This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Local Voices

Chicago foundation for women grants $15,000 To Teen Parent Connection to make an impact in Chicago-area DuPage Co.

For Immediate Release
Date: July 15, 2014
contact: Sarah Pluth, Director of Development
sarahp@teenparentconnection.org
630.790.8433 ext 232

Chicago foundation for women grants $15,000 TO Teen Parent Connection to MAKE AN impact IN CHICAGO-AREA dUpAGE cOUNTY

Chicago Foundation for Women’s spring 2014 primary cycle focused on freedom from violence and health access and awareness.

Find out what's happening in Glen Ellynwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

WHAT:

Find out what's happening in Glen Ellynwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • The spring 2014 cycle at Chicago Foundation for Women awarded $561,750 in grants to 53 Chicagoland programs.
  • During this cycle, the Giving Councils (formerly called Leadership Councils) at CFW also awarded grants to organizations. The three councils—Women of Color, LBTQ and Young Women's--raised money for their own grantmaking funds, which will support programs serving women and girls in diverse communities. 
  • Teen Parent Connection was awarded $15,000 for their Community-based Doula Program from the General Fund at Chicago Foundation for Women.
  • CFW awarded 15 grants in freedom from violence and eight grants in health.
  • Grantees in the health and freedom from violence portfolios are committed to supporting some of the most vulnerable women in Chicago.
  • All grantee organizations serve or impact low-income women or women below the poverty line.
  • Organizations working on freedom from violence are using these primary strategies: violence/violence prevention; family violence/domestic violence; legal services; sexual abuse; sexual assault; trafficking
  • Organizations working on enhancing women's and girls' access to high-quality health services and information are using these primary strategies this cycle: mental health; physical health; reproductive health; preventive care
  • Community-based Doula Program intends offers DuPage Country pregnant teens the opportunity to receive home-based prenatal education and support services that promote a healthy pregnancy and prepare the young mother and her partner/support person for childbirth.  The Doula also offers support during the labor and delivery process, providing continuous physical and emotional support, as well as postpartum services. Participants receiving services through our Doula Program demonstrate higher rates of breastfeeding and report lower levels of postpartum depression as compared to those not receiving services. (Study conducted by Northern Illinois University’s Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault). Childbirth Education and Prenatal Classes, hosted by Doulas, provide an opportunity for pregnant teen mothers and support partners to come together to learn more about pregnancy, labor and delivery. Last year, these programs served more than 180 young families.

 

WHO:

Teen Parent Connection serves the community through education on the realities and responsibilities of teenage pregnancy and through long-term assistance to adolescent parents for their development of self-esteem, parenting skills, and empowerment towards self-sufficiency. Teen Parent Connection provides a continuum of parenting education and support services to DuPage County adolescent parents, ages 12-22 — and is the only nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization in the county that is solely focused on providing comprehensive programs and services related to teenage pregnancy, parenting and prevention.  Last program year, Teen Parent Connection’s Adolescent Family Strengthening Programs served more than 600 young families. More than 14,000 middle school and high school students heard the pregnancy prevention message. For more information, please visit www.TeenParentConnection.org.

BACKGROUND:

Chicago Foundation for Women raises money to fund and support organizations that help women and girls—it's all about making smarter connections between need, money and solutions. We believe that when women and girls are secure, whole communities are made better. We improve the lives of women and girls through grants, advocacy, leadership development, and public and grantee education. Since 1985, we have given more than 3,000 grants totaling nearly $22 million and helped thousands of women and girls become philanthropists. Learn more at www.cfw.org.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?