activities
- subsidized child care
- transportation cost assistance
- $500 incentive upon graduation
Home visiting program for pregnant young women expecting their first child
Eligible women are connected with a public health nurse who provides information and support through pregnancy, birth and infancy of the child to 2 years of age * visits focus on having a healthy pregnancy, child development, breastfeeding, parenting and community resources and supports
- Prenatal Health Care
- Baby Development
- Breast Feeding/Formula
- Bathing/Diapering/Nutrition
- Bonding/Attachment/Postpartum
- Budgeting
- Household Management
- Caring for yourself
- Infant/Toddler Safety Issues
Ontario Works - Basic Financial Assistance may be available to assist with cost of basic needs like food, clothing and shelter as well as health benefits and employment assistance. Eligibility is assessed by reviewing family size, income, assets and housing cost. At this time applications for financial assistance and participation agreements can be completed over the phone and verified through third party checks. More information about OW along with rates of assistance can be found HERE How to Apply online HERE or contact at 1-888-999-1142 (including those who have previously been in receipt of OW and need to re-apply)
Financial Assistance - Monthly allowance based on family size, housing costs and income, monthly drug benefit card and other services including covering the costs related to starting a job or work placement
Employment Assistance - Clients 18-65 years must participate in employment assistance activities unless they are living with a serious disability or illness, or caring for preschool children
Community Participation - volunteer placements, job search programs based on individual's skills, experience and circumstances, employment placement - job matching service, basic education -- basic adult upgrading, high school upgrading, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, literacy and basic skills, job skills training -- development of skills for specific jobs, on-the-job training, supports to self-employment and referrals to self-employment programs
Discretionary Benefits may include one-time health related items such as eye glasses, emergency dental treatment, prosthetics and health related supplies, Non-health related items such as essential appliances, utility arrears (in order to avoid disconnection, costs associated with funerals, burials and cremations. Programs may vary by City or Municipality
MyBenefits www.ontario.ca/mybenefits online access to report changes to or to get information about your Ontario Works file.
Temporary Care Program - there is financial assistance available for children under the care of a guardian or with no available parent
Emergency Homelessness - People and families in need of emergency housing during regular work hours should contact the Ontario Works office to speak with an Outreach worker. Outside of normal business hours, contact Shelterlink at 519-272-2294 or 1-888-829-7484
Services offered:
- free self-administered pregnancy tests and options information
- pre and post-natal education and support services for families experiencing pregnancy and or parenting issues and related concerns such as poverty, addictions, mental health issues and more
- parenting education for individuals or group classes
- Growing Together Moms' peer support groups
- relationship counselling
- post-abortion recovery
- see website for a complete list of services and programs
Referrals for:
- crisis pregnancy
- counselling
- shelter
- legal/financial help
- adoption and post-abortion support
- videos & DVDs
- tapes & CDs
- books
- pamphlets, brochures
- displays, models
- truth booth
- trained local volunteer peer-mentors are able to help parents in need connect with community resources, communicate one-on-one, and provide guidance
Office: 519-587-2441
Crisis: 1-866-327-3224
Visit Website
Young Parents Program - a program for adolescents, up to age 24, who are pregnant and/or parenting
- services offered - home, virtual or phone meeting; prenatal vitamins; grocery cards to support a healthy diet; meeting with our dietitian; prenatal information and support; new infant car seats; skills development in stress management, healthy relationship development and effective communication; smoking cessation counselling
Healthy Moms Eating Well for 2 - a prenatal nutrition program for women aged 25 years and older
- services offered - home, virtual or phone meeting; prenatal vitamins; grocery cards to support a healthy diet; meeting with our dietitian; information on prenatal nutrition, labour and delivery, post-partum health; infant feeding and care
School's Cool - a school readiness program offered in the summer to help children ages 3-5 prepare for junior and senior kindergarten
- there is a focus on well-being, social and self-help skills, language and math
Groups
- offer a variety of parent education and support groups throughout Haldimand and Norfolk such as Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting
- variety of free and confidential services
- staff and volunteers provide fact-based information, advocacy support, mentoring and practical assistance
- one-on-one client advocacy for men and women
- on-site self-administered pregnancy test
- prenatal support
- post-natal support
- postpartum support
- post-abortion grief support and recovery
- adoption information and referral
- information on STDs and STIs
- Growing Hearts Program (weekly mom peer program)
- Eye Spy Squad (Infant-preschool toddlers of moms in Growing Hearts program)
- Practical Fatherhood initiatives
- various workshops on topics such as Parenting and PreNatal
- Care Closet (practical assistance)
- referrals
Those who successfully complete the program may qualify for $500 to use toward:
- post-secondary education or training
- investing in an education trust for their children
- Safe and supervised residential living
- Practical and emotional support with respect to pregnancy or parenting
- Support to continue with education, on-site counselling available
- Individualized goal planning
- Life skills teaching
- Decision-making
Monica Place maintains a trauma-informed approach to providing support. The programs offered incorporate and promote the positive parenting principles initiated by the Positive Parenting Community Committee of Waterloo Region.
Office: 519-344-2062 ext 2100
Visit Website
- guidance, support, and educational reconnection
- free child care provided for programs
- groups for young mothers and their partners
- donation closet with toys, baby accessories, clothing
- bus tickets and meals provided at each group
- advocacy and referral to relevant community agencies
- group drop-in program
Financial donations and donations of baby food, clothing, diapers welcome.
Toll Free Phone: 1-800-265-7294
Fax: 519-824-9990
TTY: 1-800-855-0511
Visit Website
Temporary income and employment assistance for low income individuals and families in immediate financial need. Requires a financial assessment to determine eligibility for services.
Employment Supports and Benefits
- caseworkers work closely with participants to develop individualized action plans that address unique needs
- participants guided through each stage and encouraged to stay on track
- employment benefits to assist clients in finding and starting a job
- basic educational upgrading
- English as a second language training
- job specific skills training
- job search assistance (resumé writing, interview preparation)
- access to volunteer and employment placements
Discretionary Benefits for recipients of Ontario Works assistance, or Ontario Disability Support Program assistance.
Other programs include:
- Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) - for young parents, ages 16-25 years
- Self-Employment - training and supports to operate a business; delivered in partnership with Business Centre Guelph-Wellington
- Life Skills Case Management - intensive support for those who are experiencing issues related to addictions or mental health
- services for empoyers
Visit Website
Also offers Community Education and Awareness workshops/presentations about young parent needs. Staff are available to offer in-service education about the needs of young parents and the supports offered through St. Martin's Manor and the Young Parent Network of Hamilton
Parents are expected to provide both lunch and dinner for their children. Children will have opportunities to play both indoors and outdoors so come prepared for the weather.
The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board provides and on-site classroom offering a range of grade 9-12 credits. Additional supports are available including prenatal, parenting, and life skills programs as well as counselling, and referral to other community and health care resources.
Services include:
- counselling
- prenatal education
- strollerfit and exercise programs
- community referrals
Step One (Ramoth House): cooperative living residence that provides a safe home environment with 24-hour support. Residents receive training in life skills such as parenting, home management, budgeting, cooking and building daily routines.
Step Two (Ramoth Apartments): furnished apartment units that assist young mothers to transition from a residential setting to their own apartment. Mentoring while learning how to build community networks of support.
Step Three (Ramoth Extended Care): Ramoth staff can meet with a young woman in her home community to hear concerns and provide encouragement during the transition to independence.
- Community Participation volunteer placements
- Job Search Programs are based on individual's skills, experience and circumstances
- Employment Placement is a job matching service
- Basic Education is a basic adult upgrading program for high school upgrading
- English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, literacy and basic skills
- Job Skills Training development of skills for specific jobs and on-the-job training
- Supports to Self-Employment offers referrals to self-employment programs
Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP)
- helps young parents finish high school, improve parenting skills, locate and maintain employment
- on site for walk-in job search centre with access to computers, Internet, fax, photocopier, telephone; resource materials, job banks, labour market information
- provides assistance with resumes
- referrals to job counselling and training