cartoon of young parents

Working with young parents

Strategies

Benefits of working with young parents

Resilience is strongly related to feelings of connection. 10

Your service can take active steps in building and strengthening connections between young parents and:

  • the wider community
  • peer and family support
  • support services
  • education and employment opportunities

By working with young parents your service can help them reach greater independence and stability and improve their connections to their community and to their life goals.

There are many benefits of early intervention for children. Research has revealed that the first three years of life is absolutely fundamental to lifelong wellbeing.

Many children of young parents may be socially isolated. They may be the only child in the household and may not have opportunities to socialise with other children. Activities such as play groups increase their social, motor and communication skills as they mix with other children.

Activities which allow parents and children to get out of the house and have a break from each other provide time out and help improve their relationship.

As parents make new friends their self esteem and confidence increases and they feel more confident in their parenting ability.

For your existing programs

  • Advertise your program in places that young parents access, such as doctors surgeries, Centrelink, hospital, shops and in local newspapers.

  • Provide free onsite child care, as this is an essential component in reaching young parents. By providing a positive first experience of child care you can help young parents feel comfortable in accessing other child care options in the future.

  • Provide free transport to your venue or move your activity to a place that young parents can access.

  • Involve young parents in decision making about your service.

  • Include fun and social activities in your program. These type of activities will help parents to develop a friendship network and increase their feelings of confidence, self esteem and the ability to cope.

  • Ensure your service feels comfortable to young parents and is non-judgemental.

  • Ensure your venue has facilities which are friendly to young parents such as ramps for prams and baby change facilities.

  • Promote positive images and positive examples of young parents who have achieved.

If you are developing a group just for young parents, for example a young mums group

  • As a first step talk to and develop partnerships with local people who have contact with young mums such as:
    • Families First services
    • baby care nurses
    • doctors
    • Centrelink social workers
    • women's heath service
    • youth health service or community health centre

  • Promote your program in a positive way that is likely to appeal to young parents.

  • Conduct home visits and phone calls, in line with your service's policies. YAPA has a model policy on home visiting at www.yapa.org.au/youthwork/modelpolicies .

  • Ask young parents what topics they would like covered in the group. Some of the topics which may be useful are baby care topics with advice from a qualified professional, education options for young mums, nutrition, immunisation, healthy relationships, relaxation techniques, fun activities and excursions to useful services such as TAFE, the library etc. Programs can focus on the strengths that young parents have, promoting what they can do and achieve rather than what they can't.

  • Link young parents to further education and employment. For example, TAFE Outreach can provide a free course in your venue.