4048.0: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 - 9:00 AM

Abstract #3601

Teen Pregnancy and Prevention Services, from Institution to Community-Based Model

Patricia Canessa, MA, Community Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Programs, Arts of Living Institute, 721 N. LaSalle Dr, Chicago, IL 60610, (312) 655-7388, pcanessam@yahoo.com

As a consequence of the limitations created by the reduction in the Title XX Social Security Grant, efforts have been directed to adapt large, expensive multi-intervention services directed to pregnant and parenting teens from school-based into small community initiatives maximizing the utilization of community resources and effectively linking with immigrant and disengaged families. The Arts of Living Institute has provided a comprehensive school-based educational, counseling and health promotion model of intervention over the last 28 years in Chicago. While successfully reaching educationally involved teens, its efforts were re-directed during the last couple years to taget community-bound at-risk teens, and pregnant and parenting teens from Cicero, IL a Latino suburb close to Chicago. The new adaptation of the program involved the development of a theoretical framework based on P. Freire's concepts of community participation and the effective design of services responsive to community priorities. This workshop will demonstrate step-by-step, a successful program design and implementation that includes key participants in the community, such as parents and teens who are key players. Economic, political and methodological barriers will also be analyzed and discused.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in the session will be able to: 1) Provide models of interventions for working with teen mothers in a community-based program. 2) Develop strategies that are culturally-sensitive to the population. 3) To use models that include community participation in its design

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Change Concepts

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Arts of Living Institute
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA