Grant gets more help for teen parents

EVERETT — Deaconess Children’s Services has been awarded $15,000 from the Seattle-based Burning Foundation to continue its work with teen parents.

The money will be used to prevent additional pregnancies among teens who now have young children and provide parent education and development programs.

About 100 teen parents participate in the program, called Teen Parent Advocacy. Some are pregnant with their first child.

Girls as young as 12 and 13 have participated in the program. Some 16- and 17-year olds have two children before they join the program, said Felicia Freeman, president of the Everett-based nonprofit.

Deaconess staff talk to the teens, asking how much poverty they and their child can tolerate, and how another pregnancy could affect their ability to support and nurture their child.

“What we’re doing is helping them develop critical thinking skills to make effective judgments,” Freeman said.

Snohomish County is below the national average in the number of teen parents who have a second child while still in their teens, she said.

Over the past four years, between 4 and 7 percent of teens in the program have another child while participating in the program, Freeman said.

Nationally, about one-quarter of teens have a subsequent pregnancy before their 20th birthday, she said.

Deaconess staff help teen parents with day-to-day problems. They sometimes talk to their teachers about need for teen moms to miss school, or temporarily delay assignments, due to sick children, Freeman said.

Deaconess employees also make weekly home visit to the homes of young parents, checking to ensure that there’s a safe environment for infants and toddlers. They also help teach parenting skills and give young parents tools to help assess their child’s development.

The home checks aren’t required, but they’re popular enough that 13 teens are now on the waiting list to get that service, Freeman said.

The foundation grant will be used to continue the program, which is supported by a number of individual donors and several foundations, Freeman said. The program involves no public money.

One of the goals of the Burning Foundation is to develop effective pregnancy prevention strategies for teens.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486, salyer@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

More in Local News

An example of the Malicious Women Co. products (left) vs. the Malicious Mermaid's products (right). (U.S. District Court in Florida)
Judge: Cheeky candle copycat must pay Snohomish company over $800K

The owner of the Malicious Women Co. doesn’t expect to receive any money from the Malicious Mermaid, a Florida-based copycat.

A grave marker for Blaze the horse. (Photo provided)
After Darrington woman’s horse died, she didn’t know what to do

Sidney Montooth boarded her horse Blaze. When he died, she was “a wreck” — and at a loss as to what to do with his remains.

A fatal accident the afternoon of Dec. 18 near Clinton ended with one of the cars involved bursting into flames. The driver of the fully engulfed car was outside of the vehicle by the time first responders arrived at the scene. (Whidbey News-Times/Submitted photo)
Driver sentenced in 2021 crash that killed Everett couple

Danielle Cruz, formerly of Lynnwood, gets 17½ years in prison. She was impaired by drugs when she caused the crash that killed Sharon Gamble and Kenneth Weikle.

A person walks out of the Everett Clinic on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Everett Clinic changing name to parent company Optum in 2024

The parent company says the name change will not affect quality of care for patients in Snohomish County.

Tirhas Tesfatsion (GoFundMe) 20210727
Lynnwood settles for $1.7 million after 2021 suicide at city jail

Jail staff reportedly committed 16 safety check violations before they found Tirhas Tesfatsion, 47, unresponsive in her cell.

A semi-truck rolled over blocking all traffic lanes Thursday morning on I-5 north just south of Arlington on Sept. 21, 2023. (Washington State Patrol)
Overturned trailer spills fish onto I-5 near Arlington, closing lanes

The crash blocked all lanes, forcing drivers going north during rush hour to use the left shoulder.

The Marysville Municipal Jail is pictured Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville weighs mandatory jail time for repeated ‘public disorder’

The “three strikes” proposal sets a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail for crimes like public drug use and trespassing.

Everett police on patrol heard gunshots near 26th Street and Lombard Avenue and closed off multiple roads as they investigated on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Everett Police Department)
3 teens arrested after gunfire in downtown Everett

No one was injured. Police heard gunfire in the area of 26th Street and Lombard Avenue.

It’s time to celebrate and say thanks

Local journalism — and community support — will be the stars of Behind the News Stories on Oct. 24 in Edmonds.

Most Read