Parenting teen programs

Our Pregnant and Parenting Teen program, located on a acre campus in New Braunfels, Texas prepares young moms for parenthood with a focus on education, life skills and positive parenting tools. Most have been taken from their parents or caregivers because of some form of abuse, abandonment or neglect. Our facilities offer mothers a calm and safe environment through the pregnancy stages and after the arrival of her new baby. In addition to a parenting curriculum, all of our moms attend the local public high school and receive individualized case management provided by trained and caring staff. Moms and their babies are able to stay until they are ready to transition to independent living or until they turn 21 years old. Working in the community and learning how to become a self-sufficient and productive parent and member of society are core skills these young women will learn as residents of the SJRC Texas Pregnant and Parenting Teen Program.

But not every parent knows how to provide their child with the tools to be successful, or how to help them avoid the biggest adolescent behavior problems: substance use, delinquency, school dropout, pregnancy and violence. These problems can affect children for the rest of their lives. University of Washington researchers evaluated about 20 parenting programs and found five that are especially effective at helping parents and children at all risk levels avoid adolescent behavior problems that affect not only individuals, but entire communities. You can make long-term impacts.

In , a total of , babies were born to women aged 15—19 years, for a birth rate of This is another record low for U. Although reasons for the declines are not totally clear, evidence suggests these declines are due to more teens abstaining from sexual activity, and more teens who are sexually active using birth control than in previous years.

Our two small, community-based group homes offer teen mothers and their babies a stable place to live while they prepare for independence. Located on tree-lined streets in Queens, each house is a temporary home to three moms and their babies. The houses feature private bedrooms for each pair, computer rooms, playrooms, and large backyards with picnic benches and playground equipment. Caring for an infant or toddler is hard work.