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

Community-Based, School-Linked Programs

Horizon Youth Service Center

Mission:

Prevent teenage pregnancies and deter child abuse and substance abuse among high-risk youth.

Horizon Youth Service Center, officially known as the Cameron County Task Force on Reducing Teenage Pregnancy, has been in existence since 1984. It now serves a three-county area, offering prenatal and parenting education at schools and other community sites. It serves Hispanic (95 percent) and white (5 percent) populations in city, urban, and rural areas. On an annual basis, the program serves approximately 300 pregnant or parenting teenage girls and 50 teen fathers, 13 to 18 years old.

The center is a community-based nonprofit organization serving the southern tip of Texas, with Mexico to its immediate south and the Gulf of Mexico to the east. Horizon began its mission by centering on prevention and the problems of teenage pregnancy and parenthood. It concentrated on improving the health of those teens who become pregnant and enhancing their parenting skills, stressing healthy pregnancies, staying in school, and independence from welfare. As the center's programs grew to meet clients' needs, it expanded to provide information on postpartum issues, child development, child abuse prevention, and substance abuse prevention.

The focus of Horizon continues to be on primary prevention in the areas of teen pregnancy, substance abuse, violence, and mental health issues, which are often interconnected. Its activities help teenagers develop adequate skills for self-determination, decision-making, peer pressure, resiliency, and understanding the far-reaching consequences of high-risk behaviors. Horizons — primary prevention programs target 10 —15 year-olds and include abstinence-based education, resiliency training, and a special female issues only group for young female status offenders. All program activities are free and are bilingual (English and Spanish).

Horizon uses statistical information, records, and case follow-up.

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