Pregnant and Parenting Teen Project

Program Purpose:
To assist and insure that teen parents and their children improve their long-term prognosis for health and economic status by completing high school or completing their GED requirements.

Target Population:
All pregnant and parenting teens, male and female, located within the borders of Marquette County, aged 19 or younger, who are committed to completing their high school education.

Description of Services:
The program coordinator acts as case manager of each teen and their child(ren). The coordinator conducts an interview with each teen to assess needs and develops a service plan. The plan based on needs can include the following services:

• Housing assistance

• Information/referral to appropriate community services

• Provide parenting education

• Monitor school performance

• Monitor immunizations and pre/post natal care

Adult mentors are available for interested teens in this project.

Funding for these services will be contracted to appropriated agencies by the case manager.   These funds are to be utilized as "funds of last resort". In addition, each teen can, if desired, be assigned a family mentor to act as a positive role model and act as an advocate for the teen.

Benefits of Services:
Provide community-based services which promote the well-being of children and families by increasing parent's confidence and competence in parenting abilities which will provide children a stable and supportive family environment. This will enhance child development. This project has five goals:

• To reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect

• To reduce out-of-home placements

• To strengthen the abilities of extended family and kin to provide support

• To provide an opportunity for teen parents to complete their high school education

To view some past Strong Families/Safe Children newsletters, visit our Child Health section of our website!

The Center for Effective Parenting is a great site for all kinds of information for parents and parent educators!

For more information on this program, please contact:

Last UPdate:  12 July, 2005