Becoming a parent is the leading reason teens drop out of school.
A range of difficulties, including educational, financial and emotional aspects, surrounds teen parents. More than half of teen mothers have a low income and live on welfare in the United States. Becoming a parent at a young age is also why many teen parents stop their education. While teen pregnancy can come as a surprise, government and private agencies offer support for teen mothers and fathers to get a better education, live in better housing and provide a quality lifestyle for their children.
Insights Teen Parent Program
This program is located in Portland, Oregon, and has served hundreds of young families since 1979. A nonprofit, this agency provides a selection of programs to help young mothers and fathers raise their children. Support groups, child care, housing assistance and basic health care give parents the chance to boost a child's standard of living. This agency commonly has a wait-list for teen mothers.
Insights Teen Parent Program
711 SE Ankeny, Suite B
Portland, OR 97214
503-239-6996
insightstpp.org
Planned Parenthood
A large organization with more than 825 centers, Planned Parenthood gives women and men of all ages a chance to receive affordable health and medical care to help young families survive. This agency offers testing for sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and vaccinations for men and women. Specialty care for pregnant women allows mothers to provide adequate prenatal care to their child. Treatments for cervical cancer help women maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
434 W. 33rd St.
New York, NY 10001
212-541-7800
1110 Vermont Ave. NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005
202-973-4800
plannedparenthood.org
Educating Communities for Parenting
Offering programs in schools with workshops, support groups and an interactive learning classroom, Educating Communities for Parenting caters to teen parents in the Philadelphia area. This agency began in 1976 and works to help young mothers and fathers build strong families and to bring down the statistics of child neglect and abuse. In addition to the services offered, special events such as spending a day at the local zoo help to bolster community involvement for young families.
Educating Communities for Parenting
919 Walnut St., 10th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-496-9780
ecparenting.org
Teen Parent Resource Center
This agency recruits teenage parent volunteers to help other young parents in the Oklahoma city area. The Teen Parent Advisory Council meets on a regular basis to raise funds, plan events for teen parents and network with other families in the area to give and receive support. The agency teaches teen parents to become self-sufficient, and provides work and study internships for those seeking higher education. The Resource Center has a sponsorship program available for those seeking to support a teen parent or young family.
Teen Parent Resource Center
3100 W. Britton Road, Suite C
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
405-286-0418
405-286-4544
teenparentcenter.org
