Teen Pregnancy - St. Martin's Manor

Making the Manor a Home | History | General Info | Programs | Volunteers |
What St. Martin’s Manor Has Learned About Young Parents and Their Children

Mission

St. Martin’s Manor is a Young Parent Resource Centre that provides services to strengthen the lives of all young parents and their children by offering support, encouragement and hope in a safe welcoming environment.

Making the Manor a Home

We are asking for your help to furnish our new building and give our young women and their children hope for the future. find out how you can help

History

St. Martin’s Manor was established in 1954 with the encouragement of Roman Catholic Bishop Ryan and the support of the Diocesan Catholic Women’s League and The Holy Name Society. Prior to 1954, Catholic Social Services of Hamilton-Wentworth had placed pregnant young women (formerly called unwed mothers) in private homes, but the benefits of a more complete program of service in a Maternity Home setting was lacking. With the objective of providing a caring, homelike atmosphere offering twelve (12) Residents an opportunity to grow as total human beings in addition to receiving adequate care and direction in planning for herself and her unborn child, a large house was purchased at 500 Mohawk Road West. In 1980 the house was renovated and upgraded and a substantial addition constructed to accommodate program and administrative requirements. In 1983 the home was officially licensed under the Children’s Residential Services Act.

Today, St. Martin’s Manor has provided over 50 years of support for pregnant and parenting young women and their children. St. Martin’s Manor is licensed under the Ministry of Children & Youth/Child & Family Services Act.
St. Martin’s Manor provides a comprehensive system of prevention and early intervention services to support the development of skills and promote healthy development for pregnant and parenting young parents and their children. Our services achieve healthy outcomes for young parents and their children to break the cycle of abuse and poverty.

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General Info

St. Martin’s Manor is a program of Catholic Family services of Hamilton, providing service to people of all faiths and cultures. No one is turned away due to their inability to pay.

We offer:

• Residence during pregnancy and for up to three months after the baby is born
• Day programs for young women who choose not to live in residence
• Access to regular medical care
• Pre-natal classes to prepare for the birth
• Parenting classes after the baby is born
• High school credits at our on-site classroom

St. Martin’s Manor helps young women learn about:

• Making plans and setting goals
• Life skills, such as budgeting, nutrition and healthy relationships
• Adoption options
• Parenting skills
• Child growth and development

WORDS FROM FORMER YOUNG PARENTS:

‘They teach you so much. It’s really helpful” (Marisa, former resident)

‘It was more of a home than home.” (Barb former resident)

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Programs

RESIDENTIAL CARE PROGRAM

The residential program is a 12 bed licensed home for pregnant and parenting young women and their children. The focus of the program is on having a healthy baby, mother child attachment, caring for new born and learning parenting skills necessary to move towards independence. The residence is for young parents 13-20, and serves 40-45 mothers and children a year.

YOUNG PARENT PROGRAM

Young parents are provided with information to assist them in connecting to services in the community. The program offers support to over 200 mothers and children a year. The teens/young women may access the following services at St. Martin’s Manor:

• On-site School program to work towards high school diploma with free qualified child care and connection to the Learning Earning and Parenting program (LEAP)
• Weekly Groups for young parents and their children include; RAP (Resources for Adolescent Parents), Life Skills, Girl Talk, Prenatal Classes and Crafts.
• Teen Parenting Group for Young Moms and Dads focuses on parenting styles, punishment versus discipline, growth & development and coping strategies.
  
• Parent Link with a Public Health Nurse every Tuesday at 12:15 to discuss parenting issues such as nutrition for parents and children, safety, and child development. The Public Health Nurse will also answer questions and weigh the babies weekly.
• Connection to Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program which includes Family Home Visiting
• Time for Mom Program (respite program) Saturdays 3-8 p.m. Free childcare service so you can take time for yourself.
• Free bus tickets to attend the program and school
• Breakfast and Lunch program offered daily

EARLY LEARNING AND CARE PROGRAMS

These programs strive to provide the best start for children by nurturing, stimulating, and educating children and supporting families with programs and information. The programs include:

• Infant Care Program - access to quality infant care and early learning for children
  (0 – 12 months) while young parents attend on-site schooling, support programs, and interactive learning and parenting
• Time for Mom / Respite Programs – provision of free infant care (up to 24hrs.) for children (0 – 18 months) of young parents while they are being supported in taking time for themselves to develop their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Saturday’s 3:00 to 8:00 pm
(24 hour respite also available upon request)
*There is no cost for this service*
Please bring your child’s supplies including:
Clothes, food, diapers, wipes, etc. and provide emergency contact information.
Space is limited. *Pre-registration is required*

OUTREACH PROGRAM

The Outreach program offers support to the pregnant and parenting youth in the community who are often hard to reach. The Outreach Worker’s role is to provide ongoing support and assist youth with making connections to community resources that will promote healthier outcomes for themselves and their baby. The Outreach Worker meets with the youth at a safe place where they feel comfortable such as secondary schools, health clinics, youth shelter, drop-in centres and food banks.

The Outreach worker offers presentations to the community that will help educate youth and the public about issues that affect this population.

HEALTHY BABIES HEALTH CHILDREN PROGRAM (HBHC)

St. Martin’s Manor has Family Home Visitors (FHV) who works with teens pregnant and parenting in the community through the HBHC program. The FHV work with young parents in the area of child development and share ideas to help babies grow and learn. They also link with a Public Health Nurse, who provides information an addition family support.

For more information, call Health Connections at 905-546-3550 or St. Martin’s Manor 905-575-7500

PEER MENTOR PROGRAM

The Peer Mentor program recruits and trains youth to assist other pregnant and parenting youth by relaying personal experiences about the realities of pregnant and parenting. They offer support through school presentations, one on one support, buddy system, and involvement in program planning and development for St. Martin’s Manor.

PASTORAL CARE

Pastoral care offers non-denominational support as requested by clients. Supports include: confidential spiritual counselling, and liaison with local interfaith groups and parishes.

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Volunteers

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Labour Coach
• Time for Mom/Respite (Parental Relief)
• Tutoring
• Recreation & Crafts
• Fundraising/Special Events
  
• St. Martin’s Manor Auxiliary
  
• House Maintenance and gardening

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What St. Martin’s Manor Has Learned About Young Parents and Their Children

• Babies born to teen mothers at St. Martin’s Manor are of higher birth weights than babies born to teen mothers outside of St. Martin’s Manor. The average birth weight is over 7lbs. This has significant implications regarding the amount of money saved in medical costs.
• Young mothers obtain high school credits and who graduate from high school is much more likely to go on to college or university.
• Young, single mothers can succeed incredibly well when they are given the support they need.
• Most of the clients at St. Martin’s Manor did not plan to get pregnant.
• Many of the young mothers dream of having a happy family life.
• Over 90% of the clients at St. Martin’s Manor have experienced abuse in their past.
• Very few go on to have a second child while they are still single.
• The life of a young, single mother on government assistance is a life of poverty without opportunities.
• Most of the clients are committed to turning their lives around, i.e., finishing school, getting a job, going off government assistance, and becoming a positive and effective parent. It is a ‘teachable moment.’
• The early years are a critical time for the brain development in the infants. The children of young mothers who receive a high quality early learning education program regarding their child’s growth and development demonstrate high academic achievement.
• Pregnant young women living at St. Martin’s Manor receive the best in prenatal monitoring. They have access to physicians and mid wives. This results in healthy deliveries with few complications.
• The majority of our young mothers initiates and sustains breast feeding.
• Investing in the families and children of today will save at least five times that amount in fewer services needed in the future.
• Many clients come to St. Martin’s Manor have been in unstable housing with little support. Many are homeless. They have nowhere else to go.
• Hamilton’s Poverty Initiative (2006) indicates that investment and support are critical to the long term success of children in their progression toward prosperity as adults. Supporting the individual’s progression along the continuum are foundation community conditions and assets. The critical points of Investment are: Quality early learning and parenting, Skills though education, activity and recreation, Targeted skills development (Post secondary), and Employment. St. Martin’s Manor is involved in all aspects of the continuum working to reduce poverty for young parents and their children.
• Funded by the Ministry of Children & Youth, City of Hamilton, Hamilton Community Foundation

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