Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network Arizona Head Start T/TA Office Summer Webinar Series: Working With Teen Parents Tina Sykes, M.Ed Infant/Toddler Specialist Head Start State-Based T/TA Office for Arizona

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 2 Objectives Participants will: Review adolescent developmental milestones Explore facts and statistics related to teen pregnancy Understand the importance of self-reflection Gain strategies for partnering with teen parents and their familes

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 3 Agenda Adolescent Developmental Milestones Facts and Stats Building Trusting Relationships and Establishing Boundaries The Importance of Knowing Yourself and the Teen Partnering with Teen Parents Wrap up and Questions

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 4 Adolescent Development During adolescence, children develop the ability to: Comprehend abstract content, such as higher mathematic concepts, and develop moral philosophies, including rights and privileges Establish and maintain satisfying personal relationships by learning to share intimacy without inhibition or dread Move gradually towards a more mature sense of identity and purpose Question old values without a sense of dread or loss of identity

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 5 Early Adolescence (12-14 years)

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 6 Early Adolescence (12-14 years) Struggle with sense of identity Moodiness More likely to express feelings by action than by words Close friendships gain importance Less affection shown to parents Realization that parents are not perfect; identification of their faults Search for new people to love in addition to parents Tendency to return to childish behavior Peer group influences interests and clothing styles

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 7 Middle Adolescence ( years)

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 8 Middle Adolescence ( years) Self-involvement, alternating between unrealistically high expectations and poor self-concept Complaints that parents interfere with independence Extremely concerned with appearance and with one's body Feelings of strangeness about one's self and body Lowered opinion of parents, withdrawal of emotions from them Effort to make new friends Strong emphasis of the peer group: expansion to include romantic friendships

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 9 Late Adolescence ( years)

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 10 Late Adolescence ( years) Firmer identity Ability to delay gratification Ability to think ideas through Ability to express feelings in words More developed sense of humor Stable interests Greater emotional stability Ability to make independent decisions Ability to compromise Pride in one's work Self-reliance Greater concern for others

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 11 Facts and stats about Teen Sexuality Nearly half (46%) of all 15– 19-year-olds in the United States have had sex at least once By age 15, only 13% of never-married teens have ever had sex. However, by the time they reach age 19, seven in 10 never-married teens have engaged in sexual intercourse

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 12 Facts and stats about Teen Sexuality The majority (59%) of sexually experienced teen females had a first sexual partner who was 1–3 years their senior. Only 8% had first partners who were six or more years older. Most young people have sex for the first time at about age 17, but they do not marry until their middle or late 20s. This means that young adults are at risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for nearly a decade

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 13 Teen Pregnancy Rates In 2006, 750,000 women younger than 20 became pregnant Between 1988 and 2000, teenage pregnancy rates declined in every state, and between 2000 and 2005, they fell in every state except North Dakota. New Mexico had the highest teenage pregnancy rate (93 per 1,000), followed by Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Mississippi. The lowest rates were in New Hampshire (33 per 1,000), Vermont, Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota.

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 14 Facts and Stats about Teen Pregnancy One million teens in the US will become pregnant over the next 12 months. 95% of those pregnancies are unintended. 1 of 3 girls in the US gets pregnant BEFORE the age of 20 75% of teen pregnancies come from single parent households 10% of all US births are to teens ~ , Guttmacher Institute

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 15 Facts about Teen Parents Pregnant teens are among the most likely mothers- to-be to have inadequate prenatal care Teen mothers are at greater risk for postpartum depression Only a third of teen mothers receive a high school diploma Teen fathers are likely to finish fewer years of school than older fathers do, as well as less likely to hold a steady job or earn enough to support their new family

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 16 Facts and Stats about babies born to teens Babies born to teens are more likely to be pre-term and of low birth weight. Babies born to teens have an increased probability of infant death and chronic respiratory problems. Babies born to teens have an increased risk of serious long term illness and of developmental delays. –Healthy Teens Network, 2003

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 17 Partnering with Teen Parents It begins and ends with the development of strong, positive, professional relationships. Relationships are the foundation of our work.

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 18 Trust “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something; one in which confidence is placed” (Free Merriam Webster Dictionary)

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 19 Keys to establishing trust with Teen Parents Provide consistent teachers to young children Find ways to identify with a teenager Address individual teenager needs and concerns Respect confidentiality and privacy National Association for the Education of Young Children

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 20 Boundaries “Boundaries are the framework within which the worker/client relationship occurs. Boundaries make the relationship professional and safe for the client and set the parameters within which services are delivered.” (College of Psychologists of Ontario, 1998)

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 21 Maintaining Professional Boundaries Be intentional when setting boundaries Let families know the boundaries you have set Be honest with yourself and seek supervision when needed

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 22 Knowing YOURSELF When you are in a room with a mother, father and child, there are at least four key players in that room: –Mother –Father –Baby –YOU

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 23 Knowing YOURSELF Ask yourself these questions… About your age: –How does my age influence how I am viewed by the teen or the family? –Who is it that they see? –What will they be able to hear from me? ~ “Teenagers and Their Babies” Ida Gardone, Linda Gilkerson & Nick Wechsler

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 24 Knowing YOURSELF Ask yourself these questions… About your life story: –Do I have children of my own? –Are there other children in my life that I have relationships with? ~ “Teenagers and Their Babies” Ida Gardone, Linda Gilkerson & Nick Wechsler

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 25 Knowing YOURSELF Ask yourself these questions… About the people in your life: –How do my family, friends, and colleagues help me define myself? –Who or what are the special strengths in my life? ~ “Teenagers and Their Babies” Ida Gardone, Linda Gilkerson & Nick Wechsler

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 26 Knowing the TEEN Just as you seek to know yourself, you must also seek to know the teen parents with whom you are partnering.

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 27 Knowing the TEEN Three important aspects of the teen’s life to keep in mind as you get to know him or her: 1)The thinking process they use to think about their life 2)Their usual mood 3)Their receptivity to intervention: the desire to learn from or be guided by you or to guard their autonomy (either one is normal for a developing teen) ~ “Teenagers and Their Babies” Ida Gardone, Linda Gilkerson & Nick Wechsler

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 28 Knowing the TEEN Ask these questions… Regarding how they think: –What can you tell me about yourself? –What do you see yourself doing in a few years? –How has life changed since you became a parent? –What do you think makes a good mother/father? –What have you learned about your child so far? ~ “Teenagers and Their Babies” Ida Gardone, Linda Gilkerson & Nick Wechsler

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 29 Knowing the TEEN Ask these questions… Regarding how they feel: –When you looked in the mirror this morning what did your face tell you about how you’re feeling today? –Is this usually what your face tells you when you look in the mirror or was it different today than most other days? –Let’s see if you can help me understand where that feeling is coming from. ~ “Teenagers and Their Babies” Ida Gardone, Linda Gilkerson & Nick Wechsler

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 30 Partnering with Teen Parents What are some effective strategies you can use to partner with pregnant and parenting teens?

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 31 Partnering with Teen Parents Strategies Chit Chat Persistence Creativity Let the teen teach you Listen, listen and listen some more Use your co-workers Try and try again

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 32 Partnering with teens Don’t forget about the teen dads!

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 33 Partnering with Teen Parents What are some effective strategies you can use to partner teen dads?

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 34 Partnering with Teen Dads Strategies When possible, include more male teachers, volunteers and home visitors to help teen fathers feel more comfortable and to serve as effective role models Engage fathers in conversations about their children Plan programs of interest to BOTH teen parents—mothers and fathers Provide specialized staff development to help staff understand gender differences in communication and parenting styles Communicate to fathers the importance of their role in their child’s health and development

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 35 Partnering with Multigenerational Families According to the United States Census Bureau, Multigenerational family households are defined as households that consist of "three or more generations of parents and their families.” These types of living situations span all races and ethnicities.

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 36 Partnering with Multigenerational Families What are some effective strategies you can use to partner with multigenerational families?

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 37 Partnering with Multigenerational Families Strategies Gain an understanding of the role each family member plays within the family Develop professional relationships with all members of the family

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 38 Let’s sum it up… Knowledge of adolescent development is at the base of our work with teen parents Developing trusting relationships and establishing key boundaries is essential In order to do this work, you must engage in self reflection There are specific strategies you can use to partner with teen parents and their families

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 39 When you hang up the phone… Here are some things to consider: How do your experiences affect your work with teens? What drives your passion for this work? Are you seeking and receiving the support you need in order to effectively serve teen families?

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 40 Final Thought…. We change through our work with teens, and they change as they work with us. We are both in the process of becoming. ~ “Teenagers and Their Babies” Ida Gardone, Linda Gilkerson & Nick Wechsler

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 41 The Arizona Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Office and STG International thank you for joining our webinar today! Please continue to join the 2010 Summer Webinar Series occurring every Tuesday and Thursday during the months of June and July at 3:00 Pacific Daylight Time. Please contact Mary Kramer Reinwasser at for more information. 41

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for Arizona A member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network 42 Any Questions?