Conference Aims to Build Resilient Connected Teen Whanau

22 July 2014

Thrive Teen Parent Support Trust Conference Aims to Build Strong Resilient Connected Teen Whanau

Thrive Teen Parent Support Trust’s Manager, Cinnamon Whitlock has expressed her support and acknowledged the bravery of Georgia Hagerman in sharing her story in the media. “We wish Georgia all the best on her new journey of motherhood,” she says. “We are very grateful to Georgia for sharing her story and highlighting the challenges teen parents face.”

Thrive Teen Parent Support Trust (Thrive) is a non-profit organisation which supports young people to thrive and be confident as parents. While teen pregnancy numbers in NZ are declining there is still a lot of teen parents who need support and assistance. In the year to end of September 2008, 5,209 teenage women gave birth; while during the September 2013 year, this number had fallen to 3,414. Thirty per cent of pregnant teen mums are based in Auckland with others being located in high deprivation areas across the country.

In response to the need for support that young parents require Thrive is hosting its inaugural Teen Parent Support Conference on 24-25 September in Auckland. It will provide a major gathering point for a wide range of people involved in working in the area of teen pregnancy and parenting.

“The kaupapa of the conference takes a cross sector approach, recognising the importance of the health, education and social services sector in whanau transformation. By collaborating with teen whanau and across sectors we aim to build strong resilient connected teen whanau.”

Thrive offers a range of services for young mums and dads including antenatal classes, support groups for mums and dads, parenting programmes and social work assistance, in particular in bringing together a range of agencies to help teen parents with the challenges they face in dealing with access to housing, benefits and other social services.

“Georgia is very lucky to have such great family support. Unfortunately for many young mums and dads having a young baby is an extremely difficult time. Particularly when family struggle to come to terms with the baby, or turn their backs on the teen parents. Alongside this we have a young mums struggling with body image, social stigma and isolation.” says Ms Whitlock.

ENDS

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