Child, Home & Community
Whilethesenumbersseemhardtobelieve, Howcanparentsandteacherscommunicate
itisevenhardertobelievethattheUnitedStates toteensinawaytheywillunderstandthe
hasthehighestrateofteenpregnancyand consequencesofunplannedpregnancy?Thevery
birthsinthewesternindustrializedworld,and uniquepreventionprogramthatChild,Home&
thatnationallyonly2%ofteenmothersgive Communitypresentstostudentsinlocalmiddle
theirchildrenupforadoption.Childrenborn andhighschoolhealthclassesdoesjustthat.
toteenagemothersareatanincreasedriskfor TeenParentAwareness:Fact&Fictiongivesan
healthandothersocioeconomicchallenges. eye-openingviewofpregnancywithan“empathy
Child,Home&Communityworkstolessenthe belly,”whichsimulatesthelookandfeelof
possiblenegativeeffectsonthechildrenofteen pregnancy.Thebellyiswornbystudent
parentsbyfacilitatingprenatalclasses,family volunteersduringtheprogram.“Thestudentstry
supportgroups,careercounselingandprevention towalkaroundtheclassroomandpickthingsup
educationprograms.“Themainfocusofour offthefloorwearingthe25poundbelly,”
agencyistobuildabetterfutureforthechildren commentsDianeJones,EducationalCase
oftheseyoungparents,”Bethsays,“andalsoto ManagerforCHC,“theygetafeelforthe
helptheteenagersinourcommunitiesunderstand physicalsideofpregnancywithinafew
theconsequencesofsomeofthechoicestheymake.” minutes.”Theprograminstructorspresent
arealisticlookattheresponsibilitiesof
KathyThybergisoneoftheoriginalfoundersand
parenthoodandpromotetheprevention
nowprogramdirectoroftheagency.“Wetryto
ofuntimelypregnancy.
giveourgirlsthesupporttheyneedtobecome
goodparentsandprovideahealthy,stablelife FormoreinformationcallChild,Home&
fortheirchild,”saysKathy. “Wewishtherewas Community@215-348-9770or
nolongeraneedforourservices,butthetruthis, www.chcinfo.org.
westartedthisagencyinaspareroomofa
homeandhavenowgrowntoofferprograms
StorybyMaureenKeyte
in13schooldistrictsand11hospitals.”
Nationally,onlyaboutone-thirdofteenmothers
obtainahighschooldiploma.Thisleavesthem
unpreparedforthejobmarketandmorelikely
toraisetheirchildreninpoverty.Child,Home& Babysitting
Communityoffersaschoolbasedprogramin
additiontoitsotherweeklyprenatalandsupport
groupsofferedinhospitals. Theschoolbased
programsofferpregnantorparentingteensan
Workshops
opportunitytomeetwithcasemanagersduring
theschoolday,includingafatherhoodcase
AninteractiveprogrampresentedbyChild,Home
managerforthedads.Theyalsohaveacareer
&Communitytochildreninupperelementarygrades
specialistwhoworkswiththehighschoolseniors
toassisttheminmakingaplanforfuture
whoareinterestedinbecomingbabysitters. Thesix-
educationorfull-timeemployment.Ascholarship
hourcertificationcourseisofferedthroughoutBucksand
program,fundedbyananonymousdonor,gives
thegraduatingseniorsanessaycontestandone
MontgomeryCountiesatlocalelementaryschoolsand
clientischosentoreceivefinancialassistancefor
hospitals.Theworkshopisusuallyconductedinonefullday
college.Oneyoungmom’sstoryreads,“Staying
inhighschoolandovercomingotherpeople’s
session,twohalf-daysessionsorfourafterschoolsessions.
judgmentwasverydifficultforme.Itwasthe
worstfeelingknowingpeoplewereputtingme
Throughdiscussion,videosandactivitiestheparticipants
downandthatInolongerfitinwithfriends
becauseIwaspregnant.However,fromallofthis
willexploretheroleofthebabysitter. Safetyofthe
Ihavelearnedalot.Withhelp,Iworkedhardto
babysitterandthechildrenforwhomshe/heisresponsible
successfullygraduatefromhighschoolandlook
forwardtocontinuingmyeducationtobecomea
isstressed. Acertificateisawardeduponsuccessful
medicalassistant.Iwanttobearolemodelfor
completionofthecourse.
mysonandbeabletoprovideuswithabetter
N
A
life…beingateenparentshouldnotstopyou
M
frompursuingyourdream.”
Toregisteryourchild,ortosetupaworkshop
O
W
foryourgroup,callBeckyat215-348-9770
T
Y
N
oremailbecky@chcinfo.org.
U
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C
K
S
C
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