Having a child when you’re in your teens or early twenties is a whole different experience – you might still be in school, not yet have the income of a full-time job, and really need some guidance + support.
Enter Little Steps, a nonprofit that gives young parents the tools and resources they need to raise a child. Expecting or pregnant moms and their partners can take classes once a week (as long as one partner is between the ages of 13 – 24) and meet up with other young parents.
Classes work on an “earn while you learn” system: the more you participate in classes during the ten-week session, the more “baby bucks” you earn, which can be exchanged for items like wipes, baby shampoo + diapers from the Little Steps Baby Boutique.
The philosophy behind the Little Steps program is creating a non-judgmental zone to learn positive parenting + life skills (like budgeting, easy recipes, and managing a bank account) you’ll need when you have a child, surrounded by people sharing your experience. While many participate voluntarily, Little Steps is an approved agency for those who are court ordered to attend a parenting program. The participants who are court ordered often choose to continue with the program even after they have fulfilled their requirements.
Session leaders become mentors to the young parents, and there’s a group dinner (donated by a local business or organization – more about that later) before each class where everyone catches up on what happened that week.
Want to help out? Here are a few *little steps* you can take.
- Volunteer. They need folks to help out in the children’s area while parents are taking class, help set up + serve dinner before class, and sort/repackage donated items.
- Donate dinner. Click the link for a few suggestions of what to bring or cook up a feast of your own.
- Facilitate a class. For those who want to make a bigger commitment – sit in on class for a few weeks, then lead a 10 week session of your own.
- Sponsor (or play in) their 10th Annual Charity Classic golf tournament on June 15 + show up for their Mom’s Night Out comedy show on May 11 (where a mom who went through the program will share her experience).
