The YWCA's MotherLove program supports pregnant and parenting teens, helping them succeed in school, become strong parents, and graduate high school. The program offers a range of services to guide and empower these young women through their educational and parenting journeys:

• Case Management: Offers personalized support with academic goal setting, financial management, and access to community services, including prenatal care.
• Mentoring: Connects teens with volunteer mentors who provide encouragement, guidance, and support.
• Lunch Bunch Meetings: Monthly meetings at local schools focusing on important topics such as pregnancy prevention, parenting skills, and preparing for college.
• Alumni Committee: Provides ongoing support for teen parents with monthly gatherings to share resources and advice.
• Giving Tree: A volunteer initiative where individuals can choose a star to donate gifts for local families in need, ensuring children in the community receive gifts during the holiday season.

The YWCA's mission is to empower women, eliminate racism, and stand up for social justice, and the MotherLove program plays a crucial role in supporting young mothers as they build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

https://www.ywcaofasheville.org/what-we-do/empowering-women/motherlove/

The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. The YWCA’s Women’s Empowerment Department provides services for women of childbearing age via its Getting Ahead and MotherLove programs. Getting Ahead supports women living in poverty to build resources for a more prosperous life. MotherLove provides mentoring and support for pregnant or parenting teens, building skills as strong parents and successful students with the goals of ensuring participants graduate high school, enroll in secondary education, deliver a healthy baby, and delay a subsequent pregnancy.

MotherLove program participants continue to engage with a modified service delivery model due to COVID-19 restrictions on group events held within school buildings. Each participant continues to receive case management and referral supports related to pregnancy and post-partum risks and needs. None of the Motherlove participants have experienced a repeat pregnancy and all remain engaged in case management service to support with social determinants of health needs.

MotherLove programming has continued throughout 2023 as they work to re-establish support services within local schools. Program participants have engaged in case mangement services, with 100% acessing prenatal care and education around healthy pregnancy, and 100% delivering at 37+ weeks of gestation. In 2023, programming also became accessible to participants who would have previously "aged out" at 18 years in an effort to expand support services for new and expecting parents.