Teen pregnancy is most often unintended. When it happens, the consequences effect hundreds of lives: the teen mother, her children and grandchildren, and her fellow family and community members.
Without support, she and her children will most likely start or perpetuate a cycle of poverty, educational failure, sexually transmitted disease and broken, non-functioning families that will have a lasting effect on them and the community.
With the help of volunteers, the Catholic Social Service Teen Moms Program works to change these odds by giving young mothers the support and incentives they need to become self-sufficient and nurturing parents.
She is one of three-quarter of a million teens between 15-19 who become pregnant each year in the U.S. According to UNICEF, this was the highest birth rate in the developed world in 2001. Two-thirds of teen pregnancies occur among teens 18-19 years old. All together, teen mothers account for 11% of births in the U.S.
There's a 30% chance that she will choose to end the pregnancy with abortion. On the other hand, there's a 57% chance that her pregnancy will end in birth, and a 14% chance that it will end in miscarriage.
Throughout the day, she tries to juggle multiple roles: teenager, mother, student, employee.
She's less likely to attend college. She may feel a sense of worth and accomplishment because she had a baby. The less education she has, the more likely she will have a second child within 24 months. She doesn't have very clear expectations of her child. Her child is more likely to live in poverty. Her child is more likely to not do well in school. Her daughter is more likely to become a teen mother also. Her son is more likely to serve time in prison. She will be determined to "keep" her child. She experiences great mood swings. She is in desperate need of Christ's love.
In Southwest Kansas
Between 1980 and 1990, teen pregnancies increased 14% nationally, 40% in Kansas, and over 80% in one southwest Kansas county. In 1994, the state of Kansas had the highest teen pregnancy rates in the nation, and four of the twenty-eight southwest Kansas counties were in the top six counties for teen pregnancy. Of the 105 counties in Kansas, Ford, Finney and Seward were consistently among the top five in teen pregnancy rates per 1000 between the ages of 10 and 19.
Today, Kansas no longer has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates. Still, when teen pregnancy does occur, the Catholic Social Service Teen Moms Program is committed to helping that teen mother to be a strong, successful and self-sufficient parent for herself and her child.
2. The Teen Mom Program
The Teen Moms program is for women between the ages of 13 and 23 who have chosen to parent their child, but who have not yet obtained their high school diploma, or who are transitioning from high school to full time employment, college course work, or technical/certificate programs. In return for their efforts to postpone subsequent pregnancies and be engaged full-time in school and/or employment, the women in the program receive support from one-on-one visits, Discovery Workshops, Mentors, and referrals as appropriate.
The Teen Moms Program is based on the Teen Mother Choices Model that was started by Christa March. Below, Christa shares a brief explanation of how this ministry began.
The Teen Moms Program targets all five life roles in its ministry to teenage mothers:
Teenager – We begin with the understanding that a teenage mother thinks and acts like a teenager. Mother – We know that she wants to be a good mother. We also understand that she does not have the knowledge and resources, yet, to make that happen. Student – She may or may not be a high school student, but she is always a student of life. Employee – We know she needs to find some way of supporting herself and her child in the future. Seeker – She is a human being in search of meaning, faith, love, and understanding.
3. Taking the Next Step . . . for Teen Moms and Volunteers
For Teen Moms:
If You are a single mother between the ages of 13 and 23, and interested in setting and achieving goals, the Catholic Social Service Teen Moms Program includes a traditional on-site program, and some off-site outreach services.
The On-Site Program:
Teen mothers receiving assistance from the Teen Moms Program must be willing to…
-- Attend school/work full time. -- Maintain at least a “C” in all classes. -- Delay a subsequent pregnancy. -- Attend weekly Discovery workshops.
Teen mothers work on individual goals and can earn incentives for meeting these goals. They also earn Teen Moms Bucks weekly which they can spend in our “store” to purchase diapers, clothes, wipes, bathing items, books, movies, etc.
The Discovery Workshops for the traditional program are held every Wednesday from September through May from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Room 22 at Newman University in Dodge City. If you would like more information or an application, please contact Amy Falcon or Maria Gutierrez at 620-227-1562.
Second Opportunity School (SOS)Catholic Social Service has been able to provide an outreach service to the Second Opportunity School (SOS) for the last two years. The coordinator goes to the SOS building twice per month and holds Discovery Workshops for the teenage mothers that are attending alternative school. They are also able to earn Teen Moms Bucks to use in our store. They are provided with information about the on-site program at Catholic Social Service. Several teen mothers have become enrolled in the on-site program at Catholic Social Service after being introduced to it at SOS. This program has become a very supportive environment for the young mothers who attend.
The Discovery Workshops for the SOS program are held at 9:00 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month and at 1:00 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the SOS building at 200 Comanche, Dodge City. If you would like more information, please contact Mrs. Mendoza in the counselor's office at 620-227-1617. You can also email Amy Falcon and Maria Gutierrez, or call them at 620-227-1562.
Dodge City High School- Catholic Social Service also provides outreach services similar to the services provided at SOS, to the Dodge City High School . The coordinator provides the parenting students with Discovery Workshops during their opportunity period twice per month. They are also able to earn Teen Moms Bucks to use in our store and are given information about the on-site Teen Moms Program offered at Catholic Social Service.
The Discovery Workshops for the high school program are held during opportunity period (OP) on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Dodge City High School at 2201 Ross Blvd., Dodge City. If you would like more information, please contact Mrs. Miller in the counselor's office, 620-227-1611 or Amy Falcon or Maria Gutierrez at 620-227-1562.
For Volunteers:
Catholic Social Service is always looking for volunteers to help with the Teen Moms program. If you can help with one of the opportunities below,please click here to fill out a volunteer form, or call Amy Falcon or Maria Guteriez at 620-227-1562.
Meal providers are needed for the Teen Moms program on Wednesday evenings, beginning in the month of September and ending in May.This is a wonderful ministry for whole families to be involved in. Volunteers who sign up for this ministry should plan to provide a meal for 20 people, and bring it to Room 22 at Newman University in Dodge City by 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday evening; you are invited to stay and eat with us. Teen Mom Staff will take care of drinks, table service and clean up. To sign up for this volunteer opportunity, please call Amy Falcon or Maria Gutierrez at 620-227-1562.
Mentors are a vital part of the Teen Moms program. A mentor is a woman who makes a one-year commitment (approximately 10 hours a month) to befriend one of the young women in the Teen Moms program, and to help her be successful in meeting her goals. Mentors help teen moms to overcome the odds; it's an opportunity to really make a difference in a young mother's life.
Discovery workshop teachers share knowledge about a particular skill.
Carpenter/Handyman Wanted!The Catholic Social Service office in Dodge City sits on a large and unfinished basement. We are looking for a carpenter/handyman who can finish the flooring, walls and ceiling of this basement so that it can be used for the Teen Moms program and store, for counseling sessions, and for some of our other programs and services.
