The "First Steps"program provides real and practical support to single, teenage mothers and their children, living in poverty by rescuing them from their impoverished conditions and then working with them to develop strategies and solutions to the issues in their lives which keep them trapped in the poverty cycle.
Each year more than 11,000 teenage Australian children become mothers. Being a parent can be a major challenge for the best of us, so imagine the challenge for a teenager, many of whom have experienced histories of abuse, neglect, homelessness, poor parenting, poverty and little education.
The vast majority of teenage parents have no family or social support. Many of them are themselves the child of a teenage mother and if their children are going to have the hope of an opportunity for a positive future then we need to lend them a hand.
"First Steps" is an integrated living and life skills support project for teenage mothers and their child/ren designed to overcome the barriers of poverty and empower them to develop the strategies that will enable them to live a better future.
Your support of the First Steps Program gives a single teenage mother and her child/ren not only a rescue from poverty but a hand-up to a brighter future.
Through your donation support Family Focus Australia is able to provide individual teenage mothers and their child/ren with such life changing assistance as:
- Finding, gaining, and maintaining stable, safe accommodation;
- Financial assistance with furniture and clothing needs;
- Financial assistance and support with Health needs; Financial assistance to gain counselling for substance abuse, etc;
- Parenting training and support;
- Personal development, including inter-personal skills, self esteem, communication, life skills, etc.;
- Assistance to access and maintain social support networks;
- Financial assistance with child care needs;
- Assistance in Vocational guidance and training;
- Assistance and support with employment placement;
- Ongoing family skills support.