At Forestdale, women learn to make informed choices and lead healthy, successful lives

Forestdale’s Strong Mothers Program 

Offers mothers the support they need to fully realize their potential as leaders, caregivers, and primary supports for their children, ultimately disrupting the impact of intergenerational trauma on parent-child attachment and family stability.  
The pillars of service intervention in the Strong Mothers program include:
  • family planning and reproductive health education, 
  • behavioral health intervention that addresses the emotional impact of intergenerational patterns of neglect and abuse in family relationships and stability,
  • solution-based casework to support employment and education, along with government system navigation for entitlement benefits, housing, and family court.  
Service intervention is done through a myriad of group and individual modalities that are didactic and clinical in nature, often accompanied by solution-based casework.  
As part of the work to support effective family planning, Forestdale provides comprehensive reproductive health education to young people in NYC public schools with the highest rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Forestdale also supports women and mothers planning for a better future by making informed choices in parenting and sexual health. In addition, Doula matching to support pre-/post-natal care is offered for pregnant mothers enrolled in the program.
Additionally, Strong Mothers supports mothers with parenting skills training to foster nurturing and secure attachment. 
Topics related to child safety, parent-child bonding, and breastfeeding are addressed to provide mothers with the tools needed to embark on the journey of parenting a new child.
For families impacted by intimate partner violence and other disruptions to family stability, behavioral health care is provided by licensed clinicians of the program to enhance insight concerning the impacts of intergenerational trauma, including behavioral and parenting influences.
For mothers and families in need of solution-focused case management services to address systems related to healthcare, housing, education, immigration, and family law, staff members offer counseling and navigation support with specific individual and family goals for acquisition and completion.   
Like all other programs at Forestdale, Strong Mothers provides a gateway for access to material assistance for any family in need.  
All services are offered in English and Spanish.

Early Childhood Mental Health

In keeping with Forestdale’s mission to ensure that children and families have the fundamental assets needed to thrive and live independently to end the intergenerational transmission of trauma and poverty, Forestdale has expanded its portfolio of mental health interventions for children ages 0-5 via its Early Childhood Mental Health program – Cradle to Launch.
In 2022, Strong Mothers began to expand the organization’s work in parent-child therapy for infants, toddlers, and their caregivers. For many years, Attachment Bio-behavioral Catchup (ABC) has been the intervention of choice for Forestdale families. In the past year, we adopted two additional evidence-based interventions – Circle of Security and Child-Parent Psychotherapy – in our portfolio of services to caregivers and children. 
We look forward to continuing to elevate and expand our services in this area to strengthen the lives of children, families, and communities.
For more information, contact:
Christine Rodriguez, MSW
Program Director 
(718)263-0740 x 266
Referral form for the Strong Mothers and Early Childhood Mental Health Program

Mothers to Mothers

Mondays at 10:30 AM

Come on in and join us! Let’s talk about parenting.

Motherhood can feel very isolated and lonely at times. We want you to know that feeling a little lost is completely normal. Motherhood doesn’t come with a user manual, and it’s very easy to feel incapable when society paints us a picture of the “perfect” mother. There is no perfection in motherhood; there is only trial and error. We would love for you to come and join our group of mothers who are all just trying to figure it out, just like you!

Our Topics

• 27 MAY: WE WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

• 24 JUNE: LET’S TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND LGBTQIA+

• 22 JULY: HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION

Maternity circles are spaces to provide support to all women. Whether you are currently expecting a brand new mom or one of our seasoned mothers. This support group is here for us to all learn from each other. All mothers go through similar situations, and we want to provide a safe and judge-free space for everyone to be able to express themselves and share experiences. In addition to that, we will be presenting an array of topics throughout the year that we have curated to help you navigate through things like the school systems, advocating for your health, goal setting, and more! We are so excited for you to join us, and we can’t wait to get to know you!

These groups are voluntary and meet IN PERSON. You may choose the sessions you wish to participate in. Metro cards will be distributed.

Directions

Forestdale Inc.’s Strong Mothers Program

67-35 112th Street

Forest Hills, NY 11375

Transportation

Bus: Q36, Q76, Q77, X68

Train: F (179 ST, the last stop on the train to Jamaica, Queens)

women dancing

CIRCULO DE MADRES

LUNES A LAS 10:30AM

¡Ven! ¡Acompáñanos! Hablar de la Crianza

Muchas veces no tenemos un Círculo de Madres con quien hablar de temas de la crianza. Queremos sentirnos apoyadas, y que no estamos solas en el trayecto de la crianza.

Este grupo se encuentra en persona y por zoom para hablar de temas de la crianza que queremos saber cómo manejar. También, para sobrellevar juntas estos complejos momentos.

Temas de Circulo de Madres

  • 15-Enero Hablemos de nuevas metas y ahorros

  • 19-Febrero Hablemos de el amor propio

  • 18-Marzo Como abogar por tus derechos como mujer

  • 15-April Promoviendo el bienestar de los ninos

  • 20-Mayo Celebremos a las madres!

  • 17 Junio Hablemos sobre la sexualidad y imigracion

  • 15-Julio Hablemos sobre la educacion y como abogar por tus hijos/as

    En ocasiones te sientes muy sola. Te surgen dudas que no sabes a quién plantear o tienes sentimientos que te da vergüenza compartir con otras personas, porque crees que no te van a saber entender. La pareja y la familia son un gran apoyo en ocasiones, sin duda, pero hay situaciones, emociones, dudas o miedos que nos cuesta hablar con ellos.

    Los círculos maternales son espacios para dar apoyo a todas futuras mamás o mamás recientes. Son grupos de mujeres que están pasando por la misma situación y con hijos en todas las etapas de desarrollo.

    Por eso son espacios ideales para compartir experiencias, para aclarar dudas, para expresar todo eso que sientes y para buscar ayuda en los momentos en los que la necesitas.

    No es obligatorio asistir cada sesión, Es 100% voluntario, EN PERSONA.

    Por favor llegar a tiempo, te regalamos metro card y tenemos una rifa al final para las mamas que participan, un chase para ganar una tarjeta de $50.00

    Dirección:

    Forestdale Inc. Madres Fuertes

    67-35 112th Street

    Forest Hills, NY 11375

    Transporte:

    Bus: Q36, Q76, Q77, X68

    Tren: F (179th ST, Ultima Parada del Tren)

67-35 112th Street

Forest Hills, NY 11375

Hours
Monday–Friday
10 a.m.–5 p.m.

(718)263-0740 x 266