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A Resource Guide of Best Practices
for Pregnant and Parenting Teen Programs
Pregnancy Prevention
Sections
Rationale
Community-wide Campaigns
Mentoring Programs
Sexuality Education
Best Practices
Rationale
Improving life outcomes for teen parents and their children is the
rationale for interventions and special support services to this
population. It is critical to invest energy in primary pregnancy
prevention efforts and to reduce the current high number of repeat
pregnancies to teen parents.
Intervention services designed to reduce the likelihood of teen
pregnancy can be initiated through early identification of children
who are often truant, who experience academic failure, and who
exhibit other delinquent behaviors.
These behaviors may indicate a child at high risk for adolescent
pregnancy. Programs that focus on primary prevention can also
prevent repeat pregnancies among teens. The most effective practices
include monitoring, intense case management, extended family
involvement, career exploration and preparation, multigenerational
community recreational activities and service projects.
Each community has a unique disposition regarding adolescent
behavior and must determine independently the extent of involvement
in prevention efforts. What may be enthusiastically embraced as a
project in one community may not be acceptable in another. Respect
for diverse opinions and sensitivity to individuals, families and
schools are advised when designing community-wide approaches to
teen pregnancy prevention.
Following are brief menus of practice, all based on sound
developmental principles, which have been employed with some
success in different settings. Each of these can be modified and
adapted to the receptivity of a particular community. Consult
with knowledgeable colleagues before implementing any strategy.
Community-wide Campaigns
Mobilization of community efforts to reduce teen pregnancy rates
does get messages to a larger audience, but at the same time may
limit the focus or content of the messages. Finding the common
ground can solidify campaigns and is worth the effort. Following
are some ways to involve the larger community, choose messages
and methods of delivering them, and foster a sense of community
responsibility.
 Engaging
a broad representation of the community in the discussion. Bring all points
of view to the table and include: parents; students; community and neighborhood
groups; health, education and social service providers; elected officials;
and civic and religious leaders.
Convening
of focus groups to assess the community's perception of the problem. Different
populations or age groups can meet together or separately to pool their
opinions. Take care to present the format as nonthreatening and inclusive.
Development
of media campaigns using radio, newspapers and local television. Contests
can be held to solicit slogans and public service announcements; this
will promote involvement and gain public attention.
Linking
with local AIDS/STD coalitions and hospital community outreach programs.
This can build a broader corps and more resources for prevention campaigns.
Community
broadcasting of parenting education using interactive community TV or
public access channels.
Collaborating
with local prevention coalitions to develop campaigns, share resources
and coordinate services. The Pennsylvania Coalition To Prevent Teen Pregnancy
offers technical assistance and speakers for coalitions and task forces.
They can be reached at (717) 737-4608.
Supporting
or initiating a community telephone hotline for youth.
Using
existing models whenever possible. There's no need to reinvent! You can
customize to suit your needs and population. Advocates For Youth has a
good packet of resources for assessing community needs and starting a
local coalition.
Mentoring Programs
Consider
building on existing local programs such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Use their screening and training process as a model to start. Share resources,
expand existing services or build a collaborative pool of adult mentors.
Solicit
volunteers through churches, community groups and school parent/teacher
organizations.
Seek
male mentors through men's civic groups. For diversity of ethnicity and
locale, contacts with neighborhood churches, NAACP and crime watch groups
may prove fruitful.
Develop
screening and monitoring procedures that assure a resource base of committed
and reliable adults.
Use
incentives such as mileage reimbursement, discounted or free tickets to
activities and tokens of appreciation such as thank-you notes and certificates
to validate mentors' dedication.
Include
job shadowing or one-on-one youth/adult teaming for one day when ongoing
mentoring is not possible.
Recruit
a local business or community agency to "adopt" your mentoring project.
The employer can offer release time to employees so they can serve as
mentors during the school day, over lunch or after school.
Sexuality Education
Encouraging school districts to examine the sexuality education
currently offered in their schools and assess its effectiveness
in the context of good health practices can be done respectfully.
Facilitating a preview of materials available for sexuality
education may be regarded as helpful. Your local intermediate unit
may provide such an opportunity to its districts as an
in-service option. Collaborating with local AIDS coalitions and
regional health departments as well as school nurses and health
teachers may be helpful in promoting such a preview.
Curricula that have been well received by students, parents and
teachers include but are not limited to the following:
Reducing
the Risk (ETR Associates)
- Designed for middle and high school-aged teens
- Abstinence encouraged, comprehensive in its information
- Sequential or individual lessons, variations offered
- Interactive, includes role playing
Sex
Can Wait (ETR Associates)
- Available at three age levels
- Abstinence preferred, age appropriate in information/content
- Usable as units or individual lessons
Postponing
Sexual Involvement (ETR Associates)
- Available for three age groups
- Emphasis on delaying sexual activity, comprehensive information
- Video enhanced, discussion-based format
- Includes materials for parents
Values
and Choices (ETR Associates)
- A comprehensive sexuality education program for grades 7 and 8
- Video assisted, discussion-based format
- Includes parent guide and plans for parent sessions
Teen
Outreach (Association of Junior Leagues)
- Designed for teens at risk of school dropout
- Adaptable to needs of community
- Problem solving, decision-making processes and peer support are highlighted
Preventing
Adolescent Pregnancy (Girls, Inc.)
- Designed for girls ages nine and up
- Comprehensive sexuality program, focus on assertiveness and goal setting for future careers
- Discussion based, adaptable, includes parent outreach
Protect
Teen Health (Girls, Inc.)
- Designed for teen girls
- Peer counseling, individually and in groups
Some good materials also are available to help parents initiate
conversations about sexuality with their children. A few
suggestions include:
Sex:
A Conversation With Sol Gordon (3 videos)
How
Can I Tell If I'm Really In Love (video)
First
Things First (Planned Parenthood) (audiotape and books)
Intervention for Prevention
The following strategies and techniques are only briefly mentioned
here. All have immense value and can have significant impact in
primary as well as repeat pregnancy prevention efforts.
Teen Parent Panels
Small panels of current or former teen parents share the realities
of teen parenting with students in health classes or other settings.
Emphasis is on postponement of parenting until adulthood.
Peer Counseling
Teens, including teen parents, are trained in listening and values
clarification skills. They meet with students one-on-one to support
healthy decisions about sexual behavior.
Male Responsibility
Adults and/or students develop and present common messages stressing
responsible sexual decisions and behavior of men. Coaches would be
good recruits. In-service training and ongoing support are advised.
Life Options
Improvement and expansion of teens' perception of life options can
delay childbearing. Advocacy for local jobs and opportunities for
youth require collaboration with the business community.
Cultural Respect
While not a specific strategy, cultural respect must accompany
initiatives. Awareness of differences can facilitate a focus on
goal-driven behavioral choices.
Innovative Tools (Empathy Belly, Baby Think It Over, Prom
Promise)
Use of innovative tools to present particular concepts can be
effective and especially useful as single lessons or short units.
Notification of parents is recommended. Some resources that are
easy to use are:
- The Empathy Belly
(Birthways, Seattle, WA)
This pregnancy simulation suit mimics 20 symptoms of the
eighth month of pregnancy. Very engaging, it stimulates
thoughtful dialogue.
- Baby Think It Over
Life-sized baby dolls of different gendersand ethnicities are
programmed to require regular tending, 24 hours a day. Their
use requires parent approval and fosters family discussion.
- Contract Campaigns
(Prom Promise, True Love Waits, Worth the Wait, Virgin Clubs)
Popular for its community relations impact, the
"contract" campaign asks teens to commit to abstinence
from sex and/or drugs. "Prom Promise," for example, is
sponsored by insurance companies to reduce alcohol and drug use
during prom time. Check the Internet for free promotional
materials.
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