Saint John centre helping moms find their footing
19-year-old Jamie Luis has been living at First Steps for over a year, and will soon be marking her first Mother’s Day as her daughter was born seven months ago.
"She’s always smiling, she loves to play with the older kids," says Luis. "And she’s just a very sweet girl."
It's been about a year and two months since she moved to the facility after finding out she was pregnant and in need of support.
"I needed help because I got laid off because of COVID," says Luis, "And I actually contacted Denise asking if I could have a tour of First Steps."
First Steps is a centre for pregnant and parenting young women and their children who have no safe place to go.
The organization not only provides transitional housing, but also access to programs and services to help their clients succeed.
Denise Morais, residential director, says one of the most unique parts of the program is that it tries to meet the women where they are.
"Everyone here essentially wants to be a parent," says Morais. "But they also have challenges with addiction, mental health, intimate partner violence, childhood trauma, poverty – so we try to address all of those needs."
Not only does First Steps have a daycare on site – it also has its own high school, the Dr. Christine Davies Education Centre which "provides schooling for pregnant and parenting women who would like to achieve their high school diploma."
Among those who have achieved that goal – is Jamie, who has not only graduated from high school, but is now enrolled to attend college in the fall.
"I have a lot of help from staff here and Denise," says Luis. "And I have truly believed that I can do it, and it’s for my daughter in the long run."
Morais estimates they’ve helped between 450 and 500 women – to help lift them up and find their footing for both mother and child.
"When I took my application in for college, I wanted to give [my daughter] the life that I never had, I want to give her the love, the attention, everything … that I never had, and that’s my goal basically."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
One dead after potential wrong way crash on Highway 401 in Milton: OPP
One person is dead and another is in life-threatening condition after a driver was travelling in the wrong direction on Highway 401 in Milton Sunday, according to police.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc insists
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Video shows gaggle of geese stopping traffic on Highway 1 near Vancouver
A mother goose and her goslings caused a bit of a traffic jam on a busty stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway near Vancouver Saturday.
'The Fall Guy' gives Hollywood a muted summer kickoff with a US$28.5M opening
"The Fall Guy," the Ryan Gosling-led, action-comedy ode to stunt performers, opened below expectations with US$28.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday, providing a lukewarm start to a summer movie season that's very much to be determined for Hollywood.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
William Shatner says he would consider 'Star Trek' return: 'Here comes Captain Kirk!'
The Montreal-born actor, famed for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," says he is open to reprising the iconic role in the sci-fi franchise as long as the storytelling is stellar.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.