The relationship between supportive services and the school's responsibility to provide these services to the teenage mother

This study examined the educational and supportive services outside and in the school available to the young mothers in a Chicago Public High School Alternative program in order to determine its effectiveness and make recommendations for helping the young mother obtain her education and learn skills needed for self-sufficiency. There were three parts to this study: (a) the evaluation of the program, (b) evaluation of the factors that are internal and external to the programs that facilitate and/or hinder use of available services, and (c) consideration of, how the program might be improved and better lined to other community agencies and service providers to offer a firmer network of support to assist teenage mothers attain their educational and career training goals.To evaluate the current programs and services, data from school records were examined and a survey given to parenting and pregnant mothers to assess how many services were or had been utilized. Case studies were also developed to determine problems and barriers in obtaining or the utilization of the services. The findings concluded that many available services were not used because many of the students were too busy with problems associated with child rearing to pursue self help groups. Fragmentation and lack or coordination among services was omnipresent; thereby leaving students without the proper guidance in obtaining the services. The curriculum was found to enable the students to meet the requirements for a diploma, but did not offer much in the way of the vocational courses to prepare students for employment. Child care was the major problem faced by students followed by problems associated with child rearing (doctors appointments, children's illness) complicating completion of school and job training.The school is a vital link in the provision and implementation of programs and policies to help retain and support the pregnant and parenting mother to achieve and develop skills required for self-sufficiency, while at the same time teaching them to make responsible choices and solve problems. Schools cannot take an ambivalent stance, but must be proactive offering a host of comprehensive services.U of I OnlyETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissio