Family Support

Teen Parent Support Program

Seattle’s Teen Parent Support Program is offered at four Seattle family centers to meet specific challenges faced by pregnant and teen parents. These challenges include remaining in school and improving academic achievement, keeping their children in good health, providing a safe and secure environment for themselves and for their children, and providing for their basic needs.

The Southwest Family Center Teen Parent Program offers comprehensive teen parent support services including an on-site GED Program and a full-time advocate who provides teens intense case management services.

The Rainier Beach, FamilyWorks and North Seattle family centers provide weekly parent support groups. Agency staff members collaborate with other community teen parent programs to provide a stronger support system.

This program primarily serves teen parents who are 15 to 21 years old and who had their first child when they were 15, 16 or 17 years old.

Activities and support for teen parents include:

• Weekly support groups
• Outings and field trips
• On-site child care while attending parenting classes and groups
• One-on-one advocacy to help with housing, education, work, health, relationships and personal goals
• Access to family center activities and resources

Many participants earn their GED certificate or make academic progress toward graduation, learn about child development and behavior and are able to increase their social support network.

Funding allocations to the nonprofit, community-based organizations providing teen parent services are determined through a competitive process that is conducted by the Seattle Human Services Department at least once every four years. Continued funding during funding cycles depends upon program performance and funding availability. The current funding cycle ends on December 31, 2011. In 2008, the funding allocation for teen parent support programs is approximately $135,512.

2008 Funded Agencies and Programs

• FamilyWorks Resource Center Teen Parent Program
• North Seattle Family Center Teen Parent Program, 206-364-7930
• Rainier Beach Family Center “Teens As Parent Program”
• Southwest Family Center Teen Parent Program

Information

For more information about these programs and Seattle Human Services Department-funded services for children and families, call 206-684-8852 or e-mail childrenandfamilies@seattle.gov.

For information about our partners and related programs, contact the agencies listed above or the 2-1-1 Community Information Line by dialing 211 or 1-800-621-4636.

Links

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