Parenting

Young Parent Support Services is a parent support program for pregnant and parenting teens for either their first or second pregnancy.  The goal of Young Parent Support Services is to support a positive parent/child bond through home visits and groups.  YPSS is a voluntary program that can continue until your child is 5 years of age.  At any time, a participant can choose to end services.

There are two components to Young Parent Support Services;

  • Home Visits- Each participant of the program is matched up with a Family Support Specialist that will come to your home and conduct home visits.  Home visits consist of :
  1. Parent child activities
  2. Parenting education
  3. Developmental screenings
  4. Goal setting
  5. Referrals to community resources
  6. Support and guidance for the parent. 

Home visits start out on a weekly basis and, as participants progress, frequency of visits is reduced to monthly.

 

  • Groups- Currently, YPSS offers three groups:
  1. BYBD (Before Your Birth Day) is a prenatal group that focuses on the mothers’ well-being during pregnancy and bonding with baby prenatally.
  2. New B’s (Moms and Babies group) is for mothers with infants up to 18 months. This group focuses on parenting skills, life skills, and family planning.
  3. TOTS (Teaching Our Toddlers) is for mothers with toddlers and preschoolers.  The focus of this group includes positive discipline, toddler development, and relationships. 

All three groups offer support from the group coordinator and peers that at similar stages of parenting.  A light meal or snack and transportation is provided for each group.  Child care is provided for New B’s and TOTS groups.

If you are a teen (19 or under) expecting a child, or have newborn (2 weeks or younger) and live in Sangamon County, you may be eligible for our program.  Program services are free, confidential, and voluntary.  If you would like more information about YPSS, feel free to contact us by calling (217)528-8406.

Young Parent Support Services is an Ounce of Prevention Fund program funded by the Department of Human Services as part of Healthy Families Illinois and the United Way of Central Illinois.