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| Agency: | Young Parents Program/The Parenting Project Children's Hospital 300 Longwood Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02115 |
| Telephone: Fax: |
(617) 355-7718 (617) 739-5458 |
| Contact Person: | Mollie Sherry, Clinical Director Joanne Cox, Medical Director |
| Annual Budget: | $800,000 |
| Primary Funding Sources: | Children's Hospital of Boston and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Adolescent Pregnancy and Prevention |
Mission:
Provide medical and social work services, and health and parenting education to adolescent parents to improve their knowledge of and skill in parenting, promote optimum physical and mental health of adolescent parents and their children, and promote goal setting and accomplishments.
Profile:In existence since 1980, Young Parents Program/The Parenting Project is based in an urban hospital. Each year, approximately 92 pregnant teens, 139 teen mothers, and 92 teen fathers receive services. Clients include African-American (46 percent), Hispanic (37 percent), white (2 percent), and other (15 percent) youth, 12 to 18 years old. Child care is provided on site for 67 children.
Description of Service Model:The program provides multidisciplinary, comprehensive services, including medical, nursing, and social work services to teen families, targeting high-risk adolescent families in the inner city. At each clinic visit, teens meet with a medical provider, nurse, and social worker to evaluate and address environmental, social, and emotional needs of each family member. Staff have diverse ethnic backgrounds and are bilingual (English and Spanish).
Short-term structured parenting groups are led by a nurse and a social worker who use a Nurturing Program curriculum. Transportation, child care, and meals are provided. A Young Fathers? program strives to keep fathers involved with their children and assist them in their own growth and development. Staff members encourage them to be present at the children?s pediatric appointments and offer individual counseling, a weekly psychoeducational father?s group, and referrals to free medical care, educational programs, and jobs. A father?s advocate and a father?s social worker conduct outreach and networking in the community.
Prenatal services are provided to all pregnant teens and fathers-to-be by collaborating with the multidisciplinary staff at Brigham and Women?s Hospital teen clinic.
Evaluation Methods:The program assesses its success in improving the health and well-being of children born to adolescent parents and reduction in repeat pregnancies by reviewing medical records. It also employs validated measures for assessing parenting skills in pre and posttests. Client reports indicate reduction in dropout rates.
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