Currently not Operating

History of EMMA

2003 – 2005

Meetings were held with Dept of Education Qld, Dept of Health Qld and Life Bridge. This was facilitated by IFYS

Partners: NIL

Funding: NIL

2005

Lyn Baird piloted the program PAGE (Pregnant Adolescence Guidance Explored) through Kings Community Care

Partners: Kings Community Care

Funding: NIL

2007 April

Program rebirthed as EMMA (Educating Mentoring Mothering Adolescents) with members of both government and non government representatives on the Steering Committee. Leah Houghton and Lyn Baird run the program voluntarily with Kawana Life Church donating the venue. Dept of Education Qld provides funding for one of their staff to assist the program.

Partners: Kawana Life, Life Bridge

Funding: Dept of Education Qld for one teaching staff, NIL for rest of program or staff

2007 Sept

EMMA moves to Life Bridge Centre, Maroochydore where venue and admin support is donated by Life Bridge.

Partners: SCYP, Kawana Life, Life Bridge,

Funding: Comic Relief Fund, Dept of Education Qld for one teaching staff

2008 June

EMMA has 29 girls involved and a trial pilot was initiated at Burnside High.

Partners: SCYP, Burnside High

Funding: Dept of Education Qld for one teaching staff

2008 Sept

After requests from the participants and the welfare community, EMMA returns back to a community care model at Life Bridge. This was supported by a unanimous decision by the Steering Committee. Alongside this return, EMMA offers direct contact with both Anti Natal and Post Natal hospital staff. The program that remains at Burnside is taken over by Dept of Education Qld and renamed ‘STEMM’.

Partners: SCYP, Nambour General Hospital

Funding: SCYP

2009 July

Lyn Baird sees a need to support EMMA male partners. MAX (Mentoring Adolescent Males) is created and runs fortnightly.

Partners: SCYP

Funding: Coca Cola Australia Foundation, Wendys

2010 January

EMMA Stage 2 continues care to past participants through weekly PAM (Parenting and Music) classes

Partners:

Funding: Inger Rice Foundation

Dec 2011

EMMA has 15 girls + babies involved, with Leah Houghton as Coordinator. A strong mentoring program is in place and each participant receives case management support fortnightly. The program includes excursions, gaining  first aid certificates, Cert 1 in financial literacy, support in TPP (Univ of Sunshine Coast) and other educational goals, baby attachment activities and continued life skills and relationship training.

 

 

Getting to Know the EMMA girls

           ‘I never thought I’d be a mum at 16’

 ‘I didn’t picture myself being a young mum’

Life! It doesn’t always come in a nice, planned out package. Many of us have experienced its unpredictability and wondered where it is all heading.  When this happens the lucky ones have people around who can love and support them through it. But for some, either the support is not there or the event is just too big to deal with. It can seem like life has stopped and dreams have died. 

Thanks to the EMMA program the dreams are not destroyed – just on hold. ....  to read more go to our Printable Version

 

 

 

 

Elles Sactuary

HIP