Supported accommodation for vulnerable mothers and their children
The Y-Assist initiative is a joint initiative of The Malta Trust Foundation and the St Jeanne Antide Foundation. In 2017, SJAF was commissioned by The President’s Trust – as The Malta Trust Foundation was known until March 2019 - to develop, start and run supported accommodation for young, vulnerable, pregnant women and mothers aged 18+ having children under the age of 16. Practice experience led to the eventual widening of the age bracket of both mothers and children.
The Y-Assist initiative is a joint initiative of The Malta Trust Foundation and the St Jeanne Antide Foundation. In 2017, SJAF was commissioned by The President’s Trust – as The Malta Trust Foundation was known until March 2019 - to develop, start and run supported accommodation for young, vulnerable, pregnant women and mothers aged 18+ having children under the age of 16. Practice experience led to the eventual widening of the age bracket of both mothers and children.
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 Y-Assist brochure
Please contact your social worker for further information and to be able to apply. You can also contact one of our own social workers and they will guide you.
Further information can be obtained from the Y-Assist brochure: |
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Two Residences:
Dar Esther was the first supported accommodation to be opened. It welcomes women who lack family support and risk becoming homeless or staying in harmful relationships and home environments not of their own which are unwelcoming and chaotic and risky for the kind of life they wish to build with their children. Dar Esther offers a space for such young women to learn to live independently while accessing non-formal education and other supports that enable them to move forward in life.
The property of Dar Esther belongs to the Sisters of Charity of St Jeanne Antide in Malta and entrusted to the St Jeanne Antide Foundation for use for a social purpose. The oversight function for the Y-Assist initiative lies with a Joint Policy Group comprising officials from both The President’s Trust and SJAF. The Group is responsible for the development and review of policies and procedures, development of new residences and financial oversight.
Teneriffe is the second Y-Assist residence; it was opened in February 2019. It is a town house which accommodates three mothers and their children.
Key elements of the Y-Assist initiative include the following:
- access to an Educational programme which is aimed at the personal and inter-personal development of the women.
- Practical activities to help in the self-actualisation of the women.
- Cross agency collaboration.
- Nurturing Independence through a range of supports including Mentoring by volunteers, guidance on financial literacy, access to non-formal education to increase the chances of further studies and access to better jobs.
- Personal and Inter-personal Development.
The Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) practitioners provide social work support and Home-based Therapy Services to Y-Assist service users.
- access to an Educational programme which is aimed at the personal and inter-personal development of the women.
- Practical activities to help in the self-actualisation of the women.
- Cross agency collaboration.
- Nurturing Independence through a range of supports including Mentoring by volunteers, guidance on financial literacy, access to non-formal education to increase the chances of further studies and access to better jobs.
- Personal and Inter-personal Development.
The Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) practitioners provide social work support and Home-based Therapy Services to Y-Assist service users.
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