Achieving Results with Pregnant and Parenting Teens: Success of a School Based Program

Background. In an urban community with high levels of children in poverty, a long standing, community funded, school-based program working with inner city pregnant and parenting teens achieves relatively high rates of school attendance and avoidance of repeat pregnancies, thereby increasing high school (HS) graduation rates. Methods. Case Managers (CMs) at each of 5 schools and an alternative program, enrolled pregnant and parenting teens throughout the school year. School based CMs engage with each teen monthly through group (school year) and individual (year round) contacts. School report cards provide attendance and graduation data. Results: During the 2008-2009 school year, the 177 enrolled teens were primarily minority (77% AA), in grades 7 to 12 (median=10), from ages 14 to 21 (median=17). 38% were independent and 42% participated prior to this school year. During the year 23% were either closed (no contact, moved, refused) or teens who dropped out of HS. Annual participation averaged 10 hours of individual contact and 7 hours of group contact. Outcomes continued prior years' improving trends: 86% continued school enrollment, graduated from HS, or completed GED. Among those with >6 months of program enrollment, 71% achieved a school attendance rate of at least 75%. 89% avoided a repeat pregnancy for at least 18 months. Conclusions. This replicable school-based program combining individual and group work achieved noteworthy results among retained pregnant and parenting teens living in poverty. Obtaining and utilizing primary outcome data is critical to assessing progress and early identification of implementation issues and problems.