Manitoba
Mother’s Allowance/Government Assistance
Manitoba
Department of Family Services
114 Garry St., Room 305 Winnipeg, MB R3C 4V7
Tel.: (204) 945-2177
Family Resource Information
PREGNANCY DISTRESS SERVICE INC.
571 Furby Street Tel.: (204) 772-9091
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3B 2V9
The Pregnancy Distress Service Inc. was founded in 1973 as a support system for the pregnant woman in distress. This Centre, which focuses on low-income families, has three main programs:
-It offers 24-hour counseling, pregnancy testing, professional counseling for problems related to pregnancy and sexuality, as well as referrals to community resources. Emergency housing and food are also available.
-Furthermore, the Pregnancy Distress Service Inc. provides other services through the Young Parents Community Centre (204-775-9934) which offers prenatal and parenting classes, life skills programs, cooking classes, support and self-help groups for parents of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. The Young Parents Community Centre also offers child day care for parents who need a break, have medical or legal appointments, are job or house hunting, have a family crisis or are attending a workshop.
-Another service provided by the Pregnancy Distress Service Inc. is the Spence Street Thrift Shop (204-775-2854), which provides clothing, furniture and household goods at low cost to the community. The store is staffed and operated by low-income individuals.
ANDREWS STREET FAMILY CENTRE (ASFC)
220 Andrews Street Tel.: (204) 589-1721
Winnipeg, Manitoba Fax: (204) 589-1721
R2W 4T1
Andrews Street Family Centre is a new centre, in the William Whyte neighbourhood in the north end of Winnipeg. It opened its doors in May 1995. The Centre’s approach to program development is based on the premise that the community has been defined in terms of its deficits for far too long. In response to this entrenched perspective, ASFC works within a framework that appreciates and builds on people’s strengths and community capacities.
While professional staff from outside the immediate area are presently operating the program, their positions are not viewed as permanent. The intention of the staff currently employed at ASFC is to build on the “people power” that already exists in the community, and work themselves out of jobs. Job descriptions specify that a community member will be mentored into these positions. The overall objective is to increase the capacity in families and the neighbourhood for self-help, and to keep jobs in the community.
At this time, four interrelated programs are included under the umbrella of ASFC. These are:
* Andrews Street Family Centre
ASFC focuses on providing services to children aged 0-6 years. ASFC is a family resource centre offering a variety of programs, such as a parent-child drop-in, prenatal (including layette making) and parenting courses (Nobody’s Perfect), a Well-Baby Clinic, workshops on a variety of topics, a food buying club and a store operated by community residents. ASFC also runs a community kitchen and a food bingo each month, timed to coincide with those times when dollars are scarce and featuring food hampers as prizes.
Furthermore, ASFC offers Men’s Nite for men who wish to participate in a Sharing Circle. ASFC also publishes a weekly newsletter to inform local residents of current events at the Centre, and to share information such as economical recipes and articles on various aspects of child and family life, health and well-being.
* Moms Helping Moms Program
The Moms Helping Moms Program focuses on making connections withisolated, adolescent, lone parents who are not linked with other helping services. The goal of the program is to reach out to at-risk minor parents and prevent family crises and break-up. ASFC hired three community women, who had successfully completed the training as outreach/support worker, to work with other mothers in the area on a peer support basis.
* Pritchard Place Drop-In Centre
Pritchard Place Drop-In has been operating for several years, providing programs that emphasize recreational and cultural activities designed for children and youth aged 7-17 years. Parents are welcomed and encouraged to participate along with their children. In addition, cooking/nutrition sessions for young people are held in recognition of the fact that many kids now cook for themselves at home.
* Andrews Street Community Patrol
The Andrews Street Community Patrol grew out of the community’s desire to restore a measure of safety for local residents, both in their homes and on the streets.
Housing
Prenatal Classes
For Lamaze Childbirth Classes try your local Parks and Recreation Guide or Google Lamaze Prenatal Classes in your town or city
Midwives/Birth coaches/Doulas
http://www.midwives.mb.ca/mbmidwives.html
Education
Google your local school board to get further information on high-schools that support pregnant and teen mothers.
Nutrition
Parenting Groups
http://www.gov.mb.ca/triplep/for_parents/index.html
Breastfeeding
http://www.infactcanada.ca/Breastfeeding_Rights.htm
Baby Clothing/Items
Legal Help
Domestic Violence
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