MOAPPP Adolescent Parent eNews

MOAPPP Adolescent Parent eNews

August 2010


Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
–Dale Carnegie

Announcements

Can You Spend a Couple of Hours to tell us about your Experiences Working with Teen Parents?

A graduate student from the University of Minnesota is gathering groups of professionals to eat and talk about the lessons learned regarding educating and supporting teen parents. She is looking for professionals (social workers, public health nurses, parent educators, those who work with teen dads, and any other people who work with teen parents) who have worked at least two years with teen parents and in particular, with low-income teen parents. The commitment is one evening discussion group during the month of June at the MOAPPP office. It will last about two hours and dinner will be served. (This can also count as in-service for those who need continuing education hours). For more information, contact Sue, 651-644-1447 x 15, [email protected].


Mark Your Calendars!
October 10, 2010, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Minnesota State Capitol
10,000 March and Rally for Children

The Young Leaders of Children’s Defense Fund – MN are organizing a march and rally to speak out for the children of Minnesota to put their needs on the election campaign agenda as a priority. Gubernatorial candidates will be invited and given a few short minutes to say how they would address one of the 10 focus issues. The rally will end with a challenge for change to give ALL Minnesota children a fair start in life. MOAPPP will be exhibiting at the Health Care tent. The young adult organizers hope to get 10,000 people to march and rally for children’s issues! Be there if you can!!!

In the News

Teen Parenting in a Small Minnesota Town

Read an article about teen parents in Owatonna. The comments following the article are an interesting reflection on diverse attitudes present in the community about teen parents.


What Works and What Doesn’t

Read this thought-provoking article from Brookings Institute regarding the effectiveness of federally funded programs for children and youth.

Research

What Works: Home Visiting

This literature review (PDF) synthesizes findings from 66 studies that implemented random assignment experimental evaluations conducted to examine the impacts of various intervention programs with a home visiting component. The goal of this review is to identify programs that work as well as the intervention strategies that contribute to program success.

Resources

 

Solutions-Oriented Stories Can Make a Difference

Watch this short video on how to emphasize solutions in gathering community support for your programs or click here (PDF) to read about it.


Little Steps for New Parents

A week-by-week guide and journal for new parents that covers the first year of life is available in both Spanish and English. It offers clear, easy-to-understand child development information and sensible child-rearing advice. Check it out at www.EducateNewParents.com.

Policy Action Alert

Comprehensive Pregnant and Parent Student Access to Education Legislation Introduced

Healthy Teen Network and the National Women’s Law Center are pleased to announce that U.S. Representative Jared Polis (D-CO) and 16 other Members of Congress introduced on July 28, 2010 the Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act (H.R. 5894), comprehensive legislation to improve high school graduation rates, college- and career-readiness, and access to postsecondary opportunities for pregnant and parenting students. The legislation provides the necessary formula funding to all states and competitive funding to school districts to ensure that pregnant and parenting students have equal access to and succeed in educational opportunities. A fact sheet on the legislation is available here (PDF). The legislation is available here (PDF).

Take Congressional Action: Contact U.S. Representatives and ask them to co-sponsor the Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act (H.R. 5894). Contact U.S. Senators to urge them to introduce companion legislation. Action alerts to facilitate your communication to members of Congress through an online communication system may be found online here.

Distribute the Action Alert: Advocacy organizations and direct service providers are encouraged to distribute the action alert widely to their boards of directors, organization members and supporters, expectant and parenting youth they serve, and family members and caring adults involved with young families.

Join Organization Sign-On Letter: Direct service, advocacy and public organizations at the national, state, and local levels are invited to add their organizations to a sign-on letter in support of H.R. 5894. The sign-on letter may be found online here (PDF). An initial response is requested by August 16 to [email protected]. Advocacy organizations and associations are encouraged to distribute the sign-on letter widely to their member organizations and supporters.

Engage Educational Agencies in Dialogue: Advocacy and direct service organizations are encouraged to use the bill’s introduction as an opportunity to start or continue a dialogue with their state educational agency, local school district boards and administrators, and neighborhood schools about their policies, practices and programs directed toward expectant and parenting students. When doing so, encourage the educational agencies to express their support for the legislation to their Members of Congress in whatever manner they are able to do so.

Upcoming MOAPPP Trainings

August 19, 2010
What About the Baby? Nurturing Healthy Attachment in Young Families

9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Building for Women
32 East 1st Street, Duluth

Early learning happens in the context of relationships. This workshop focuses on the importance of relationship—between adolescent parents and their children and between young families and the professionals who work with them. It offers insight into the strengths and challenges faced by young parents, the competing developmental agendas of adolescent parents and their children, and strategies for promoting relationships that lead to the healthy development of both parent and child (this workshop has been offered in the past under that title, Relationship Matters).

For more information and to register, see the flyer and registration form (PDF). Click here to register online. Registration scholarships are available. Questions? Contact Sue at 651-644-1447 x 15, [email protected].


August 25-26, 2010
Issues in Working with Teen Parents

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., both days
National Center for Parents as Teachers
1700 Second Street NE, Minneapolis

NOTE: PRICE REDUCED TO $250

This two-day session is for all professionals who work with teen parents. It offers constructive insights into teen parents, their children and the issues they all face.

Topics include:

  • Adolescent brain development and the developmental characteristics unique to adolescents
  • Parallel developmental needs of both teen parent and child
  • Techniques to enhance teen parents’ feelings of confidence and competence and strategies to help them transition into adulthood
  • Strategies to address the special family dynamics and multigenerational issues teen parents face
  • Strategies to facilitate father involvement
  • Parent group meetings and personal visits

Registration fee includes Parents as Teachers Issues in Working with Teen Parents 800+ page curriculum (valued at $165) and parent handouts CD for use in teen programs.

For more information and to register, download the flyer and registration form. Questions? Contact Jennifer Barshack at 612-332-7563 x 305, [email protected].


September 30, 2010
Access to Education for Pregnant and Parenting Teens

8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
MN Department of Education
1500 West Highway 36, Roseville

This forum will delve into the meaning and scope of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 with respect to the prevention of discrimination against students who are pregnant and/or parenting. Forum objectives include:

  • How the law protects access to education for pregnant and parenting students: Title IX is not just about sports!
  • The unique needs of pregnant and parenting students.
  • What do pregnant and parenting students need to stay in school, graduate and move on to post-secondary schools and/or job opportunities?
  • How can districts provide programming to meet those needs and help students graduate?

There will be content for both administrators and those who work directly with students. Plenary session by Lara Kaufmann of the National Women’s Law Center.

For more information and to register manually, see the flyer and registration form (PDF).

  • Click here for the direct student contact track online registration form.
  • Click here for the policy track online registration form.

Questions? Contact Sue at 651-644-1447 x 15, [email protected].

Other Upcoming Trainings

August 23, 2010
Child and Adolescent Depression, Self-Harm and Suicide Risk

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Brookdale Public Library
6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center

Depression may cause substantial morbidity and mortality in children and youth. However, some may engage in self-harming behaviors that are not intended to result in death. Dr. Joel Oberstar will review the symptoms of child and adolescent depression and common reasons why youth may engage in self-harm. Risks assessment, brief intervention and approaches to referral and follow up actions will be discussed.

For more information, visit www.macmh.org. Click here to register online.


August 31, 2010
Depression, Anxiety and Bipolar Disorders in Youth: Distinctions and Overlap

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Maplewood Community Center
2100 White Bear Avenue North, Maplewood

Youth depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders may occur together and distinctions can be challenging to identify and treat. Dr. Oberstar will review the presenting symptoms of these disorders and their comorbidity, and discuss appropriate treatment options, including both psychotherapeutic and pharmacotherapeutic modalities.

For more information, visit www.macmh.org. Click here to register online.


For more resources and information about adolescent parents, visit the Adolescent Parent Program page on the MOAPPP website.