Our second goal is to empower parents to provide the nurturing and environment their children need to attain optimal cognitive, motor, and emotional development so that all children meet developmental benchmarks or connect to professionals in addressing developmental concerns. At Tubman House, children are not an afterthought. Aware of the impact of stress on the developing mind, we know the children will experience lifelong benefits from early stability. It’s a fine art providing the structure children need and the freedom youth deserve. In community, young parents share struggles and ease the load by sharing the work of responding to children. Our Art Beast Child Development Center offers activities that promote development for our residents' children. Stability, regular naps, bedtimes, doctor visits, and nutritious meals result in developmental leaps. Furthermore, residents are supported in their desire to be whole, loving, and wise parents. Parenting and educational attainment need not be at odds. Parents learn to balance the pursuit of their goals with the need to devote time to forming a secure attachment to their child. Parents learn to do what their parents did not- slow down, hold babies close, and celebrate each smile. This time bonding builds a foundation for health and learning. To improve outcomes for newborns, a staff doula coaches residents in prenatal care, provides labor support, and guides parents in breastfeeding and caring for their newborn. Weekly parenting workshops empower parents to make informed choices about feeding, disciplining, and promoting development.

Our third goal is to improve mental health through healthy routines, improved stress management, and connection to our supportive community. We also connect residents to quality mental health services so that 75% of residents meet individual benchmarks each month for improving wellness. We connect residents to mental health professionals that listen close and think long before diagnosing as mentally ill a youth coping with a traumatic childhood. Many residents struggle with situational depression and anxiety so we teach new ways to effectively manage stress. Tubman partners with professionals willing to account for the culture of transition age youth before defining treatment. Clients rarely use medications, instead embracing lifestyle changes as the best path to mental wellness. Tubman staff is trained to identify post-partum depression and work with health professionals to support healing. Finally, as residents succeed in college, watch children blossom, eliminate debt, establish savings, lead service projects, and pursue meaningful futures, it is not just mental stability, but hope and peace that take hold.

A fourth goal is to improve the health and emotional wellness of all the youth and children living at Tubman House through healthy diet, regular dental and medical care, daily exercise, and regular sleep. Staff attend doctor visits with residents to guide them in advocating for quality health care. Residents learn to develop a relationship with a doctor to reduce ER visits and focus on preventative health. Residents often arrive with chronic health issues such as asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy. Tubman translates jargon and fast doctor visits into knowledge so each resident can reduce the impact of these conditions. Often Tubman advocates for residents and pushes for referrals when residents are dismissed as young or nervous mothers.

Half of Tubman’s staff are experienced teachers with the talent to guide residents toward diplomas and college degrees. We promote higher education as a key to meaningful work and financial stability. We develop the skills to gain and retain meaningful employment through career counseling, job shadowing, and support in leading service projects.

Tubman House provides authentic community to our parents and children. We encourage our residents to reach for a proper future that includes a meaningful career, committed parenting and active citizenry. A recent graduate arrived at Tubman two years ago, pregnant and exhausted from life in the shelters. Now, she lives in her own townhouse, drives a reliable Toyota, and works full time as a preschool teacher, putting to use the Early Childhood Education degree she earned while at Tubman House. She has $3000 still in savings. Most importantly, she has the hope and security to love and delight in her 18 month old son. Waking the Village is eager to partner with others in giving ALL youth access to a future of good health and hope.