research: teens as parents

youth of color

teens as parents

a teen's friends

family matters

vital communities

social and protective factors

Risk as a Birthright

The children of teen parents inherit the risks of their parents. Their risks include:

Low birth weight, infant mortality and childhood health problems
Cognitive and emotional delays that will affect their ability to learn and succeed in school
School problems
Greater likelihood of repeating a grade
Poor performance on standardized tests
Greater risk of dropping out of high school

The Cycle Continues

But the ripple effect doesn't stop there. The perpetual cycle of teens as parents poses a risk for the health and well-being of the state as a whole.

Families that began with a teen birth are one of the largest identifiable populations on welfare today (Minnesota Department of Human Services, 1999).
53% of Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) cases began with a birth to a teen and 55% of all children on MFIP were in families that began with a teen birth (Minnesota Department of Human Services, 1999).

what can we do?

Coordinate state, county and local systems that provide education, social services and health care to meet the multiple needs of young parents and their children.

Provide alternative or enhanced education opportunities that reach teen parents early and keep them connected to school.

Implement best practices such as offering flexible attendance policies and support services, including transportation and childcare, prenatal and parenting education.

Improve child outcomes through home visiting, parenting education, quality child care and coordination with social service and community agencies.

Engage fathers early through outreach and advocacy for counseling, support and legal advice.

Provide quality health care for the parent and child to ensure a healthy birth and healthy development, as well as postponement of subsequent pregnancies.