10 - Mères et Monde
Mères et Monde is a residential and community centre which aims to prevent transience among young mothers and their infants, develop their ability to be independent, break the social isolation experienced by the young parents, and encourage social and labour force integration. The centre brings together 23 units of social housing, community services and training, and an early childhood centre with space for 18 children and opportunities for respite care, and care for children while the mothers are shopping or attending training programs. Participation in the training programs or use of the centre is not limited to women who live in the social housing units. The training programs involve assisting the participants to develop a life plan aimed at overcoming social exclusion and poverty, and facilitating their entry into the adult education centre where the women can obtain school credits. Once enrolled in the training, participants receive a monthly allowance for the duration of the course as well as reimbursement of child care and travel costs as needed.
Mères et Monde operates from the principles of empowerment and partnerships, with programs and opportunities adapted to the realities and needs of the parenting women attending the centre. The centre is run from a model of participatory management, with the young mothers sitting on committees (including finance, human resources, staff hiring and evaluation committees), in addition to forming the majority on the board of directors. Partnerships with all levels of government, the local school board, a daycare provider, local employment centre and support service agencies, mental health agencies, a local museum, chiropractor, video maker, health centre and others result in a myriad of opportunities and comprehensive supports for those young women who live at the centre as well as those from the broader community who attend programs offered at Mères et Monde.
