205 Parliament St.
Toronto, Ontario
M4E 1G5
416-365-1888
I learned that Jessie's Centre not only support the young pregnant woman but also their partners and family. I learned that the clients not only come from the locations postal code caption, but also they accept woman from all over Ontario. Woman can be referred to Jessie's Centre from the Children's Aid Society, Sick kids Hospital, and Woman's Hospital. I also learned that some clients are serviced only virtual. I learned that their intake is for woman 19 and under, however they continue to support the client as they get older as long as their intake is from 19 and under.
I learned that Jessie's offer each participant a chance to purchase gently used and new items donated by larger cooperation's, using Jessie's dollars that are given to each participant. I learned that the woman are given a specific amount of 'Jessie's Dollars', which the woman can put towards spending at the 'Swap shop' that is operated by Jessie's Centre. The donated gently used clothing and children's accessories are donated by local charities as well as some local community members. Some of the items however, are brand new items donated by large cooperation's. The woman are given the money to spend in the shop to build on skills of budgeting, adapting to costs, and also to prepare them for when they go on their own.
I was made aware of the fact that Jessie's Centre's location was chosen because of being in the affordable and spacious range, to continue to be able to support more young woman. They moved into this location in the year 1994. Prior to this location, Jessie's Centre started out in a smaller location at 1982 Queen St, Toronto. I learned that Jessie's Centre is supported by non-profit, charity, doners, United Way and also by the Ministry of Children & Youth Services.
I leaned that Jessie's Centre offers the young woman on site housing. I was told there is only 16 units available to the participating woman and their families, however there is no limit on length of stay so to obtain one of these units is at a very low turn around. The woman are offered free services coordinator's such as a housing and financial coordinator. These assist the woman with finding outside services that can be long lasting and more permanent to support the young woman and her family. The hold bi-weekly meetings to discuss and plan successful progress moving forward with each client. meetings
Questions I asked the representative were:
Do most of the woman come from the neighborhood/community or from ward 13, or do they come from all over?
Who does Jessie's Centre accept?
Who receives the housing support?
What funding do they get? Where does it come from? is it Profit or Non-Profit funding?
Do all Participants receive on site childcare?
Why is Jessie's Centre located where it is currently?
Answers to my Questions Given to me by representative:
No, in fact we receive woman from all over even as far as Hamilton. We accept all woman because we can also support them virtually and offer referrals to closer service providers.
Jessies Centre accepts any woman 19 years and under, who are requiring pre-and post-natal services of all kinds.
All of the clients have an opportunity to access 1 of our 16 housing units depending on availability.
Jessie's Centre relies on support from The Ministry of Children & Youth Services, several Charities, United Way, and many other donations from donors.
If clients are active in and during another service offered by Jessie's, then yes they can access the childcare while in another program offered on site. For example if a mom is in attendance for school her child can be in the childcare. If a mom is in attendance meeting her worker the child can be in the childcare.
Jessie's was previously in a smaller building so they moved to this new location to have a more expandable opportunity to support more young woman. The cost was in range and the location specifically had nothing to do with the move, just in regards to cost and expandable opportunities.
Jessie's Centre's approach and purpose has and does support young woman and their families reach their full potential in these Social Determinants of Health:
#1. Income & Income Distribution - Referrals and supports are given for Income status
#2. Education - Onsite TDSB High School Programs
#3. Unemployment & Job Security - Housing can support a mother obtaining employment
#4. Employment/Working Conditions - Employment supports and referrals
#5. Early Childhood Development - Onsite childcare available to clients
#6. Food Security - Food meal drop in programs
#7. Housing - Onsite residences and referrals for external housing supports
#9. Social Safety Net - Mothers meeting other mothers in programs
#10. Health Services - Free health services offered to all clients both onsite and off site
#11,12,13, 14. Gender, Culture, Race, Disability - They do not discriminate these and welcome all