| The philosophy that the Federal government | | | | valuable parenting skills or to provide daycare |
| currently upholds for teenage mothers is to | | | | while the mother is in school. Teenage mothers |
| promote values of abstinence, education, and | | | | have often not matured themselves and they |
| paternity identification. Many services for single | | | | have to learn how to become responsible for |
| mothers on the Federal level have been curtailed | | | | another human being. The mentoring program |
| or delegated to local agencies however; private | | | | services for young single mothers provide |
| organizations have also stepped in to fill the gap. | | | | emotional support while passing on skills in infant |
| Childcare | | | | care and decreasing the chance of child abuse as |
| Although Aid to Families with Dependent Children | | | | the child matures. |
| (AFDC) is still available, the requirement that a | | | | The Public School System |
| teenage mother complete high school or live at | | | | Some schools, recognizing the need of services |
| home in a supervised setting means that childcare | | | | for young single moms, have on-site childcare |
| and housing must be available for the teenage | | | | programs. Some even allow the mother to bring |
| mother. Either she must work to pay for | | | | the child to class with them, but these are few |
| childcare, or she must find programs that help her | | | | and far between. In addition, a teenage mother |
| to get assistance in this area. If her family is not | | | | may feel the stigma of being an unwed mother |
| supporting her then housing and childcare both | | | | and refuse to continue her education. However, |
| need to be met and become her first priority. | | | | there are local services that do try to provide a |
| Housing | | | | support system and services for young single |
| The Department of Housing and Urban | | | | mothers to help them overcome their inhibitions |
| Development (HUD) has programs to establish | | | | and adjust to their new roles. |
| Second Chance housing for teenage mothers. | | | | Other local agencies that can provide services |
| These are usually delegated to local housing | | | | beyond shelter and childcare are local hospital and |
| authorities such as apartment complexes or | | | | clinics. They often have special prenatal and |
| designated communities. Included in the services | | | | postpartum programs for young single mothers. |
| for young mothers, among the many other | | | | The local branch of the Health and Human |
| services, HUD offers: | | | | Services office also can pinpoint more resources. |
| - Adult supervision to ensure single mothers focus | | | | For example, agencies such as Women, Infant, |
| on commitments | | | | & Children (WIC) can provide nutritional |
| - Parenting classes to strengthen their child rearing | | | | support for infants and their mothers. |
| skills | | | | The Message |
| - Access to childcare and health services to ease | | | | The key to moving forward is to take personal |
| financial burdens | | | | responsibility for your own life. Anything you can |
| - Available transportation to support employment | | | | dream, develop a realistic plan for and stay the |
| - Mentoring to help them in making wise decisions | | | | course until you see results can be the basis for |
| - Education and job training to promote | | | | change in life. You will find that opportunities will |
| advancement in the workforce | | | | begin to seek you out as you work towards your |
| The need for a myriad of services for young | | | | goal. But first there's maturity, second |
| single mothers as they face the challenge of | | | | responsibility to yourself, your child and the people |
| parenthood while finishing their educations is | | | | who extend a hand to help you. And most |
| immense. These steps point them in the right | | | | important remember that no one owes you |
| direction but still require maturity on their part. | | | | anything. But when you exhibit the characteristics |
| Mentoring | | | | mentioned above you will become the person you |
| Other local agencies may offer mentoring or | | | | choose to be. |
| foster grandparents to help young mothers learn | | | | |