Support Systems
Through collaboration with adolescent parents the following areas were
identified as needs (Carrington, Loftman, Boucher, Irish, Piniaz, and Mitchell,
1994, p.315; Burke and Liston, 1994, p. 594)
Assistance for continuing education
Emotional support
Financial support (transportation, child care supplies, a place to live)
Job training
Health services for mother and child, including birth control
Child care services
Positive identity development
Receive positive rewards for achievement
Constructive guidance from caring, functioning adults
Most teens identified 3 main sources of social support (Burke and Liston,
1994, p. 594):
the teen's mother
the baby's father
peer group of baby's parents
"The reward for an adolescent mother is approval from family and friends
as well as improved family functioning" (Records, 1994, p. 792). Families
exhibit a wide range of responses, and the degree of cohesiveness and acceptance
of the pregnancy will affect the amount of support given to the teen by
their parents. The degree of peer support depends on the prevalence and
acceptance of teen parents in that reference group (Records, 1994, p. 792).
Involving the maternal grandmother of the baby in their daughter's pregnancy
is vital. The TAM-GM (Teenage Mothers-Grandmothers Program) helps grandmothers
understand their daughter's pregnancy and facilitates communication, especially
concerning sexuality and return to school. "The program allowed the grandmothers
to confront their own anger and disappointment, which allowed them to feel
better and help their daughters in more beneficial ways" (Roye and Balk,
1996, p.34 & 39). |
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