Who We Are
Between their three site locations and 65 employees, Terra Centre provides support, services, and necessities to 1,500 young parents and children each year. The breadth of their agency allows them to accept young parents at any point in their journey and customize services to meet their distinct needs. 
 
Terra contributes to the well-being of Edmonton's most vulnerable children. Teen parents gain valuable skills and become more knowledgeable about infant care, bonding, attachment, developmental play, guiding behaviors and positive discipline that increase their capacity to parent more effectively. 
 
Many young parents access numerous programs at one time from across the agency, including counselling and childcare at Braemar School, housing, community outreach, group support and others. 
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Terra also leads the way in serving young dads and employ male Outreach Workers who focus specifically on providing young dads with highly individualized support to help them achieve their goals while being involved in their children’s lives.

Our Programs

Family Outreach: The family outreach team at Terra works alongside parents, helping them set their own goals. Based on these goals, the Terra team develops a customized plan that often includes education, providing resources, and skill development. Parents can enter these programs before they turn 20.
 
Group Support Programs: Pregnant teens and young parents often feel isolated from their peers. Groups connect them into a community of like-minded parents individuals in learning and sharing with one another. Both Prenatal and parenting classes are offered to all young parents in Edmonton and area.
 
Young Dads: Terra offers the only fathering program specifically tailored to dads under the age of 24. This program assists dads in employment searches, schooling, applying for sources of funding, meeting basic needs, legal assistances, and finding and using other community groups. 
 
Clothing and Essentials: The Terra Clothes Closet provides young parents with access to free clothing, diapers, formula, toys, and hygiene products for their children. With a few financial stressors relieved, parents are freed up to allocate resources to other necessities, such as transportation and nutritious groceries. 
 
Housing: Terra provides young parents with access to subsidized, supportive housing. The Housing Family Outreach Workers provide home visitation, support and resources to young families. 
 
High School Completion: Terra partners with Edmonton Public Schools, specifically Braemar School, to provide pregnant and parenting teens with the resources they need to finish high school. Some services include help developing healthy relationships and boundaries, access to onsite services such as Mental Health Recovery Facilitator and the Clothes Closet, referrals, community resources, and access to legal services, childcare, housing, and funding. 
 
Youth Leadership: There are two different programs that fall under the "Youth Leadership" umbrella; Peers Educating Peers and the Ambassadors Program. The Peers Educating Peers program empowers pregnant teens and young parents to share their experiences with Junior and Senior high schools. The Ambassador Program is offered at Braemar School. It offers training in public speaking, networking and media relations. Students in this program are provided the opportunity to speak at both agency and external community events.
 
Strengthening Hope Bursary: The Strengthening Hope Bursary is available to young parents registered at Braemar School in Edmonton or Louise Dean School in Calgary. It is administered to young parents while they are in full-time studies September to June and also when attending Summer School at either of the two locations. It covers the expenses of day-to-day living and child care.
 
Child Care: Terra's accredited Child and Family Support Centre offers child care for teen parents attending Braemar School. During the day, children are provided with nutritious meals and snacks, stimulating learning environments, and safe play spaces.
 
Post-Secondary Support and Scholarships: Scholarships are available for participants and alumni 26 years old and under pursuing full-time or part-time post-secondary education. Students returning to post-secondary are also eligible.

​For a list of specific offerings, visit the Terra website.  terracentre.ca/
Contact Information 
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Terra Centre for Teen Parents
13020 146 Street Edmonton, AB T5N 3A2
Website:  http://terracentre.ca/

Melissa Hurst, Supervisor Community Services
Phone: 780.428.3772 Direct line: 587-545-7476
​Email: mmendeshurst@terracentre.ca

Charlotte Caine, Starting Point Support Worker
Phone: 780.428.3772 Direct line: 780-729-3045
E-mail:  ccaine@terracentre.ca

Nickall Bryan, Manager Community Services
E-mail: NBryan@terracentre.ca 

Allison O'Grady, Director Community Services
E-mail: Aogrady@terracentre.ca 
All CAPC and CPNP Projects along with the Alberta Coalition are funded by the ​Public Health Agency of Canada
"The views expressed here don't necessarily represent the views of the Government of Canada".