The MISSION

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The MISSION
Create a SUCCESSFUL GRADS Program
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The MISSION is NOT IMPOSSIBLE, but it does have
CHALLENGES
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THE TEENAGE PARENT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, JUST
LIKE THEIR BABY
Hobbs GRADS
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FACT - Brain Development IS NOT COMPLETE until
about age 25
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• Only the time from CONCEPTION to THREE YEARS
• of age is as important to BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
• as that which takes place
  during
• ADOLESCENCE
• IMPORTANT VITAL CONNECTIONS
• During the former AGE the CONNECTIONS are
• made to ensure motor and body function.
  During ADOLESCENCE the CONNECTIONS are made
• (or NOT made) for Higher Order
  Thinking,
• Vital for humans to
  enter
• Responsible Adulthood

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CHARACTERISTICS of ALL Adolescents

• They want FREEDOM and REBEL against AUTHORITY
• Demonstrate mature behavior one minute and act
  like a child the next
• Need desperately to be loved and affirmed on
  their journey to self discovery
• Are disengaging from parents and attaching to
  peers
• Sporadically show initiative, self-reliance,
  responsibility and follow-through

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CHARACTERISTICS of ALL Adolescents

• Are processing and linking what they CAN DO now,
  with what they MIGHT DO later
• Seeking occupational identity, a FUTURE
• Are high risk takers
• Think they are INVINCIBLE!!

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Profile of a Teen Parent
(As identified by Catherine Chilman, Adolescent
Sexuality In A Changing American Society)
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Their lives are almost always filled withSTORM
CLOUDS
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Profile of a Teen Parent

• Usually have very low Self Esteem
• Often have been Abused and or Neglected
• Live at or below the Poverty Level
• Come from a FATHER ABSENT home
• Mother, sisters, friends who were or are teen moms

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• Fairly accepting of Illegitimacy
• Hold Traditional Gender-Role
• Attitudes
• Less accepting of Social Norms
• Over 91 hope to marry some day but are very
  distrustful of marriage WHY????

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• Are highly fertile and lack access to
  contraception services
• Are unable to process and OR access information
• Have a decreasing grade-point average

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• Not connected to extracurricular school, church
  or community activities
• Have more school absenteeism and suspensions
• Are unable to articulate their educational goals

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• Unable to project events into the future
• Little employment experience or job success
• Partners have little education, are unemployed,
  or incarcerated
• THEY ARE IN DISTRESS

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Why does she look so ANGRY?
Emotionally Physically Mentally Socially Intellect
ually
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SERENDIPIDOUS TEACHABLE MOMENTS

• Learn your students CIRCUMSTANCES
• Anticipate those eminent situations especially
  their RELATIONSHIP challenges
• Parents
• Partners
• Friends
• Be prepared for these teachable times

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• All it takes for a teen to overcome life
  limiting obstacles Is
• ONE CARING ADULT