Mother Care: Meeting Challenges of Single Parenthood

While several of the programs of Rosalie Manor Community & Family Services provide parenting services, none is as unique as Mother Care. This program is designed specifically to meet the challenges of single parenthood, and serves mothers who are 24 years of age and younger. Through home visits, our Bachelor Degreed social workers provide families with information on parenting; working on daily living skills such as budgeting money; discuss education; work on job skills such as interviewing, appropriate dress, and communication skills; provide ideas on inexpensive things to do with their children; and work on the Nurturing Program curriculum.

Through the Nurturing Program, which is held at Rosalie Manor Community & Family Services in a group setting, mothers learn how to be good to themselves so they can be good parents. They work on self-esteem, self-concept, feelings, personal power, and behavior management.

Each year we serve approximately 250 families. Temeika is the mother of one family Kate, a Mother Care social worker, has been working with for the past year. Temeika is a 21-year-old mother with three children ages 4, 3, and 2 years, and another is expected any day. Temeika was referred to the Mother Care program in July, 1997 for supportive services because her two oldest children were removed from her care. On the first visit, it was determined that Temeika needed help with parenting, self-esteem, education, employment and daily living skills. Weekly home visits were provided, but Temeika was not interested in changing her lifestyle. "Temeika also completed the Nurturing Program, but it was recommended that she take it again because she was not implementing the skills she learned," stated Kate. Because Temeika was not taking any initiative to change her lifestyle, her children would not be returned to her care. In addition, Temeika became non-receptive to home visits, and "would not be home when we had scheduled visits," Kate said. Due to Temeika's non-compliance and lack of motivation, her case was closed in March, 1998. In January, 1999, "We received a call from Temeika's Child Protective Service worker referring Temeika to the program. We were skeptical but called Temeika and she was interested in Mother Care again. Her attitude really changed since March," explained Kate. Upon returning to the program, Temeika has a stable job as a teacher's assistant, which she enjoys. She has been available for home visits with Kate, and is willing to work on activities presented during the visits. Temeika has also shown motivation in working on daily living skills, and has been actively involved in establishing a budget. She is also in the process of moving to a larger residence. Since returning to Mother Care, Temeika has successfully completed the Nurturing Program, and is now implementing the skills she has learned from the program. Her children in Foster Care will be returned to her as soon as she moves into her new home.

Over the past few years, Temeika has made some positive changes in her life. "At first I had an attitude because I thought you were going to take my children away for good. I felt I didn't need help because I thought I knew how to handle everything. I realized that is not what Rosalie Manor is about. Rosalie Manor has helped me to become a better parent and has helped me to lead a more positive life style."

While Tameika continues to work at a few areas, she has come a long way. We would like Tameika and all the participants in Mother Care to know how proud we are of their progress.