Young Parents And Their Children Program
YPCP’s mission is to:
break the isolation of young parents and their children
help support and promote healthy family relationships
empower the young parents and their children as individuals
Fun
We Make sure that YPCP is fun by:
- going on field trips to family friendly places
- letting the parents laugh and chat about
whatever they like together, as fellow young
parents - doing special activities once a month (movie
screenings, dance classes) - running free play for the children in the play
room - playing low volume music (with soundproof
headphones available) - keeping fun things nearby for parents to do
with their hands while they chat (clay, fidget
toys, puzzles)
Respite
We make sure that YPCP involves respite by:
- letting parents and children separate into
different rooms for two hours of program (if
that is what the family wants) - having the parents relax with peers and an
active listener - having the children do free play in a room
that is designed for their age and lead by a
professional early childhood educator
Food Security
We make sure that YPCP promotes food
security by:
- working closely with Head & Hands’ food
pantry to make sure all families get two free
bags of groceries a month - serving a free meal to each parent and child
every program day - running the cooks’ program, where parents
can sign up to get paid to learn to cook all
kinds of dishes, free child care included
Connection
We make sure that YPCP fosters connections
by:
- letting children meet and play together
- letting fellow young parents meet and chat
together - having skilled active listeners on staff who
remember things about families and show
genuine care - going on field trips that let families bond and
build memories together, with support staff
there to help keep it easier
Education
We make sure that YPCP is educational by:
- doing educational workshops once a month
(legal rights, parenting skills, mental health) - having one on one counselling available for
parents to grow their parenting skills with a
trained professional - leading educational activities for
children in the play room (science,
cooking, art) - letting the children have lots of time for
free play and exploration - modelling life and social skills
- teaching parents in the cook’s program
how to cook all kinds of dishes
Anti-Oppression
We make sure that YPCP is anti-oppressive by:
- thinking critically before involving or
contacting government systems which have
a history of targetting marginalized groups - being trauma informed, as in knowing where
some reactions and actions may be coming
from and remaining patient, gentle, and firm - using the real words for body parts around
children (vulva, penis, etc.) - not shying away from serious topics with
both parents and kids (racism, gender roles,
body image, consent) - offering food and transportation (bus tickets)
to make attending program more accessible - using air purifiers to prevent the spread of
illness - offering free services
