Supporting parents as their children’s first and most important teachers
LoveTalkPlay.orgELC Webinar on Teen Parents 7.11.12
Who Is Joining Us?
Jill Johnson – Inland NW Janalee Ensley – SELF Susan Prudente – SE WA ELC Mary Ellen Braks – Inland NW Stacie Marez – Investing in
Children Harla Tumbleson – SOAR Tanya Andrews – First 5 Molly O’Connor – Thrive Holly Wyrwich – Thrive Garrison Kurtz - Dovetailing
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THOUGHTS Official start January 2013,
possible action before – some funding available
SOAR and Inland NW – will receive additional resources for work
Other coalitions interested in teen parent engagement will draw funds from regular Community Momentum grants, which begin Jan. 2013
Early Fall – school connections
Why Teen Parents?
Some ELCs already engaging teen parents Teen parents are found throughout the state in
every kind of community Few parenting materials and messages are
specifically designed for teen parents Teen parents are brutally honest about what works
for them … and what doesn’t! Opportunity to have an impact on two generations Could help infuse a different kind of energy in the
campaign
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Timeline
2012 May – Choose primary coalitions July – Teen Parent Engagement Webinar Sept – 1st Family Engagement Cmte Mtg Fall - Community Momentum RFP released
2013 Teen Parent Engagement officially begins
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The Current Situation: What do you already know about teen
parents in your region? (Demographics, behaviors)?
LoveTalkPlay.org
Yakima – high incidence of teen pregnancy
King – highest birth rate in Latino community, though leveled off in other communities
King – Community practices – marriage and child-bearing happen earlier
Tacoma – Pierce County rates are slightly lower, except Native American, which is higher than Latino birth rates
Spokane – Birth rate has gone down a bit. Lower ethnic diversity than some parts of the state
Spokane – Anecdotal discussions have not highlighted why
Teen moms tend to stay connected to schools – until/unless second child comes
We could use a better understanding about motivations (intentional pregnancy, plans for marriage, etc.) and effect of the economy on birth rates
Impact of online education availability might interfere with mom access to services through schools
King – Education (and supportive child care) and housing were expressed as the top needs of Latino students
Walla Walla – Some success with teen father engagement
King – Pleasantly surprised at number of dads that show up
The Current Situation: Which agencies and orgs. (state and local) already connect with teen parents in your
region?
LoveTalkPlay.org
GRADS Young Lives Hospital based home visiting
programs Health Dept (Yakima) Parents as Teachers WIC King County – Community health
clinics King County – Interagency program
(School district) King County – Housing Spokane – Catholic charities, school
districts Pierce – 2 high schools with
programs for teen parents Pierce – Children’s museum All – Play & Learn groups/community
centers Child Care Aware (local and state) State-level - Division of Child Support
Clark – GRADS Clark – Unless dads are high school
involved, women protect older fathers due to laws regarding that
Walla Walla – Children’s Home Society
Walla Walla – Community College All – DSHS All – WithinReach- service referral All – WashingtonTeenHelp.org All – Parent Trust of WA (Hope
Line, LTP 1-800 number) All – Community
Cafes/Strengthening Families Spokane – Shelters/ Crosswalk All – YWCAs King – Orion Center & transitional
housing Spokane – Library story times (?) All – Early Head Start
Barriers
Transportation Similar demographics/welcoming feeling (e.g. community
cafes) Teen-interest focused Libraries often do not have teen-focused programs Lack of peer parent support opportunities
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The Current Situation: Is a particular segment of your teen parent population more vulnerable?
LoveTalkPlay.org
Latino Native American Yakima – Isolated communities
(rural, indian nations) Yakima – Gang-involved King – Mono-lingual teen parents are
still not uncommon, though more are bi-lingual
King – Newer immigrant and refugees
King – African-American teen parents whose outcomes are often poorer
Out-of-school Those lacking a social and financial
support network – education and jobs not happening – vulnerable, but responding
Spokane – Half of kids do not have family support
? – Moms of children with drug-addicted fathers
? – Foster-placed teens ? – Court-involved teens
The Current Situation: What have you already done to engage
teen parents?
LoveTalkPlay.org
Clark – We have not really started to engage teen parents as yet
Walla Walla – Alternative high school (8-12 M and F participants), with Love.Talk.Play./ Literacy-focused credit-bearing class taught by a Masters-Level teacher
Spokane, Snohomish, Yakima, King Walla Walla – Young Lives – gather teen moms with free child care and dinner + activities to a parent peer group in community locations
Spokane – 3 different SDs (East, West Valley, Spokane), LTP based activities in Play and Learn groups
Spokane – Catholic Charities Play & Learn
King – Young parents’ network (300-400 members)
King – Good connections with early intervention providers and birth to three programs
King – Faith community connections
Pierce – In learning mode at the Children’s Museum
Pierce – Gig Harbor and Tacoma alternative schools
The Current Situation: What are the most important gaps in
getting quality parenting information to teen parents?
LoveTalkPlay.org
Walla Walla – Daily text – ParentHelp123
Communication mode – technology Lack of places for positive parenting
modeling that are not intimidating (e.g. all other participants are parents in their 30s)
Teen parent peer support Past teen parent mentors Activities and information that are
appealing to dads Create more compassion and
respect among older-aged parents to support teen parents in their parenting role (Young Life model)
What’s Doable?
LoveTalkPlay.org
GOALS STRATEGIES/ACTIVITIES SUCCESS INDICATORSSPO/KING – More consistent duplication of effective outreach to teen parents/
SPO - Handbook for reaching and connecting to teens completedKING – Build a network of people working with teen parentsKING – Create gathering opportunities
SPO – X% of teen parent service providers use the handbook to frame/develop services
SPO- # of regular contacts/ repeat visits increase
SPO –urban and rural services are consistently available and customized
LTP materials are used to frame services
Teen parents find materials and activities to be beneficial
WW- Create a community in which consistent guidance and support can be provided
WW – Develop curriculum for 10-12 week class
KING – Parenting education and support professionals would have a better understanding of what is available and how to improve/extend services for teens
CLARK – Services for teens are enhanced and connected
CLARK - Teen parents regularly and increasingly participate
Teens report that their knowledge, skills and confidence have increased as a result of participating
What’s Doable?
LoveTalkPlay.org
GOALS STRATEGIES/ACTIVITIES SUCCESS INDICATORS
CLARK – Services for teens are enhanced and connected
CLARK -
CLARK – We have better ways to reach and engage teens
WW – Support teen parents who are close to receiving their high school diploma
MULTI – Create positive peer mentoring (e.g. Young Lives) communities in all LTP teen parent support communities
Increase relevance of materials and actions to teen parents
Family Engagement Committee
Through their knowledge, expertise and connections, the Family Engagement Committee will help the LTP campaign connect to a population of harder to reach families, so that they have the confidence, information and skills needed to give their children a great start in life.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE Targeted Universalism – inclusive of the needs of both the dominant and marginal groups, but pays
attention to the situation of the marginal group
OBJECTIVES Help ensure campaign reaches state’s most vulnerable families
ROLE Serve as a sounding board for the regional early learning coalitions that are focusing on teen
parents Share knowledge and facilitate connections, so that existing resources and programs are
maximized Explore creative ways to reach families that are NOT connected to supports and services
MEMBERS Chosen based on their access to resources, networks and key programs that work with teen
parents
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What Does the FEC Look Like? What do you think the value of the FEC is to the committee’s non-ELC participants?
LoveTalkPlay.org
Other FEC Members DOH DSHS DEL HS/ECEAP 24/7 Dads – CHS Teen parents Seattle Public Library OPEP GRADS Young Lives
Value of the FEC to Members Inspiration Ability to identify local challenges related to state-
goals Promote dialog about how services should/could be
designed Collaborative discussion body/table Connection to local organizations that are the
implementers Greater understanding of “the whole” and clarity of
how I/my organization can help Data and on-the-ground examples
What Does the FEC Look Like? How do you hope your work with teen
parents will benefit from the FEC?
LoveTalkPlay.org
KING/CLARK/PIERCE – Better understanding of best practices/ assess our individual progress
KING – Test our new ideas KING/PIERCE – Access
expertise of committee members
CLARK – Build on existing efforts/approaches
SPOKANE – Building relationships with statewide organizations that can support what we are doing
SPOKANE – Develop shared understanding among players
WW – use credibility of FEC to bolster our work
Wrap-Up
Do we need another call/meeting before the RFP meeting (8/16-21)– Would like a write-up from today– Would like the “focus areas” and allowable use of funds to be identified– Would like the opportunity for input to the RFP allowable uses and focus areas
What can Thrive and you do/provide between now and the first FEC meeting that will be helpful?– Write-up from today– Revised Family Engagement Committee Description– Draft Strategic Foci
How did today’s conversation go?– Worth the time– Allowed more/ancillary people to participate– Eliminated travel– Discussion was rich– State perspective and broader vision
LoveTalkPlay.org