Parenting

YOUNG ADULT PARENTING

Being a parent as a young adult is tough as it is ,but when you add in having a mental health condition it makes it even tougher. This page is designed for young adult parents who are pregnant or young adults who are already parenting and have a mental health condition. There are resources on this page that can make the ride smoother on being a caregiver.

TAKING CARE OF A NEWBORN

When your a first time parent it can be very scary when you bring a new born into the world. You may have a mix of emotions all together. Here are some websites to help ease the process of taking care of a new born.

PARENTING

Taking Care of Your Baby is a page on Parenting.com with all the details you need for caring for your new born from Dressing your baby to Child care 101. See the site here: Taking-Care-Of-Your-Baby

BABY CENTER

After you have your baby there can be a lot of different mixed emotions. Not only does your baby come first but you do also. This site talks about ways to take care of yourself during the first few months of having your bundle of joy. Know more about taking care of yourself during your baby's first months!

BABY ZONE

Wouldn't it be nice if babies came with a manual? (But really—who has time to read a manual?!) Let us help you by sharing some information we've gathered on the most common new-parent questions about caring for Baby. Click here for more information: baby-care

TIPS FOR PARENTING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS

Take a parenting skills course
Attend a parenting support group
Develop a strong social support system of family and friends that can provide increased stability for the family
Maintain open, honest, age- appropriate communication with your child about your mental illness
Take care of yourself. If you are tired, ill or just worn out, you cannot be an effective parent. Eat healthfully, get enough sleep, take occasional breaks from parenting if possible, and enlist the support of family, friends and neighbors when things seem overwhelming.

TIPS FOR PARENTING WHILE BEING SINGLE

Show your love. Remember to praise your child. Give him or her your unconditional love and support.
Create a routine. Structure — such as regularly scheduled meals and bedtimes — helps your child know what to expect.
Prioritize family time. Set aside time each day to play, read or simply sit with your child.
Find quality child care. Although an older sibling can sometimes care for a younger sibling, don't rely on an older child as your only baby sitter. Be careful about asking a new friend or partner to watch your child. If you need regular child care, look for a qualified caregiver who can provide stimulation in a safe environment.
Set reasonable limits. Explain house rules and expectations to your child — such as speaking respectfully and picking up after yourself — and be careful to enforce them. Work with the other caregivers in your child's life to ensure you're providing consistent discipline. Consider re-evaluating certain limits, such as your child's computer time or curfew, when he or she demonstrates the ability to accept more responsibility.
Don't feel guilty. Don't blame yourself or spoil your child to try to make up for being a single parent.
Take care of yourself. Include physical activity in your daily routine, eat a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep. Arrange time to do activities you enjoy alone or with close friends.
Lean on others. Just because you're a single parent doesn't mean you have to do everything yourself. Work out a carpool schedule with other parents. Join a support group for single parents or seek social services. Call on trusted loved ones, friends and neighbors for help. Faith communities can be helpful resources, too.
Stay positive. Your mood and attitude can affect your child. It's OK to be honest with your child if you're having a difficult time, but remind him or her that things will get better. Try to keep your sense of humor when dealing with everyday challenges.

ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH YOUR CHILD dURING THE SUMMER

Your Baby's Summer Bucket List: 20 Fun Activities You'll Both Love

101 Fun Things To Do in the Summer

YOUNG FATHERS

One national study identifies young fathers as teenage males ages 15-19. However, males can both become fathers at younger ages as well as be involved in the pregnancies of teenage girls while in their twenties. The term “Young Father” encompasses all such young men who, because of their age and/or maturity level, tend to be vulnerable to the adverse parenting outcomes described in the literature surrounding teenage pregnancy.

Follow the tips below from Healthy Teen Network to ensure that your life as a father starts smoothly:

To help yourself prepare, talk to your partner, other fathers, your mom, grandma, aunt, anyone who you think will help you prepare to become a father.
Nearly all expectant fathers go for the first appointment and the ultrasound (where you get to see pictures of your baby)with their partners, but there are also courses offered at the hospital where you can prepare for the birth, and have a good look around the delivery room.
Find some friends - young dads need friends who are there to support them. Find some friends that have kids the same age as yours because you already have something in common. Talk about what your kids are doing. Your friends may be quite a bit older than you but that can be a good thing. They can be very good examples for young dads.
Find a mentor - somebody who you respect, trust, and can learn from. Young dads need good examples to teach them the principles that will form a solid foundation to build a life on. Mentors can help young dads land good jobs and meet up with other people who can perform valuable services.
So, you’re a dad! Your life has changed. It can be exciting. It can be a bit frightening. It can be both of these and more. It can certainly be an amazing experience for you and your child. You’ll be learning lots of new stuff. It’s tough - babies either want to be fed, have their diaper changed, have their soother back or they want a cuddle. Try not to worry, though. You will eventually learn what your baby wants.

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Postpartum depression is moderate to severe depression in a woman after she has given birth. It may occur soon after delivery or up to a year later. Most of the time, it occurs within the first 3 months after delivery.

This site explains everything you need to know about postpartum depression from the causes of it to the treatment of it: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth. It is always good to stay on top of this road block if and when it occurs after you give birth to your bundle of joy.

Coping skills to deal with the symptoms of postpartum depression:

Keep stress to a minimum: A stressor is anything that puts a demand on you, which is exactly what pregnancy does to your body, biochemically, physically and mentally.
Don’t suffer in silence: Many women don't discuss postpartum depression — especially if they have thoughts of harming themselves or their children — for fear of being viewed as a bad mother or having their kids taken away.
Encourage yourself: Try leaving yourself a voice message on your telephone. When postpartum depression creeps up on you, you'll have verbal and visual reminders of your true character.
Don’t blame yourself: Understand that you can't be blamed for feelings of despair or depression. If you start feeling excessive or inappropriate guilt, recognize that you didn't choose this disorder. You haven't done anything wrong.
Consult a physician about medication: Recent studies show that if women start treatment the day the baby is born, the likelihood of having a relapse is reduced dramatically. If you're nursing, talk to your doctor about which antidepressants are safe to take without a great risk to your child.

Signs and Symptoms of postpartum Depression:

Lack of interest in your baby

Negative feelings towards your baby
Worrying about hurting your baby
Lack of concern for your self
Lack of energy and motivation

Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Changes in appetite or weight
Sleeping more or less than usual
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

** PLEASE SEEK THE RIGHT IMMEDIATE HELP IF THESE SYMPTOMS OCCUR**

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POTENTIAL HURDLES TO OVERCOME

Compared to women of similar socioeconomic status who postpone childbearing, teen mothers are more likely to end up using public assistance.

Adolescent motherhood can increase the risk of mental health problems, including depression, which can reduce the ability to form attachments, interfere with attentiveness and nurturing, and results in disengagement from the child.

Stress can also take a toll on a teen mother and her children physically, mentally and emotionally. For example, one study found that high levels of hormones produced when under stress were associated with lower fetal weight.

Teen mothers are less likely to complete the education necessary to qualify for a well-paying job only 41% of mothers who have a child before age 18 ever complete high school.
Only 63% of teenagers who give birth before age 18 either graduate from high school or receive their GED as compared to 85% of women who delay childbirth until their early twenties.
Only 5% of young teen mothers complete at least two years of college by age 30 and less than 2% obtain a college degree.

NATIONAL RESOURCES

GUIDEBOOK FOR SUPPORT

This guidebook was developed as a comprehensive resource to help parents, providers, and advocates find information about possible parenting programs in their area. Check it out here: *Parenting w/ a Mental Illness: Programs and Resources*

THE SNAP PROGRAM

SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps, is a nationwide program to provide money for food for low income families. Click here for more information: *SNAP*

FAMILY CENTERED SERVICES

In an effort to promote personal empowerment, family stability, and recovery, the Initiative helps parents with psychiatric disabilities gain knowledge about their parental rights and potential support. Check it out here: *The Parenting Support and Parental Rights Initiative*

PARENTING TEENAGE PREGNANCY

.This Tip Sheet provides information to grantees serving pregnant or parenting teens to better support these youth.

PARENT-CHILD CENTERS

The Parent-Child Centers offer parent support and education services to both children and parents once a week. For more information, click here: *Parent-Child Centers*

THE CAPT PROGRAM

The CAPT Center is both a community support program for parents with a mental illness and an early intervention program for their young children. Check the site out here: *Children and Parents Together (CAPT)***

THE WIC PROGRAM

The Women, Infants, and Children serves to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5. For more information, click here: *WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)*

ASHBURY HOUSE

The Ashbury House is a Transitional Residential Treatment Program that provides 24-hour treatment, rehabilitation, and parent education to homeless women who are at risk of losing or have already lost custody of their children because of their mental illness. Learn more here: *Ashbury House (San Fran,CA)*

THE INFANT-PARENT PROGRAM

This program is a mental health program for families with infants or toddlers under three years of age. Its goal is to promote the positive relationship between parents and their children. Find out more here: *The Infant-Parent Program (San Fran,CA)*

THRESHOLDS PROJECT

The Thresholds Mothers’ Project helps women with a mental illness become better mothers, build stronger families, and gain the skills to live independently. Learn more here: *Thresholds Mothers' Project*

MASSACHUSETTS AREA RESOURCES

DMH YOUNG ADULT GUIDE

This guide is intended for young adults who need assistance in navigating their goals of recovery. There is a section just for YA parents who are looking for services on pages 25 and 26. Access the guide here: *Young Adult Resources Guide*

ONE TOUGH JOB

One Tough Job supports parents by providing them with current, reliable, and practical information on a variety of parenting topics related to raising children from infancy through adolescence. Learn more here: *One Tough Job*

PLANNED PARENTHOOD

The mission of PPLM is to protect and promote sexual and reproductive health and freedom of choice by providing clinical services, education and advocacy. Learn more here: *Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts*

PARENTS HELPING PARENTS

Parents Helping Parents is a non-profit institution focused on preventing child abuse before it ever occurs by offering free parenting help and support. Click here for more information: *Parents Helping Parents*

HEALTHY FAMILIES

Healthy Families Massachusetts (HFM) provides home visiting for first-time parents under age 21. Home visitors partner with parents to help them set and achieve personal and family goals. For more information, click here: *Healthy Families Massachusetts*

CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND

Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) focuses on working with parents as early as possible. Access their site here: *Children's Trust Fund*

family Options

Through the many programs offered through Family Options, parents can receive peer support, family coaching, parent coaching, peer mentoring for young pregnant and parenting adults with mental health conditions. For more information, click here: *Family Options*