The Young Parents Support Network, which has been offering its services for more than 20 years, was started by young parents themselves.
鈥淭hey, at that time, identified the need for specific programming that was really geared toward where they were at in their lives,鈥� said executive director Jacquelin Green.
That focus has been maintained over the years, Green said.
鈥淪o things that matter to them,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll of the parents that we work with are low-income and most of them are women, but we do serve dads, as聽well.
鈥淩eally, what we want to do is provide a safe space for young parents to gather, for social connection, for parenting support, for individual support to meet whatever goals it is that they have, to address issues in their lives.鈥�
The network also works with parents involved with the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Both single people and couples take advantage of the services, Green said. Parents up to 29 are accommodated.
Parents are included in every aspect of what goes on. The volunteer board of directors is made up of current and former clients, and all programs are established with parent involvement.
The most requested program, by far, is called Future Planning, Green said. It receives funding from the Victoria Foundation and is being offered in conjunction with the YM-YWCA Young Moms initiative.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a program that鈥檚 designed to offer both weekly support and individualized support for folks who are trying to figure out: 鈥榃hat next?鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淔or lots, they鈥檙e beginning to work on educational goals or employment goals, some have mental-health concerns that they want to work on, others just want to get a driver鈥檚 licence.
鈥淲e work with them to identify whatever goals that they think are important, and then we work on addressing those goals.鈥�
Skills such as how to write a resume are also presented.
鈥淏uilt into that is parenting support and the opportunity to connect with other young parents who are in the same place on their journey,鈥� Green said. 鈥淏ecause they have kids, that always has to be part of the equation. How do you balance going back to school or doing some job training with having a child? How do you get child care?
鈥淎ll of those pieces are really important and so we try to provide a holistic approach to that so they鈥檙e basically set up for the next stage of their life.鈥�
All programs are free and include bus passes, food and child care, Green said.
The network is headquartered in Saanich Neighbourhood Place, at Pearkes Recreation Centre.
