A MANDURAH support group for teenage parents has been recognised for excellence in health and social care services by a Murdoch University researcher.
Dr Gabrielle Brand based her PhD and an upcoming journal article on the Eyes Wide Open (EWO) group, which operates out of the Peel Youth Services premises Lakes Road.
The group support teens through pregnancy and raising their children with a peer-based support system, where other members are encouraged to share their stories and help out newer members.
Dr Brand’s researched focused on why the group was so successful and said it was a great community service.
“The research was a joint venture between Murdoch and the Peel Youth Service,” Dr Brand said.
“The main elements are that pregnant young women found a circle of friends, and that it’s not so structured so they can share stories and learn from eachother.
“Hopefully other community groups will be able to look at my research, which will be published internationally later this year and use EWO as a template.”
Dr Brand said the group was a judgement-free zone that supported all members.
EWO patron Maggie Dent and national parenting author and advocate Maggie Dent said the group was a celebration of a combination of commonsense and passion.
“They’ve created a safe network that empowers parents to make better choices,” she said.
“It still does take a village to raise a child and EWO has created one.
“The group work in a respectful, collaborative and cooperative way.”
Dr Brand spent seven months working with the group to collect data for her PhD.
EWO organiser Be Westbrook said she was pleased at the outcome of the hard work of everyone in the program.
“Some of the participants even work for us not – the group created an opportunity for young mothers to believe in themselves,” she said.
