Teens Entering Education Now

(TEEN) Program

Program Goals:

1. To recruit high school age parents not currently enrolled in an academic or vocational program.
2. To increase the retention of teens and school-age parents in high school and college programs.
3. To increase school age parents' awareness of college programs and other options to increase their marketable skills.
4. To provide career exploration and pre-vocational skill building.
5. To increase parenting skills and life skills for program participants.
6. To provide support services for program participants enabling them to attend classes, meet their personal long and short term goals, including transportation, case management, tuition, books, child care, an academic core class and a parenting class with a meal.
7. To create a support network for participants to include the college and other community based agencies which results in stronger students and families.
8. To create an atmosphere that fosters student success, building self esteem and feelings of purpose, thus decreasing the risk of pregnancy and repeat pregnancy in young parents.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

High School Completion: Enrolled students enroll in and complete high school and college level courses for the purpose of earning a high school diploma.

Core Courses: This series of required program classes address study skills, communication, contemporary world problems, (gender bias, oppression, economics) sexual health and family and personal stress. Within these content areas, life skills are a continual and consistent focus. These classes act as "homeroom" and are the touch points for contact with students.

Counseling Services: The program counselor serves students in a variety of ways. Students access individual counseling or organize facilitated groups. The counselor also makes home contacts when students are absent or on home study. Life and short term goal planning, maternity case management, advocacy and problem solving support are all done by the program counselor. Young parents often have a variety of issues that must be addressed before school progress is possible. The TEEN counselor is essential in enabling students to break down barriers to their own success.

Parent Education: All parents enrolled in TEEN take a vocational, college credit parenting class through the program. The curriculum is interactive, hands-on and developmentally appropriate for teen parents. A strong occupational therapy component makes parent education more relevant to general sequencing, critical thinking and problem solving skills. All parents spend time in the TEEN Child Care as part of their parenting credits.

Child Care: The lack of reliable, quality child care is one of the largest barriers to young parents completing their education. The TEEN Program runs thre rooms of licensed, fully staffed child care rooms. Age groupings address the specific developmental needs of young children. Bulletin boards, art projects and parent resources available in the child care rooms is closely linked and integrated to other program components such as core course and parenting class.

Van Transportation: A program van meets the need for reliable transportaton to and from school. Many young parents enrolled in the TEEN Program live in more remote rural areas where bus transportation is not available. Van service has increased rider's attendance by 30%.

For more information on the TEEN program, call Brigitte Kidd, Program Manager at (360) 736-9391, extension 529 or email the program assistant.