Madonna’s Center is being solidly built upon four cornerstone programs, which are
purposefully designed, and when fully implemented, will help to effectively address
the immediate unmet needs of teen parents, while they are continually working towards
goals of becoming more self-supporting.
A Way Inn
To offer housing support for teen parents and their children who are seeking to
obtain or to maintain a safe, secure, environment to call “home”.
Some teen parents are homeless, quasi-homeless, or can’t afford any housing. In
these situations, we can arrange for some kind of emergency shelter, refer them
to a transitional living situation, pay an apartment application fee, provide one-time
rental assistance, make a co-payment to prevent energy shut-offs, or help to furnish
a small apartment with essential
items and some basic furniture.
A guest home program for pregnant teens is under development, which we hope will
give a someone who does not have any family support, a place to live, until their
baby is 6 months old.
Visitation Volunteers
To offer a network of support through a group of on-call, compassionate, caring
outreach volunteers, to effectively address their uniquely different needs.
Dedicated volunteers can bring
essential items to struggling teen parents and their precious children,
along with a little bit of love, hope, joy and peace of mind.
These volunteers can serve as mentors, advocates, tutors, or a coach in a variety
of ways, as they go out to visit young families – in places wherever it is most
convenient and comfortable for them.
Most teen parents do not have access to a car and find public transportation very
difficult to handle with a small child. We can respond to requests by going to their
homes or school programs, meet in a parking lot, or distribute items through the
caseworker of a collaborative agency already working with them.
Mia Mama!
To offer teen moms the opportunity for job training, without having to obtain childcare,
and in exchange for receiving donated goods, which are not on the list of essential items or are beyond the scope of their budget.
Teen parents may do volunteer work for Madonna’s Center to procure certain items
for their babies or themselves.
The keystone of this program, which is to establish a teen parent-volunteer run
specialty resale outlet or online store – specializing in selling high-quality,
new or used, mom and baby merchandise – is under future development.
Joe's Place
To offer teen dads simple ways to take a greater role of responsibility and become
more involved in the care and support of their young children, using a positive
approach.
Madonna’s Center can provide support to teen dads by giving encouragement, helping
to build confidence in parenting skills, getting them enrolled in parent education
classes, referring them to job placement programs, and procuring clothing, tools,
or supplies to gain employment. Also teen dads can be given periodic, time-limited
opportunities to do volunteer work, in exchange for additional basic support.