Forestdale’s Strong Mothers program help young women, aged 12-24 years old, gain the support they need to realize their leadership potential.
Forestdale provides comprehensive sexuality education to young people. We work in NYC neighborhoods with the highest rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections to provide accurate information and resources to avoid unplanned pregnancy and achieve financial self-sufficiency. Our evidence-based curricula, taught in English and Spanish, include experiential activities to build skills in negotiation, refusal, and condom use. Forestdale’s youth ambassadors lead discussions, using language and expressions that are comfortable to their peers, and share information through our texting service for weekly reproductive health information.
Forestdale helps young parents plan for a better future by making wise choices in parenting and sexual health. A sample of core services includes: parenting skills training to foster nurturing and secure attachment; counseling to help women find stable living environments (88% of our young women experience domestic violence); doula matching to help women with prenatal, labor, and post-natal support; and access to Forestdale’s Family Store, stocked with clothing, diapers and baby gear from local donors and our partners at Good+ Foundation.
A key leader in New York City’s Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative, Forestdale offers weekly workshops for Queens women of reproductive age about: Women’s Reproductive Health Care; Family Planning; Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV; Mental Health Wellness; Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships; Safe Sleep Practices; Sexuality Education/Preventive Sexual Behavior; Contraception; Developmental Stages and Expectations; Smoking and Alcohol Cessation During Pregnancy; Infant Care; and Home and Child Safety. Key goals of these sessions are to see an increase in healthy births, increase of on-time receipt of appropriate prenatal care, and increase of breastfeeding incidence and duration.
Forestdale is looking for special people to provide temporary homes, guidance and love to young people who cannot safely remain with their parents. Your role is to provide children and teens with the emotional support they need to heal and thrive. At the same time, you work with Forestdale to help birth parents make progress towards rebuilding their families. In most cases, foster children reunite with their birth parents; when it is not safe to do so, Forestdale will facilitate the adoption process.
Learn MoreWe are looking for mentors (18 years+) to work with children ages 9-12 for one year, who will inspire them to make smart decisions and pursue their dreams. Teams of two mentors will each work with five mentees. There will be four 10 week sessions throughout the year each running for three hours on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm. The program will take place at our new Hollis Community Center located at 203-09 Hollis Avenue, Hollis, NY 11412.
Learn More