Young Parents Program Project Connect: A Focused Intervention Targeting Parenting and Life Skills

Introduction: Project Connect is a multidisciplinary care model testing the effect of an individualized life skills/parenting intervention embedded within comprehensive medical and community based services. Methods: Intervention included a randomized control trial testing five one-hour modules (budgeting, child development/nurturing, safety, substance abuse/violence exposure, and educational/vocational readiness) delivered during child's first year. A self-administered computerized system collected data at baseline and one year follow up. Health services evaluation was completed. Results: Mean age of mothers (n=104) was 17.4 +1.1 years and fathers (n=34) 20.6 + 1.8 years; 54% were African American, 44% Latino; 52% of mothers and 48% of fathers had Medicaid. At baseline, fathers were more likely than mothers to report ever using condoms (49% vs 84%; p<.001), smoke cigarettes (8% vs 57%;p<.001), and carry a weapon in the past 30 days (4% vs 30%;p<.001). 100% of fathers reported current gang involvement. At one year, 54/69 (78.3 %) of children were fully immunized, 58/69 (84 %) of mothers had health and STD screening. Mean number of health visits during first year were: children 12.6 + 5 and mothers 3.8 + 3.4. 39% of participants received home visiting from Healthy Baby/Healthy Child and received an average of 13.2 home visits with 11.6 hours of contact. Implications: Social and mental health needs were high in our population of young parents. Intake data suggest that intervention should address school, violence, and contraception needs for both parents. A team based multi-pronged, multi-disciplinary intervention can successfully engage these young families and improve health outcomes.