Partnership In Prevention

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

Catawba County Social Services’ Prevention Unit serves area middle and high schools with the TEEN Up program, The main purpose of this program is poverty reduction/prevention by way of drop out and pregnancy prevention. Social workers provide students with information and education on the impact of sex and the prevention of teen pregnancy in small group settings. Students who begin the program as 7th or 8th graders are followed from middle school through high school. TEEN Up serves approximately 400 male and female students annually. Child Support has partnered with the TEEN Up program to provide information to students regarding the financial implications of teen pregnancy as well as the reality of government assistance and child support. A child support member attends a group session and asks students how much they spend on their “needs” each month; cell phone costs, clothes, entertainment, and food. As the conversation continues, discussion is held regarding the benefits available from the government. The attitudes of the teens imply that if they get pregnant they will be able to get all of these services, just like their parents did. This misinformed attitude tends to evolve into a cycle of behavior and a sense of entitlement. An important byproduct of this discussion is that the myths attached to being able to “live off” of government assistance are dispelled. The purpose of this partnership is to empower teens with information regarding the financial realities of teen pregnancy. Its success is three-fold: to help in preventing teen pregnancy, spark discussion among these teens and their peers regarding responsibilities of providing financial support for children and dispel myths about government benefit programs. In short, help change the culture of those most at risk to repeat making potentially negative life decisions.