Abstract
This study describes personal and familial characteristics of 58 teenage mothers enrolled in Mama Club, a free community-based teen parent education program. It also identifies types of services and support participants received and program elements perceived to be important for attending Mama Club. Most participants were raised single-parent households (55.0 %), reported having mothers who were teenage parents (64.8 %), were impoverished (86.0 %), not enrolled in school (54.5 %), and unemployed (81.8 %). Participants primarily received assistance from Medicaid (86.5 %), Food Stamps (67.3 %), and family members (40.0 %); only 5.5 % received money from their child’s father. Teen parent education programs should educate parenting teenagers about available assistance programs and involve diverse community partners to establish a seamless referral system.
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This study was made possible because of the dedication of Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach and their community partners.
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Smith, M.L., Gilmer, M.H., Salge, L.E. et al. Who Enrolls in Teen Parent Education Programs? An Emphasis on Personal and Familial Characteristics and Services Received. Child Adolesc Soc Work J 30, 21–36 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-012-0276-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-012-0276-y