Grants aim to help teen parents
Published 10:52 pm Monday, August 24, 2009
EVERETT — Deaconess Children’s Services will receive grants of $40,000 for each of the next three years from The Whitehorse Foundation, which supports nonprofit groups in Snohomish County that improve the lives of children, youth and families.
The grants will be used for services for teen parents, said Felicia Freeman, Deaconess’ president.
Last year, there was a 4 percent increase in unexpected teen pregnancies in Snohomish County, she said. One hundred thirty five teens participated in Deaconess’ teen parenting programs, an increase of 8 percent.
The program also serves family members, such as aunts, uncles, grandparents and parents who also may be helping care for the children of teen parents, she said.
Demand for these family services grew from 12 to 42 participants in the 12-month period ending June 30, Freeman said.
The increase in demand for services meant available services were spread thinner. In-home visits generally were trimmed to less than once a week, she said.
The Whitehorse grants will allow more frequent in-home visits and in-school visits with the teen parents as well as other services, Freeman said.
A lot of the increase in demand for teen programs was among teenage fathers seeking services with their pregnant or parenting teen girlfriends, Freeman said.
“The child gets many benefits from having Daddy involved and Dad staying in school,” she said, which, trends show, lessens the likelihood the child will grow up in poverty.
Teen parents are taught about self-sufficiency, how to provide increased attention to child safety and respond to children better, she said.
The program coaches young parents on how to be with their friends at a park or restaurant, yet keep their attention focused on their child.
The program also instructs parents on the brain development of children. As one example, 2-year-olds don’t have impulse control, so even if parents tell them not to do something 100 times, “you’ll need to tell them 1,000 times,” Freeman said.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486, salyer@heraldnet.com.
Learn more
For more information on teen parenting programs, call Deaconess Children’s Services at 425-259-0146 and dial zero for the operator.
