CORNWALL, Ontario – Breanna Degonzaque-Jodoin is only seven months into her new life as a teen mom, and already knows being a single parent is as tough as it’s cracked up to be.
When the 18-year-old accepted a helping hand from the Teach and Learn with your Child (TLC) program, what she found was a ‘one-stop-shop’ for community services at the Early Years Centre in Cornwall.
“It’s good to know I’m not the only mom going through things – this program was a life-saver,” said Degonzaque-Jodoin, holding her seven-month-old daughter, Kylah. “I’m also glad there were other teen moms here, because I was scared with a newborn baby. And it was nice sharing our experiences so I have a better idea of what happens next. TLC really helped me out a lot.”
Degonzaque-Jodoin and 10 other local young moms graduated from the program at a small ceremony on Wednesday (Jan. 27) at the centre on Ninth St. E., which is being relocated to The Social on Sydney Street this spring.
The young mothers, who are also part of the Ontario Works’ LEAP (Learning, Earning and Parenting) program ranging in ages 16 to 25 with children three months to four years old, thanked members of the Best Start Network, a group of 11 community partners that rallied to offer the free 20-week program.
“Children don’t come with an instruction manual,” said Susan Billard, chair of the program’s steering committee. “Parenting is one of the most important jobs anyone can have their in lives, especially when you’re young and working on building financial stability, while going to school.”
Every Wednesday, the group enjoyed a ‘mommy and me’ playgroup atmosphere in the morning, where they learned positive parenting techniques. Childcare was provided in the afternoon, giving participants the opportunity to earn high school credits through T. R. Leger and St. Matthew Catholic Secondary School.
TLC also provided the mothers with free transportation, lunch, weekly groceries, connections to community resources, and cooking classes to help with meal planning.
“Next semester what we hope to do for the first time is have dads join us in the afternoon. We’d like to have dads here for the whole program, but we’re limited on dollars,” said Billard. “If we had the desire and the number of participants, we could easily transition this program to another community, too.”
Community partners included Triple P program, Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB), Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO), Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), Seaway Valley Community Health Centre, G.I.A.G. Day Care Staff, The Learning Centre Child Care, Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH), Children’s Aid Society (CAS) of S.D.&G., Agape Centre, Ontario Works – City of Cornwall, Child Care Services – City of Cornwall, Ontario Early Years Center, and Charmic Limos and Tours.
