A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Compendium of School-Based and School-Linked Programs for Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents, February 1999

Alternative Schools for Pregnant and Parenting Teens

Margaret Hudson Program, Inc.

Agency: Margaret Hudson Program (MHP), Inc.
P.O. Box 6340
1205 W. Newton
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74148–0340
Telephone:
Fax:		 (918) 585-8163
(918) 592-2368
Contact Person: Helen Feuerborn, Executive Director
Annual Budget: $1,200,000
Primary Funding Sources: Oklahoma State Department of Health; Tulsa Area United Way; and local donations.

Mission:

Provide pregnant and parenting youth an opportunity to continue their education with the support of comprehensive social, health, and child care services (for children up to 2 years of age) and serve as a resource for prevention of adolescent pregnancies.

Profile:

In existence since 1971, MHP provides a comprehensive health, social service, vocational counseling, and academics program for pregnant and parenting teens. In addition, outreach counselors provide services in elementary schools, and services are offered through a health clinic and a church. Each year, approximately 216 pregnant teens, 41 teen mothers, 10 teen fathers, and 207 children receive services. The program's clients are white (49 percent), African-American (33 percent), American Indian (13 percent), and Hispanic (5 percent) students, 12 to 19 years old.

Description of Service Model:

The program is a comprehensive health, social service, vocational counseling, and academics program for pregnant and parenting teens in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, and Owasso. MHP is a nonprofit corporation governed by a Board of Directors representing medicine, nursing, social agencies, education, business, churches, cooperating agencies, parents of MHP students, former students, and community-at-large. The public school systems in each community provide in-kind contributions of facilities and teachers.

School-linked outreach counselors provide education, counseling, and social services through Rogers, McLain, and Central High Schools and through Madison Middle School, all in Tulsa. Since the program?s inception in 1968, over 6,000 girls and their infants have been served. The goals are to prevent second pregnancy, enhance mother and infant health, and provide parenting education, career information, and job training. MHP promotes education as a foundation for the future and postponing pregnancy until other life goals are met.

MHP has volunteer leadership and an interdisciplinary team of professional staff that advocate for the special needs of pregnant and parenting youth and their children. Services are individualized. Through individualized health and social services, the program provides family-centered care and fosters family stability.

Evaluation Methods:

The program assesses its success in improving the health and well-being of children born to adolescent parents through case files and medical records. It uses graduating class statistics to assess its success in reducing dropout rates and reviews medical records to determine its success in reducing repeat pregnancies. The extent to which economic self-sufficiency is increased is assessed through follow-up contact.


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