Program marks 20 years of helping pregnant teens in Greater Sudbury

Program marks 20 years of helping teen moms A program in Sudbury is celebrating 20 years of offering vital support to pregnant young women and their families.

Better Beginnings Better Futures in Sudbury is celebrating 20 years of its Baby’s Breath program, which provides support and identifies challenges faced by pregnant and parenting teenagers, their partners, family and friends.

Melissa McAllister was enrolled in the Baby’s Breath program in 2004. McAllister found out she was pregnant at the age of 17 and said she knew she needed more support.

"It was a home for me," she said.

"It was a place that I could get out of the house, come and connect with other moms that were going through the same thing as me. We would make a meal together, all of us. And … just the education that I received from the program was phenomenal."

From prenatal classes to parenting workshops and everything a baby could need -- from clothes to diapers and food -- the program has supported more than 300 people in the community in the last two decades

"Teen moms need support in our community," said Joanne Thompson of Better Beginnings Better Futures.

"A lot of times, a lot of stigma and stereotyping is attached to their age. And the Baby's Breath program provides a safe environment for them to come and learn and be good moms, because they really just want to have a positive experience."

Thompson, who started the local program, said if individuals are pregnant or have a child and are 19 years old or younger, they are eligible to receive services.

In her 20 years doing the work, the youngest person to ever walk through the door was 13 years old.

"I'm proud that … they have allowed me to be on their journey with them," Thompson said.

"(Many of them) come in scared and vulnerable -- and they may need court support. They may be in situations of abuse, and just not having all the resources in place for them. And when they come here and they're sitting all down on the mat with their babies and engaged … you see they just want to be happy."

"My daughter is turning 20 years old in five months and she's in university, working towards her psychology degree," McAllister said.

"My son, he's working at a gas station. He wants to be a mechanic. So, just in general, if I didn't have that program for the first five years to shape their development, I can't imagine where they would be right now."

When the program started 20 years ago, it was only offered one day a week. Thanks to community partners and funding, Better Beginnings Better Futures is now able to offer programming five days a week.

As for the future of the program, Thompson said there will always be teen parents so she said this program will always be a valuable asset to the community.