Programs supporting pregnant or parenting youth should meet the unique and complex needs of these families. Young parents are more likely to be low income and involved with multiple service areas, such as child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health. Building resilience and social connections among young parents is vital and providing support services related to health care, self-sufficiency, and positive outcomes in education, finances, and parenting skills is crucial. The following resources present examples of how State and local programs are supporting young parents and their families.
Building a Safety Net for Teen Parents in Foster Care: California's Approach
Harkness, Abrams, & Eskin (2017)
Child Law Practice Today, May/June
Shares California's experience with teen parents in foster care and the strategies the State is using to better support them and their children. One approach entails creating whole-family foster homes for parenting youth in foster care.
Building Strong Families
UCAN
Offers information on the organization's programs, including those that support pregnant and parenting teens.
Children's Hospital Primary Care Center (CHPCC): Young Parents Program
Boston Children's Hospital
Describes a special clinic serving teen parents from low-income and at-risk environments. The clinic offers access to medical care, parenting education, housing and education support, and social programs to connect with peers.
Effectively Engaging Young Fathers in Child Welfare [Video]
Center for the Study of Social Policy (2017)
Highlights the experiences of three young fathers in New York City who are involved with the child welfare system while parenting. The video provides recommendations for child welfare providers working with young parents and focuses on strengthening father engagement.
Foster Family and Adoptions
Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services
Describes a program that serves pregnant and parenting teens whose children are not dependents of the court by providing a whole-family foster home to keep the teen parent with their child and out of the foster care system.
Fostering Healthy Texas Lives: Strategies to Prevent Teen Pregnancy in Foster Care and Support Teen Parents in Foster Care (PDF - 3,761 KB)
Texas Care for Children & The Simmons Foundation (2018)
Addresses the ways that Texas can better support youth who become pregnant or who are parents while in foster care. By helping pregnant and parenting adolescents in out-of-home care, Texas can also give young parents the tools they need to prevent their children from entering the child welfare system.
Guide to Working With Young Parents in Out of Home Care (PDF - 4,490 KB)
New York City Administration for Children's Services (2018)
Provides information and guidance for working with expectant and parenting youth in out-of-home care and delivering trauma-informed care. The guide encourages a strengths-based approach to promote the safety, permanency, and well-being of young parents and their children.
Helping Ensure the Success of Teen Parents and Their Children
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Reviews how adults can help ensure the success of teen parents by helping them secure housing, understand nutrition, provide physical and emotional safety, find child care and health-care, and more.
Parent Connection
Family Services
Highlights the Parent Connection program in Wisconsin, which is designed to support young parents and their children. The program offers Parents as Teachers™ for adolescent parents, a mentoring program, fatherhood programs, a young parent group, and workshops.
Parenting Resources
Fostering Advocates Arizona
Offers parenting resources for young parents, including information on health care, child care, and other supports.
Teen Parenting
Illinois Department of Children & Family Services
Offers information for youth involved with the child welfare system who are pregnant or parenting. The webpage describes a teen parent service network, child care assistance, and other programs that may be of assistance to young parents.