When I started going to my school here in Illinois, I was thrilled to discover the Young Parenting Program. They offered prenatal classes, postnatal classes, and support groups for young mothers.The program also assigned me a doula to help me through Giovanni's birth in the hospital. I was going to my school once a week and socializing with the other young mothers and their babies. I also got a home visitor once a week who brought informational pamphlets and answered any questions I had about Giovanni's growth and development. My home visitor is a wonderful, friendly woman and she stayed past her assigned time just to talk about family or whatever goings-on we had. She helped how to teach Giovanni how to roll when he just layed there on the floor, doing nothing. In conclusion, the program was really good for me.
Then we received the news that the state senators were considering cutting funding to the program. We wrote our names on beach balls and sent them to the senators, hoping they would see the people they were personally affecting. But alas, it was all to no avail. The funding disappeared and the program was disbersed. All the people working with us had to be out of the office by next week, and all of our support groups and classes were canceled.
I was distraught to receive the news and I'm still bummed out about it. Out of all the things to cut funding from, why cut an educational program that helps out young mothers and their children? Without this program, I could easily see us slipping through the cracks of society. They tell us how not get pregnant again, help us find daycare so we can go to work and school, and so much more. When I was first diagnosed with postpartum depression, there were so many other girls telling me they had undergone through the same thing and they understood. I didn't feel so alone anymore. I wanted to go out and throw a bake sale or something, but that's a very temporary fix.
Maybe the program will find a way to come back.
Comments (5)
Oh man that's awful!Â
That totally sucks! I hope that you are able to stay in touch with some of the other mothers so that you are all still there to support each other.
@TornadoChaser - Yes, it is...WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO? *wail*
@der_lila_Stern@xanga - I just have a bunch of first names.
Such a disappointment. They really should keep things like that around.
@omgitsmackie@xanga - Yes, they should! Why is education one of the first things to get cut?