Teen Supper Club Program
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A Program for Pregnant Teens
| Babies born to teenage mothers are at higher risk for health related problems. Risk factors include: pre-term babies, babies born with immediately identifiable congenital abnormalities and a higher risk for low-birth weight babies. Pregnant teens themselves are also at greater risk, including, for example anemia, hypertension and depressive disorders. |
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Locations and Times
Teen Prenatal Supper Clubs run 2 hours each week, year-round, for expectant teens. Participants can attend until their babies are 3 months of age. Each week expectant teens learn how to prepare a nutritious meal and are provided with the recipe so the meals can be made at home. Locations
Counseling, Referrals and Support
- Individualized and group supportive counseling through access to Public Health Nurses, Social Workers and Registered Dietitians.
- Referrals to programs and services that support childbearing women and young children.
Peer Support
- Each program site provides a warm, caring and inviting atmosphere where socializing, friendly support and lasting friendships are made.
- Provides a social network that promotes peer relationships amongst socially isolated expectant women to meet and support each other.
Prenatal Food and Nutrition Support Program
- Provides expectant women and teens with nutrition education and counseling, access to nutritious food and nutritional supplements.
- Each week participants receive a $10 food voucher so they can purchase healthy food for the home (eggs, milk and fruit).
- Upon arrival each Healthy Start or Teen Prenatal Supper Club participant receives a nutritious snack.
- During Teen Prenatal Supper Club sessions expectant teens also learn how to prepare a nutritious meal, receive a nutritious meal and are provided with the recipe so healthy meals can be made at home.
- Each week, a Public Health Nurse or Dietitian provides individual and group nutrition counseling focusing on health and nutritional needs during pregnancy. Educational topics include: food planning and shopping, making healthy food choices within a limited budget, nutrition and purchasing and preparing nutritious food.
Prenatal and Early Childhood Development Education including the following plus many other relevant topics:
- Bonding with baby
- Breastfeeding information
- Exercise and physical activity
- Feeding baby
- Improving self-esteem
- Infant care
- Infant massage
- Labour and delivery
- Living in a smoke-free environment
- Nutrition education
- Personal care during pregnancy
- Prenatal care
- Preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD’s)