Single Parents Resource Centre of Victoria
“We have the most incredible spirit here,” says Liz Bloomfield, Executive Director of the Single Parents Resource Centre of Victoria, describing her staff that facilitates the myriad of programs aimed at assisting single parents - of both genders - move forward with their lives.
The SPRC celebrates 30 years of vital work in the community this year. In addition to offering integrated six week courses in life skills they also offer practical assistance in the form of individual counseling, school supplies, clothing, food, and other basic essentials single parents may need or simply cannot immediately afford.
One of the programs partly funded by the Victoria Foundation is Moms and Mentors. The initiative pairs female community volunteers with isolated single moms who have at least one child under the age of six and no support network in place. The program is facilitated by Ann Tasko who, amongst other critical duties related to facilitating the program, plays “matchmaker”, finding the most suitable pairing of mom and mentor based on a number of criteria and practical considerations.
The mom/mentor relationship allows moms to devise strategies in a supportive relationship and provides tangible help and guidance required to attain the goals that they have set for themselves. Mentors are required to commit to the program for a minimum of one year.
It’s not all structured interaction and can be as simple as sharing a walk on the beach or a chat over a cup of coffee to work the knots out of a problem.
“The Victoria Foundation basically came to the rescue,” says Tasko, who has her master’s in counseling psychology. She explains how the grant from the Victoria Foundation contributes to a professional facilitator’s salary, rental of the Blanshard Community Centre and kitchen for monthly meetings, meals included, supervised daycare by professional childcare workers during the meetings and bi-monthly meetings with mentors at their SPRC facility on Gorge Road.
A testament to the success of Moms and Mentors is that they receive an ongoing stream of volunteers through volunteer services in Victoria, local media support, and word of mouth recommendations. In fact, the orientation manual for the Moms and Mentors program devised by Ms. Tasko has been shared with similar organizations in both Canada and the U.S.
“We received the grant in a timely fashion, and it’s important for this program to continue,” added Liz Bloomfield. The Moms and Mentors program reduces the social and economic isolation of single parents and helps them cope with the many challenges single parents face. Ms. Tasko summed it up, saying, “The program helps moms become better moms.”
