My Community
| Just for Teens can be delivered in your school or community directly, as well as through collaboration with community partners. |
Outcomes
| Just for Teens has demonstrated a positive impact on participants' individual development as teenagers, while addressing important issues related to their roles as parents. |
About
| Just for Teens gives teen parents the support they need to stay in school, develop life skills, and become effective and confident parents. |
About Just for Teens
Pregnant and parenting teens often need support to help them develop skills for parenting, and for life. Without support, teen parents are more likely to drop out of school, and their children are at higher risk for child abuse and neglect. Just for Teens is designed to address these needs and provide teens with the skills and resources they need to be effective and confident parents.
Just for Teens has engaged approximately 1,000 teen mothers over the past five years that it has been implemented across New York State. Teen fathers are also invited and have actively participated in the program. The program is currently in nine Buffalo Public School District high schools through collaboration with ten different community agencies, and has recently expanded to New York City.
The Just for Teens curriculum addresses the needs of participants as teens and as parents. Activities ranging from 30 to 60 minutes cover 24 topics in four main areas:
- Fundamental Parenting Skills
- Bonding with Your Child
- Relationships
- Personal Well-being
Just for Teens is a strength-based program with a supportive and non-judgmental environment. The program connects teens to services such as dental care, immunizations, WIC, women's health services, lead poisoning prevention, and community heath locations.
