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A Resource Guide of Best Practices
for Pregnant and Parenting Teen Programs
Resources
Introduction
Coordination of school, community, statewide and national
resources is vital to address the complex issues and needs
of pregnant and parenting teens. Collaborations, referrals
and coordination with available community resources promote
mutual participation and provide a continuum of services
while avoiding competition with or duplication of existing
services and programs. When community agencies work together
the ultimate result is a decreased need for financial support
from the government. It is important to educate teen parents
about the resources that are available to them and how they
can access these services as a means to self-sufficiency,
responsibility and employment.
Identifying Resources
Agencies and Organizations
In every community, there are varied agencies and professional
organizations that provide programs, services, funding and
expertise that can be used to enhance services for pregnant
and parenting teens. Identifying resources specific to the needs
of a local program can be done through many sources. Some of them
include:
- "Directory of Community Resources," which
provides in-depth descriptions of service programs with
eligibility requirements;
- "Blue Pages" of local telephone directories;
- high schools;
- hospitals;
- local county assistance offices;
- governmental agencies;
- service and civic clubs, church groups, private and
public ventures; and
- additional suggestions (see attached Community Resource
listing).
Once the resource list has been compiled, it can be used to
acquire:
- speakers for seminars, workshops and parenting classes;
- mentor participants;
- contacts for career and job exploration opportunities;
- referrals for participants and program staff; and
- participants for program Advisory Boards or Service
Provider Councils.
The Advisory Boards and Service Provider Councils can then
take active roles in helping teen parents implement a variety of
activities:
- volunteer programs;
- job training;
- alternative education credits;
- summer programming;
- cultural affairs;
- fundraising events;
- job and health fairs; and
- incentive programs.
Sometimes simply obtaining the community resource list is the easy
task. It is important to publicize what services are offered through
the parenting program. The more staff and students participate in
community meetings, health fairs and other functions, the more
visible and viable these resources become. This helps to create,
build and sustain the bond needed for maintaining effective
community partnerships. Pamphlets, brochures, phone-a-thons, mass
mailings and media exposure are other methods of promoting the
program as well as publicizing active collaborators.
Services provided to pregnant and parenting teens through
collaborations with community resources may also be used to:
- develop services within the school system such as on-site
WIC and prenatal clinics;
- develop liaisons with off-site agencies to help students
quickly and effectively receive information and aid;
- access community goods, services and funds; and
- provide programming through speakers during parenting
classes or special activities within the parenting
program.
Maintaining Partnerships
Working with the commununity is a two-way street. It is
important for agencies to see that parenting programs can be
"giving as well as taking" collaborations. To maintain
active agency partnerships, it is important to:
- recognize the agencies and individuals within the
agencies who are involved in the program whenever
possible, through public acknowledgements, invitations to
activities and personal thank-you's;
- participate in mutual agency activities such as Advisory
Boards and community functions; and
- coordinate effective and user friendly services. It is
important for programs to be comprehensive, preventive,
training-focused and results-based, in addition to being
accessible, child- and family-centered and flexible.
Community involvement is an important component to the success
of any program. The potential for providing academic and
supportive services to students is limitless. The larger the base
of diverse people and organizations that can be acquired, the
greater the number of students that can be helped.
Involving the Community
- Involve students in community service projects (collecting
food for food banks) and/or let them visit various agencies
(senior citizens centers) in the community.
- Have neighborhood socials and get-togethers sponsored by
parent groups, companies or organizations.
- Develop a speakers bureau/network of key communicators for
your school.
- Persuade local business to adopt a school.
- Host an open house before school starts and during the
school year.
- Develop a school brochure.
- Recruit senior citizens or collaborate with a local
foster grandparent program.
- Develop a community Advisory Board.
- Work in coalitions with groups who share similar goals.
Community Agencies and
Services
The following services may be available in your community.
Check the blue pages of your telephone directory.
Abuse and Neglect Prevention
Programs
- Anti-violence Coalition
- Domestic Violence
- Parents Helping Parents
- Child Line (Department of Public Welfare (DPW)
Early Childhood and Child Care
Programs
- Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP)
- County Day Care Services
- Early Intervention Program
- Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program
- Even Start
- Family Centers for Child Development
- Head Start
- Subsidized Child Care: Local Management Agency (LMA)
Education Training and
Employment Programs
- Adult Literacy
- Program GED: General Educational Development Test
- JOBS: Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Program (DPW)
- JTPA: Job Training Partnership Act New Direction (DPW)
- Private Industry Council (PIC)
- SPOC: Single Point of Contact (DPW) - Local CAO
- State Jobs Centers
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Vocational-Technical Schools
Health Services
- AIDS Program
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- CHAPS Program: Primary Health Services for Children
- CHIPS Children's Health Insurance Program
- CONNECT: Coordination and Outreach Network for the Needs
of Exceptional Children Today
- County Medical Society/Physicians; OB/GYN, Pediatric
- Dairy and Nutrition Council
- Early Intervention Program
- Easter Seals
- EPSDT: Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and
Treatment Program (DPW)
- Family Planning Services
- Fetal Alcohol Network
- Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (Pennsylvania/County)
- Healthy Beginnings and Healthy Beginnings Plus (DPW)
- Hospitals/Health Centers/Clinics
- LaLeche League
- Lead Poisoning Prevention Project
- March of Dimes
- Medical Assistance (DPW) (Local CAO)
- Minority Health Education Delivery System, Inc. (MHEDS)
- Penn State Cooperative Extension/Expanded Food &
Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)
- Poison Information Center
- State Health Center System
- Teenage Pregnancy and Parenting Project (TAPP)
- United Cerebral Palsy
- WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Supplemental Food
Program
Housing
- County Community Action Program
- County Housing Authority
- Homeless Student Initiative
- Women's Shelters/Domestic Abuse
Legal Services
- Consumer Credit Counseling Service
- County Bar Association
- County Court House: Paternity, Custody, Child Support,
Domestic Relations
- Domestic Violence Services
- Legal Services
- Rape Crisis Services
Mental Health Services
- County Mental Health[Mental Retardation
- Family-Based Mental Health Services/ Department of Public
Welfare
Parenting Programs
- Children and Youth Services
- Family Centers for Child Development
- Family Crisis Intervention, Inc.
- Parents Anonymous of Pennsylvania
- Pregnancy Counseling Service Programs
- Pregnant and Parenting Teen Programs
Recreation Programs
- Boys & Girls Clubs
- County 4-H Clubs
- Local Museums
- YMCA
- YWCA
Social Services
- American Red Cross
- Birthright
- Catholic Charities
- Family Services
- Florence Crittenton Services
- Junior League
- PA Federation of Women's Clubs
- Salvation Army
Transportation
- Child Passenger Safety Program: Traffic Injury Prevention
Project
- County Transportation Authority
- Medical Assistance Transportation Program
| PENNSYLVANIA'S
TOLL-FREE HELPLINES |
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800 Information Operator
1-800-555-1212
AIDS Factline
1-800-662-6080
AIDS Information Hotline
1-800-342-AIDS
Child Line
1-800-932-0313
Child Health Insurance Program Information Line
1-800-342-KIDS
CONNECT Information Services
(Early Intervention Program)
1-800-692-7288
Food Stamps Information Line/
School Lunch Program
1-800-692-7462
Governor's Action Center Hotline
1-800-932-0784
Health Information Hotline
1-800-692-7254
Healthy Baby Helpline
1-800-986-BABY
Healthy Kids Helpline
1-800-986-KIDS
Latino Affairs
1-800-233-1407
Lead Information Line
1-800-440-LEAD
Medicare Hotline
1-800-638-6833
National Literacy Hotline
1-800-228-8813
National Runaway Switchboard and Adolescent Suicide
1-800-621-4000
Office of Drugs and Alcohol
1-800-932-0912
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Operation Peace of Mind
(Runaway Hotline)
1-800-231-6946
Operation Venus
(Venereal Disease Hotline)
1-800-462-4966
Pennsylvania Bar Association
1-800-932-0311
Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
--Child Passenger Safety Project
1-800-CARBELT
--Early Childhood Education Linkage System
1-800-24-ECELS
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape
1-800-692-7445
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
1-800-692-7462
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)
--Grants 1-800-692-7435
--Loans 1-800-692-7392
Pennsylvania Protection and Advocacy, Inc.
1-800-692-7443
Rape Crisis Center, Inc.
1-800-352-7273
SIDS Helpline - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
1-877-986-SIDS
Special Kids Network
1-800-986-4550
State Department of Health Hotline
1-800-692-7254
State Lawyer Referral Service
1-800-692-7375
State Legislation
(League of Women Voters)
1-800-692-7281
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