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Childbearing by teenagers produces a host of negative outcomes for many of the teenagers, their children, and their families, including consequences that may endure for generations and impose heavy costs on society. Researchers at Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and Brigham Young Universities found that the children of teen mothers had poorer outcomes-including greater likelihood of dropping out of school, receiving welfare, and becoming teen parents themselves—when compared with the children of older mothers.
Research indicates the need for education as a principal means of improving outcomes for teen parents and their children. A University of Pennsylvania study tracked teenage mothers over a period of 17 years. They found that teen mothers with the strongest commitments to staying in school—those who had never failed a grade and those who continued with their classes while pregnant—were the most likely to be self-supporting later in life. As the mothers improved their economic circumstances, the children fared better as well. When teen mothers dropped out of school, remained on welfare, did not marry, or had additional children during adolescence, their children were least likely to be successful.
On November 5-6, 1997, the National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education (ECI) in the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, in cooperation with EduTech, Ltd., brought together educators, social workers, health professionals, researchers, teen parents, grandparents, government officials, and others involved with programs for pregnant and parenting teens. The conference participants considered the following questions:
Conference participants identified a need for flexible, responsive learning environments that keep students engaged in school and prevent school failure, a common factor in the lives of many adolescent parents. They suggested that flexible approaches to education would also benefit many students other than teenage parents, pointing to strategies used in successful alternative schools that could improve outcomes for other high-risk students in public schools. They suggested additional research on the value of General Educational Development (GED) programs in preparing students to participate successfully in the work force.
Conference participants also noted the need for quality child care for children of teenage parents and suggested that child care centers located at or near high schools serve a dual role: improving school attendance for mothers, and improving developmental outcomes for their young children. Participants were concerned about the eligibility of teen mothers, particularly those who are not receiving welfare assistance, for child care subsidies.
They were also cognizant of the need for some teenage parents to find safe living arrangements outside of the family home. They asked for research to track the implementation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Act (PRWOA) requirement that minor teen parents who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) live with their families.
The group pointed out problems resulting from fragmented professions, funding streams, and programs. It is painfully apparent, for example, that a young mother who is receiving assistance from one government agency will often have a need for a broad range of supports, yet will be totally "unknown" to other systems that could help her. Fragmentation makes it difficult for these vulnerable families to find education, child care, health services, and the other essential supports for adolescent parents and their children.
Conference participants asked OERI to support longitudinal research to broaden available information on the long-term effects of adolescent childbearing on parents, children, grandparents, and society. They encouraged OERI to determine if new sources of longitudinal data or definitions of outcome measures are needed for intergenerational analyses, as well as for detailed findings for a wider variety of subgroups.
Conference participants also called for more rigorous evaluations of existing programs for teenage mothers and their children so that there is a solid base of knowledge about "what works" with this population. Participants were especially concerned about the role of schools in reducing the incidence of teenage pregnancy, as well as keeping teenage mothers in school.
Finally, conference participants urged ECI to continue to connect policymakers and practitioners to share information about effective approaches with pregnant and parenting teens and their children. They asked OERI to establish a clearinghouse to gather, publish, and disseminate information about local programs serving pregnant and parenting teens.
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[Introduction]