”Centro de Mãe” is a non-profit private solidarity institution. It is headquartered at Avenida Luis de Camoes, Bairro do Hospital Block 14 R / C, and is open from 9:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 17:30, except on weekends.

It was formed in June 1999 with the primary purpose of building a home to accommodate 10 to 12 pregnant and young mothers at risk, with their children, at a time when no home for this purpose existed in Madeira.

This Private Institution of Social Solidarity is governed by principles of respect for human life and aims primarily at personal fulfilment and social and family integration of pregnant women and young mothers at risk and ensure the right to life, welfare and education of their children.

Works with a multidisciplinary team composed of an Executive Director, Social Worker, a Psychologist, a socio-cultural, one Administrative Assistant and an Assistant General Services.

Whenever possible, support and monitoring of these mothers is done in the family or place of residence. However there are severe situations of extreme isolation and desperation that demand a personal welcoming environment where they can receive the required professional care, and monitoring during pregnancy, learn parenting skills and also providing vocational training to mothers and their families allowing the possibility of an independent and secure future.

In order to overcome this situation, , the current Assistant Family and Community Support, Level II, started in 2008, equivalent to 9th grade at the School of Apel, which lasts two years.

In late 2007 we started a course in manicure, being an area highly valued by our mothers, allowing them to prepare themselves for future work, as well as access to free dental consultations, out of reach for our residents, due to their low incomes.

All mothers who arrive at our Centre, whether referred by a Social Worker or other technicians, are welcomed by our social worker and psychologist to evaluate her situation. All cases are treated individually, and "each case one case”, and the support provided varies depending on the needs assessment and our ability to answer; and we also support by giving porridge, milk and diapers, the latter constituting the majority of requests.

So far there are 672 registered users, with 88 of them having signed up in 2010. There was, therefore, a significant increase in mothers at risk in RAM when you consider the fact that attendance started only in 2001 .