This project is the evaluation component of a federally-funded Adolescent Family Life Demonstration Project that is assessing two delivery systems for pregnant and parenting adolescents:
1) an innovative social service model of case management and strong linkage to an array of educational, job training and mental health support services through the LifeWorks’ Teen Parent Services Program (TPS), and
2) an integrated, team-focused multi-agency collaboration approach offering case management, medical care, parent education, and mental health services to teen parents that are coordinated through the Tandem Teen Prenatal & Parenting Program of People’s Community Clinic (the client’s medical home) and with which LifeWorks is a collaboration partner.
Despite the differences between the Tandem and TPS models, both programs are grounded in a youth development framework and both emphasize a comprehensive, individually-tailored approach to case management. Priorities for each client include the development of a long-term, close and sustained relationship with a caring, reliable adult; client-driven goal setting; improved emotional wellness; strengthened social support networks; and progress toward self sufficiency.
Research questions include:
- What are the major differences for teen parents in how services are received from the Tandem as compared to the TPS Program?
- How does dosage of services relate to client outcomes?
- What are the characteristics of fathers who participate in services for teen fathers and/or male partners of teen mothers in the programs?
ARTICLES:
Kulkarni, S.J., Kennedy, A., & Lewis, C.M. (2008, in press). Using a risk and resilience framework and feminist theory to guide social work interventions with adolescent mothers. Families in Society.
Scarborough, M., Lewis C. M., & Kulkarni, S. (2008, in press). Enhancing the Adolescent Brain through Goal Setting Activities: A Practice Update, Social Work.
Thompson, S., Bender, K., Lewis, C. M., & Watkins, R. (2008). Runaway and Pregnant: Factors associated with pregnancy in a national sample of runaway/homeless females, Journal of Adolescent Health, 43(2), 125-132.
Lewis, C. M., Scarborough, M, Rose, C, & Quirin, K. B., (2007). Fighting Stigma: An Adolescent Mother Takes Action, Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 22 (3), 302-306.
Posters and Presentations:
Lewis, C. M., Scarborough, M., Gavin, P., Pierce, A., Rosell, R. (2008, November) A Collaborative Prenatal and Parenting Program. 33rd Annual Conference of Texas Association Concerned with School Age Pregnancy, Austin, Texas.
Lewis, C. M., Scarborough, M. (2008, November). Increasing Engagement in the Evaluation: Incorporating Empowerment Evaluation, Process Evaluation and Process Use in Design. American Evaluation Association 2008 Annual Conference, Denver, Colorado 2008.
Lewis, C. M., Scarborough, M., Garcia, G., Pierce, A., Rosell, R. (2008, May). Collaborative Evaluation Approach Strengthens Programs for Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents. Central Texas Clinical Research Forum. Austin, Texas.
Lewis, C. M., Scarborough, M., Vorhies, V. (2007, May). “Recommendations for Delaying Subsequent Pregnancies Among Adolescent Mothers and Ethical Concerns for Support Services – A Pilot Study,” 50th Anniversary of Wurzweiler School of Social Work – Celebrating a Tradition of Caring: Social Work Practice Yesterday, today and Tomorrow, New York.
Lewis, C. M., Kulkarni, S., Vorhies, V., Scarborough, M. (2007, February). “Relational Health Among Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents Receiving School-Based Support Services – A Pilot Study,” Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, UT Austin School of Nursing, Adolescent Health Conference, Austin, Texas.
Lewis, C. M., Scarborough, M., Rosell, R., Perez, M., & Gavin, P. (2007, January). “Building Collaboration: Engaging Case Managers in the Evaluation Process to Strengthen Partnerships Among Two Teen Parent Support Programs and Research Team,” Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs’ Annual CARE Grant Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Sponsor:
Lifeworks / U.S. Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs