T-9 Teen Parent /Pregnancy Prevention

Purpose The purpose for this presentation is to discuss a series of approaches to educate teenagers on Teen Pregnancy Prevention which will include:  Grant Process, Establishing Paternity and Outreach Efforts presented by (Tammi Tilford-Kern County)  Teen Parenting & Financial Responsibilities presented by (Kim Cagno)  Teen Choice (Emotional and Financial Responsibilities) & Teen Parenting (Demonstration of a Baby Simulator) presented by (Sally Cater & Jennifer Young)

Tammi Tilford (Kern County)

Kim Cagno (San Mateo County)

San Mateo County Outreach  San Mateo County DCSS performs outreach with local high schools and community based organizations  San Mateo has partnered with Wells Fargo Bank to deliver Financial Workshop to teens.  San Mateo modeled outreach efforts after the State of Texas P.A.P.A Program (Parenting and Paternity Awareness Program)

San Mateo Outreach  San Mateo utilizes a PowerPoint presentation to facilitate Teen Parent Workshops  The presentation describes the fundamental process of how child support is established and enforced  A series of workshop activities are performed with the students to raise the level of awareness regarding the challenges of teen parenting

San Mateo Outreach ■Some of the classroom activities performed as part of outreach to students are listed below. ✷ An Ideal Parent – Are you ready to be a parent? ✷ Basic Needs of a Newborn – Cost and caring for a newborn ✷ Providing Financial Support – Calculating Child Support

Questions?

Sally Cater & Jennifer Young (Del Norte County)

Del Norte County Outreach ■Commitment to promoting the well being of children and the self-sufficiency of families ■Outreach Program in place to open the lines of communication with teens and raise awareness of the services our office provides

Who is receiving this Outreach? ■Del Norte County Schools ✷ Middle School Choices Budgeting Baby Think It Over ✷ High School Choices Budgeting ■Del Norte County Probation Department ✷ Juvenile Hall Choices Budget Baby Think It Over ✷ Bar-O-Boys Ranch (Court-Ordered Placement) Choices Budget Baby Think It Over

Outreach Programs ■Choices ✷ We offer an informational teen presentation to educate young people on the responsibilities and realities of parenthood. We discuss making choices in life and offer discussion about the reality of having a baby before a teen is emotionally and financially equipped to become a parent. ✷ The program includes: Peer Presenters and a Teen Mom to present relevant information and encourage active discussions about the issues

Budgeting ■We offer information and discussion on financial stability sufficient to provide necessary support for a child ■Students are provided with a local paper to research the cost of housing, food, transportation and find out first hand what jobs are available in the community for teens with little or no job experience ■Students complete a budget allowing for minimum wage earnings and realistic monthly expenses ■Reality sets in when the money is gone and there are empty budget categories (especially items like entertainment, internet, cable TV, transportation and clothing)

Baby Think It Over ■What is a Real Care Baby? ■It is an amazingly realistic infant simulator that offers learning by doing. ■Baby requires ✷ Feeding ✷ Burping ✷ Rocking ✷ Diaper changing ✷ All on a 24 hour schedule!

Parenting Experience ■Provides experiences that help teens make informed decisions about parenting ■Allows teens to draw conclusions about their readiness to be a parent ■Opens discussion between teens and their parents about the realities of parenting (The teens often gain greater appreciation for their own family)

The Baby Think It Over Program ■Helps teens understand: ✷ Each infant is unique and requires a great deal of time and attention ✷ Infants’ demands are unpredictable but must be met promptly ✷ Parenting responsibilities impact one’s lifestyle (and their family) profoundly (little spare time, loss of sleep, less time for school work or hanging out with friends)

Evaluation of Student Performance ■Baby records every minute of the simulation and reports: ✷ Number of minutes the baby cried ✷ How many times the baby required care ✷ How may times required care was missed ✷ Rough handling ✷ Head falling back (not supported) ✷ Shaken baby

Comments from Students ■“I thought it wouldn’t cry very much, but it did.” ■“I didn’t get any sleep, it wouldn’t stop crying, and it was difficult to take care of instead of hanging out with my friends.” ■“Because of the baby program I have changed my mind about how long I decide to wait before marriage because I don’t want to be a single father.” ■“Now I want a child but not until I am much older and have a job.” ■“The baby helped me talk about parenting because I could relate to how hard it is to be a parent and still have a life.”

Future Outreach ■Shaken Baby Syndrome ■Fetal Alcohol Syndrome ■Drug use by mother

Questions? ■Sally Cater, Outreach Coordinator, Del Norte County Child Support Services