Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Various Locations

Submitted by Linda Tailleart on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 3:29pm

LOCATION

4747 N. 7th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85013
See map: Google Maps

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Fingerprint/background clearance is required.

Educator's fingerprint card.  The fee is $65 and it takes five to eight weeks to process. The student should be able to start some orientation and training before the card comes back.  This card is required for any type of work with children under the age of 18.

SCHEDULE OPTIONS

Semester availability

Fall
Spring

Service hours

Morning
Afternoon

Available days/hours

If interns take on the program as a whole it will require about 5-9 hours per student session: 1-2 hours for preparation, Friday afternoon class session 2-3 hours, Monday morning class session 1-2 hours, 1-2 organizing folders, data recording and copying.  With two or more interns, these duties can be split up, as long as there are at least 2 individuals present during the Friday and Monday sessions.  The sessions will be targeted for Friday afternoons and Monday mornings so the student can experience the infant simulator over a weekend.  However, flexibility is needed as to accomodate the school/youth serving organization's schedule.

REQUIRED/DESIRED SKILLS

  • Enjoy interacting with teens and engaging them in program material.
  • Interns must be comfortable in discussing teen pregnancy, parenting and the benefits of abstinence.

CATEGORIES

Education
Health Services
Mentoring
Social Services
Youth (direct interaction)
Youth III: 11-14 years (6th-9th grades)
Youth IV: 14-18 years (high school)

COMMUNITY PARTNER

Catholic Charities Community Services

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP

Duties

Interns would help schedule and implement the Baby…Ready or Not program in Maricopa County middle and high schools, youth serving organizations and faith-based communities. Baby…Ready or Not, is a program of Catholic Charities’ North Star Youth Partnership that helps teens experience the realities of parenting at an early age and the commitment needed to care for a baby. North Star provides a variety of youth development programs for teens in Maricopa and Yavapai Counties. 

Interns would engage teens in discussion as addressed via curriculum and  program guidelines, about raising a safe and healthy baby, explaining the risks and statistics of teen pregnancy, costs of having a baby and the realities of teen parenting.  Interns would also instruct teens in the use of infant simulators which are sent home with teens for a weekend.

  • Recruit school/youth serving organizations to participate in program
  • Organize infant simulators, folders and equipment needed for 20+ students for each Baby…Ready or Not session.
  • Train students how to use manikin infant simulators, record baby schedule and care, journaling and completing surveys.
  • Debrief students after their weekend parenting experience and check in the baby simulators.
  • Transport infant simulators to and from schools and Catholic Charities.
  • Prepare summary of student’s experience for site specific administrators.
  • Record date and make copies for site specific administrators.

Population served

We will target teens in public, private and charter schools as well as youth serving organizations and faith-based communities.  The program will help teens answer the questions “Is it hard to take care of a baby?”  “How would having a baby affect my life?”  Given the high teen pregnancy rates in Maricopa County, the program is vital to helping teens understand that parenting is a 24/7 responsibility.

Community need/impact

In 2010, Maricopa County had 5,342 births to teenagers, ages 15-19; 69 babies were born to those 15 and younger; 1,654 were born to 15-17 year olds; and 3,619 were born to those 18-19 years.   The Baby…Ready or Not program will target youth in schools, youth serving organizations and faith communities. The program will help teens experience the realities of parenting and help them understand how having a baby as a teen would affect their life.  

Interns would be helping teens get a first-hand look at the emotional and social effects of parenting at an early age. Each student will take home a “life-like” doll that they will care for during the weekend.  They will also be responsible to fill out a baby schedule, journaling and a survey. Parents are also asked to fill out a parent survey.  The following comments show the impact the program has on its participants.

 “It was a LOT harder than I thought it would be and I think it would be extremely difficult to be a teen mom.  I think this is because you barely get any sleep and it’s a really hard responsibility.”

                                                                                                                                     Sarah- age 14

 “The baby simulator had to go everywhere with us which prompted a lot of unwanted attention.  I think it helped my child to realize that she is too young to be a parent.”                 Parent of Participant