UPDATE: The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services-Division of Public Health (NC DHHS-DPH) was funded by the Office of Adolescent Health’s Pregnancy Assistance Fund (OAH/PAF) in August 2013 to implement Young Families Connect: Engaging Communities (YFC). The program assisted both young expectant and parenting women and men to overcome challenges and achieve personal life goals, in an effort to move their life trajectories in a positive direction. The Young Families Connect Program provided services that promoted self-sufficiency, health and wellness, and parenting skills for expectant and parenting women and men ages 13-24 years (and their families) living in Bladen, Onslow (thru July 2016), Robeson, Rockingham and Wayne counties. The Division of Public Health applied in March 2017 for funding to keep YFC in place for three more years (through July 2020). However, our application was approved but not funded. As a result, YFC program services will end in Bladen, Robeson, Rockingham and Wayne Counties on November 1, 2017. Young Families Connect participant blogs and other information will be available on the Every Woman South East website so that you can continue to “CONNECT. ENGAGE. SHARE.” stories of strength and hope from former YFC participants.
Do you have questions about programs similar to Young Families Connect in Bladen, Robeson, Rockingham, and Wayne Counties or need additional help? The YFC Media Outreach Coordinator (Jasmine) can will share resources to help you meet your needs.
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Young Families Connect is part of a public-private partnership between Community based organizations across the state of North Carolina, UNC Chapel Hill Center for Maternal and Infant Health; Shep’s Center) and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Women’s Health Branch.
- Young Families Connect serves expectant and parenting participants ages 13-24 in four rural counties in North Carolina (Bladen, Robeson, Rockingham, and Wayne). Young expectant and parenting women and men experience more life challenges than their peers and they and their children are often at high risk for poorer social, educational and health outcomes. Having a healthy pregnancy, staying in school finding employment, obtaining educational success and acquiring effective parenting skills are all critical to the success of parents and their children in our society.
- Young Families Connect: Engaging Communities leverages current resources in four high need communities by assisting existing providers serving young expectant parenting women and men in adopting evidence – based and evidence –informed practices. The project also brings resources to these communities to provide young families with supportive services identified through a community based needs assessment process.
- The goals of Young Families Connect are to:
- 1) increase self-sufficiency,
- 2) improve health and wellness, and
- 3) improve parenting skills for expectant and parenting women and men ages 13- 24 years.
Young Families Connect is implemented by four local coordinators (Bladen, Robeson, Rockingham, and Wayne Counties) with state level support administered by the Program Coordinator and Program Manager (NC Division of Public Health), Media Outreach Coordinator (UNC Center for Maternal and Child Health) and Evaluation Team (UNC Shep’s Center).
For more information about Young Families Connect, visit youngfamiliesconnect.org
Follow us on Twitter (@YFCNC15) and Instagram. Like us on Facebook and Instagram (@YoungFamiliesConnect)
CONNECT. ENGAGE. SHARE. with us on social media using #YFCHealthy17
Blog Star of the month: Eric J. from Robeson County.
“Young Families Connect has helped me to open more, talk more, be less shy, the program has helped me financially and has also been a long-term support for myself and my family.”
