Educational Attainment for Teen Parents: Challenges Faced in San Mateo County

Despite the decrease in overall teen pregnancy rates, Latinas continue to have the highest rates of teen births and increased rates of late or no prenatal care in San Mateo County (SMC). Cal-Learn’s goal is to help pregnant/parenting teens earn a high school diploma or its equivalent and connect them to educational, health and other resources. Financial incentives/disincentives are earned based on academic performance and reimbursements for school, transportation, and childcare expenses are available. Those graduating from high school increase their employment opportunities and earning potential, explore higher education possibilities as well as improve health outcomes for themselves and their children.

Throughout SMC, three focus groups will be held with teen mothers, primarily Latinas. Using the Social Ecological Framework, discussion topics include client/family attitudes towards education, impact of having a child on their ability to graduate, and how schools/policy makers can support teen parents.

Initial focus group results highlighted a need for more teen father programs and for teen fathers to be included in existing mother-centered programs. Clients expressed concern with the lack of childcare resources for their children and with being stigmatized by school personnel and peers. Findings call for schools to offer more emotional support for teen parents and childcare resources for their children. They also requested resources for improving/maintaining relationships with partners.

The data will be used to improve service delivery within Cal-Learn as well as to guide advocacy work and partnerships with other organizations and stakeholders in San Mateo County.