MaMaMade Products is teaming up with non profit service agencies to provide carriers for at risk parents.
AT RISK PARENTS GET A HELPING HAND
Stressed out parents to be part of pilot baby carrier program
Turlock, CA, Dec 4, 2006:
In January, 2007 groups of at risk parents in battered women�s
shelters and parent resource centers will receive a helping hand,
almost literally. These parents will attend a class offering
instruction on how to use a variety of baby carriers and at the end of
the class, they will get to go shopping and pick out their own brand
new carrier.
Parenting is a hard job, made more difficult
by the additional challenges of poverty, addiction, abuse,
homelessness and many other factors. Parents are usually supported by
extended family, friends, religious community and neighbors. When
these support systems are not present or are unavailable, parents can
become extraordinarily stressed by the everyday challenges of
parenting, leading to loss of feelings of competence as parents, less
feelings of attachment to the children, and in the worst situations,
possibility of abuse.
MaMaMade Products has come up with a
unique solution to this problem by offering at risk parents a free baby
carrier and instruction. Partnering with local non profits, including
the Margaree Mason Center in Fresno, CA and Parent Resource Center in
Modesto, CA, MaMaMade Products is providing a program that educates
parents about how to use the carriers, helps them pick a carrier and
then gifts them with a new carrier.
Babies that are held
often are happier, cry less often, gain weight faster and are generally
more securely attached to their caregivers. Baby carriers allow
parents to tend to older children, attend to household chores, and be
more productive, while keeping baby close and entertained. Carriers
also allow the parent and child to bond more closely by allowing a lot
of face to face contact missing with strollers or other baby gear.
Research has shown that caregivers who are in contact with babies for
long periods of time actually have higher levels of prolactin and
oxytocin in their bodies, both of which help parents be more caregiving
and attentive. While these things are important for all parents, they
are critically important for parents whose support systems are missing
or parents who are at risk for addiction and abuse.
MaMaMade
Products is a parent owned company founded in 2002 to support parent
and child attachment. Their website, http://www.MaMaMadeProducts.com
offers a variety of parent designed and produced items from traditional
blankets to organic, fair trade baby carriers.
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If you
would like more information or to schedule an interview with Heather
Pierini please call MaMaMade Products at (415) 948-3131 or email
press@mamamadeproducts.com.
MaMaMade Products
Held and Happy Baby Program
Objective:
To
foster close, positive attachment between parents and children under
age 2 by providing baby carriers and eduction to parents in challenging
situations who are at risk for burnout, abuse, or attachment problems.
Overview:
Parenting
is a hard job, made more difficult by the additional challenges of
poverty, addiction, abuse, homelessness and many other factors.
Parents are usually supported by extended family, friends, religious
community and neighbors. When these support systems are not present or
are unavailable, parents can become extraordinarily stressed by the
everyday challenges of parenting, leading to loss of feelings of
competence as parents, less feelings of attachment to the children, and
in the worst situations, possibility of abuse.
As a company,
MaMaMade Products is committed to improving the lives of children
everywhere by giving parents the tools to parent more conveniently and
effectively. Our carriers foster close attachment, make caregiving
easier and even help raise the levels of oxytocin in the parent�s body,
helping the parent feel more like cuddling.
The Program:
The
Held and Happy program will accept applications from agencies providing
services to parents at risk. Parents at risk are defined as parents
with children under the age of 2 who do not have adequate support
systems in place, teenage parents, parents in recovery for drug or
alcohol addictions, parents in homeless shelters or temporary housing,
parents in battered womens shelters. The agency must complete an
application listing the number of parents and children participating,
the requested dates of service and any follow up parenting education
that will be provided as an addition to the Held and Happy Program.
The program will serve up to 10 parents per class, with classes being limited by agency space constraints and funding.
The Held and Happy class will have the following outline:
1. How holding baby helps
A. Baby
B. Parent
2. What carriers are available and how they work
3. Participants try on carriers, find which one fits their needs
4. In depth instruction on how to use carrier to build confidence.
5. Participant is gifted with the new carrier of their choice!
How you can help:
For
the Held and Happy Program to reach a wider population, we need
community support. MaMaMade Products is happy to provide the
educational services associated with the Held and Happy Program for
free to any participating agency. You can sponsor a free carrier for a
family in need for only $25.00. While $25.00 doesn't pay for a complete carrier, MaMaMade Products will cover the rest of the cost of the carrier. Your sponsorship is directly applied
to MaMaMade Products to pay for the Held and Happy Program.
$25.00 Provides 1 carrier
$45.00 Provides 2 carriers
$85.00 Provides 4 carriers
$100.00 Provides 6 carriers
You can purchase carriers directly from our website at http://www.mamamadeproducts.com/catalog.php
To sponsor a complete program for a specific agency or to sponsor a complete class, please contact us for more information.
All carriers are rated for use from birth-30 lbs allowing for one carrier to be used for up to 3 years.
MaMaMade Products
Held and Happy Program
Agency Application
Agency Name:
Address:
City, State, ZIP
Agency Contact Person:
Phone:
Email:
Type of agency, non profit, description of how we can help your program
How many parents do you anticipate serving with the Held and Happy Program?
What parenting education do you currently offer?
What follow up support can you offer for the baby carriers?
Cost
per participant is $25 paid through community donations. If the agency
and MaMaMade Products cannot solicit enough donations to cover the
cost, exceptions can be made to offer the program once it has been
scheduled. No class will be cancelled solely for lack of funding.
Thank you for your interest in MaMaMade Product�s Held and Happy Program.
Heather Pierini
MaMaMade Products
415-948-3131