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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 27, 2002 <br /> Action Agen <br /> ga <br /> Item No. <br /> SUBJECT: Contracts for Adolescent SUBJECT: Contracts for Adolescent Parenting <br /> DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Nancy Coston, ext 2800 <br /> Contracts (under separate cover) <br /> TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Hillsborough 732-8181 <br /> Chapel Hill 9684501 <br /> Durham 688-7331 <br /> Mebane 336-227-2031 <br /> PURPOSE: To request approval to contract with each school system to provide specialized <br /> services to pregnant and parenting teens. <br /> BACKGROUND: One of the main goals outlined in the federal welfare reform legislation is to <br /> support teen parents and to avoid additional unplanned pregnancies. Therefore, federal funds <br /> in the Work First Block Grant can be used for this purpose. During Fiscal Year 2000-2001, <br /> Social Services initiated contracts with each school system to provide services to pregnant and <br /> parenting teens in the school system. Based on estimated number of teen parents, only the <br /> contract with Chapel Hill-Carrboro was continued during Fiscal Year 2001-2002. <br /> The goals of this program are to improve parenting skills, assure that participants complete their <br /> education, and delay second pregnancies. The ultimate goals are to help teens prepare to be <br /> self-sufficient and to prevent them from becoming dependent on public assistance. Teen <br /> parents are at high risk for becoming dependent on public assistance, particularly if they drop <br /> out of school. These contracts will be coordinated with the programs at Department of Social <br /> Services, which have been very effective at helping participants to finish high school and to <br /> delay additional pregnancies. During last year, there was only one participant who dropped out <br /> of school and there were no additional pregnancies among the participants. <br /> Teen parents have been identified in each school system for services next year, and there is <br /> sufficient need to justify a full-time social worker in each system. The contracts are based on a <br /> caseload of 12-18 teen parents for each social worker in the school system. The social workers <br /> will provide individual and group interventions with teens and will try to address issues that <br /> might result in the student dropping out of school. Supportive services (such as housing, <br /> transportation, day care, medical care) may also be arranged by the social workers. The social <br /> workers at the schools work with the other school personnel to meet the academic needs of <br /> pregnant or parenting students. <br />