Young mums and bubs program provides a helping hand

Caboolture Hospital Midwife Debbi Sutherland at the Caboolture Young Mothers for Young Women home in Caboolture South.

An early intervention program in Caboolture is providing young mothers with the support they need to provide their children with the best possible start in life.

The Young Mothers for Young Women program targets young parents aged under 20, along with their children and their families, providing individualised support and coordinated case management.

The program recognises that issues such as housing, health, social isolation, employment, education and income are connected and require an integrated approach.

Mums and dads can connect with social and community services such as ante-natal, child health services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Wellbeing Services.

Caboolture Hospital Midwife Debbi Sutherland works three days per week at the outreach centre in Caboolture South.

She is joined by several social workers and peer workers who support young mothers to navigate community and health services.

The centre recently invited representatives from government and the community to an official opening event.

Micah Projects Chief Executive Officer, Karyn Walsh said the program was an example of how cross agency and non-government organisations worked collaboratively to meet the specific needs of vulnerable young women and their children.

“We formed a partnership with the Caboolture Hospital and other local services to work together in coordinating professional support and services from pregnancy through to childbirth and parenting,” she said.

“The program has helped parents better understand early childhood development and has assisted them meet their personal health housing, education, training and employment needs.”

The CYMYW is located at 2 Oakland Drive, Caboolture South. Phone 5294 9600.