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Greetings!
"An independent woman takes responsibility and goes with it. She takes care of herself and does what is necessary to provide for herself. She is about more than just surviving in this world-she wants to be successful and give back to others... I am on my way to becoming a black, strong, independent woman," declared Bickiesh'ia at AFG's recent Role Model Dinner. Bickiesh'ia was one of several young women from AFG who shared their stories at the dinner. Read on to hear more about the Role Model Dinner, to learn about AFG's newest effort to address infant mental health issues, and more.
 | | Member of Young Women Changing Communities perform the skit they wrote, "Home Is Where the Heart Is," at AFG's 25th Anniversary Role Model Dinner. |
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Improving Infant Mental Health
New initiatives at AFG work to improve infant and toddler mental health
"People were seeing that there was a high level of need amongst the infants and toddlers in the Shelter, but there wasn't a staff member who could take the lead with that child, with the family," explains Amanda Stein, AFG's Development and Infant Mental  Health Clinician, on the origins of AFG's new initiative to target infant mental health.
Research shows that teen mothers are more likely to drop out of school and remain unmarried. Their children are more likely to be born at low birth weight, live in single-parent households, experience abuse and neglect, and enter the child welfare system. Daughters of teen mothers are more likely to become teen parents themselves, and sons of teen mothers are more likely to be incarcerated. Such high-risk children may have conditions ranging from developmental delays to neurobehavioral disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to undiagnosed hearing impairments.
Over the years, AFG has identified a set of unmet needs among vulnerable children reached by Alternatives For Girls, especially in terms of early developmental and mental health issues; and particularly among minor kids accompanying their teenage mothers in the agency's shelter and transitional living program.
Meeting an unmet need
Stein is AFG's first-ever staff member devoted to infant mental health issues, and with the help of funding from the Carls Foundation and the Srere Fund at the DMC Foundation, she has been implementing several new initiatives. Stein first joined the AFG team almost one year ago. She has her LLMSW from the University of Michigan, and she is working toward her Infant Mental Health Level 2 Endorsement.
Stein works directly with AFG participants along with mothers in  the community around the mental health of their infants and toddlers, including performing assessments, providing infant mental health counseling, making referrals for mother/baby mental health needs, and developing relationships with other organizations that address infant mental health.
Part of this effort includes working with an outside agency to form a playgroup for both moms at AFG as well as in the community.
Making sure mothers are heard
In addition, Stein has been coordinating trainings for AFG staff so that everyone at AFG is better able to address infant mental health issues. "We want for staff to have the skills and tools they need to work with clients," explains Stein. Those skills include education on infant development, crisis intervention, and trauma and trauma-informed care.
Stein is very excited about the new grant from the Srere Fund at the DMC Foundation. The grant provides incentives for mothers in the community to become a part of her program. "Some of the women I'm seeing have fallen through the cracks--I'm trying to act as a bridge between agencies. We are reaching people who wouldn't be receiving services otherwise," explains Stein.
"Today, I got to hold a newborn, which is always amazing. Very often the clients I work with, there's that look in their eye when they feel like you really heard them--that's when I feel the best, when they feel like I understood them."
AFG is currently looking for female mentors to work with the mothers in our programs and model positive parenting. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Amanda Stein at astein@alternativesforgirls.org or download the Mothers and Mentors flyer.
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Resource Center Health Fair
AFG's Resource Center partners with OCC to educate about heart health
On Saturday, April 6th, AFG hosted a Health Fair with the goal of educating girls and women in the community about heart health. The event
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An OCC nursing student demonstrates how to hula hoop
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featured various health stations, a healthy lunch, and health-themed goody bags featuring hand sanitizer, tissues, and other items.
This fair was a collaborative effort between AFG and students from the Oakland Community College nursing program, who put on this fair as a part of their nursing curriculum.
A Healthy Tour
Upon arriving at the fair, each woman was met by a student nurse, who guided them through the fair. At the first station, the student nurse took down vital health stats, such as weight, blood pressure, and BMI. The next station featured information on nutrition and blood pressure.
Finally, attendees received interactive information about the importance of exercise. Hula hoops and jump ropes were used as fun examples to stay active. At the end of the fair, each women received a packet of information particular to their physical and health needs.
Staying Informed
"This was an important event because it got out important information about heart heath, and how heart health is different for men and women," shares Shannon Brandt, AFG Resource Center Manager. "Symptoms of heart attacks and heart problems in women often go undiagnosed, and we wanted to share this information with as many people as possible."
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Role Model Dinner
AFG's recent event raised over $126,000 for the organization
"Conviction, compassion, and determination is what a woman is made of. Each speaker here tonight contains an incredible talent that the world should pay a great deal of homage to," declared Brooke, a member of Young Women Changing Communities, at AFG's recent Role Model Dinner. Brooke was one of four young women paired with an AFG 2013 Role Model.
Brooke introduced Mary Ellen Gurewitz, stating, "On the subject of real women, someone profound comes to mind. Her name is Mary Ellen Gurewitz. I admire her ambitious law career and it inspires me to want to be. That may sound incomplete and it's supposed to. Her life is an ongoing success story with no real ending."
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Shameeka, AFG Shelter resident, presents Dr. Patricia Maryland, President and CEO of St. John Providence Health System and Ascension Health Ministry Market Leader, with a Role Model Award
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AFG's 25th Annviversary "Silver Linings" Role Model Dinner was held on March 21st at the Fillmore Detroit. The evening was full of fun and inspiration. After an hour of mingling and a silent auction, the program kicked off with a live auction. Angela Elliott, one of AFG's first-ever Shelter residents, emceed the event. The evening closed with the thrilling "Fund the Mission," led by auctioneer Chris Aslanian, during which event guests pledged monetary support to AFG.
A time to reflect and a look towards the future
In between was a time of reflection and inspiration as the young women of AFG and the 2013 Role Models shared their stories. Many shared pieces of wisdom, like this statement from Role Model Dr. Trina Shanks, Associate Professor, School of Social Work at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor: "Social capital is like a bank account. The more deposits you make in the lives of friends and loved ones, the more resources are available when you need to make a withdrawal."
The event was a thrilling way to celebrate the past 25 years of Alternatives For Girls and set the tone for the next 25 years of empowering at-risk girls and young women.
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Young Women Changing Communities member Sankeydra introduces Role Model Dr. Trina Shanks
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The event raised over $126,000 for Alternatives For Girls. AFG would like to thank everyone who made the event possible: Our incredible emcee, Angela Elliott; our amazing Role Models; the inspiring young women who spoke; and the friendly event volunteers. AFG also gratefully thanks this year's Role Model Dinner sponsors: PVS Chemicals, Inc.; HAP; Mercedes-Benz Financial Services; St. John Health; The Suburban Collection; Towers Watson; Comerica; Corporate F.A.C.T.S.; Dakkota Integrated Systems LLC; General Motors; GMAWOV Book Club; Henry Ford Health Systems; JCD Advisors; Metro West Chapter of Credit Unions; Rodgers Chevrolet; Trinity Health; Corp!; Metro Times; MGM Grand Detroit, and Union AdWorks for donating design services.
To view pictures from the Role Model Dinner, check out our album on Facebook or view photos taken by Hour Detroit.
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Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us, and happy spring!
Sincerely,
Amanda (Amy) L. Good
Alternatives For Girls | |
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AFG Blog
This month's blog was written by Daniella, an AFG Shelter resident. She wrote this month's blog as part of her application to AFG's Transition to Independent Living Program (TIL), a program which she is now a part of.
" My vision for an independent woman is, being able to rely on myself; having my own money, car, house and every other necessity. I'm homeless because after my father died, my mother was constantly trying to have me move in with relatives I really wasn't close with. I was very depressed and had very low self-esteem," says Daniella. Click here to read the complete blog.
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