Maryann Mori gave a really informative session on working with pregnant and parenting teens. Teen parents often have a lot of needs: they need help with education, jobs, entertainment & social outlets, parenting skills, referral to services, and simply finding an adult to trust. Libraries have a LOT to offer to help meet these needs, but teen parents and their advocates need to know what we can do for them. Publicizing your resources and making community connections are vital.
Maryann shared a model of how the Every Child Ready to Read program can be adapted to serve teen parents and their little ones, by strengthening the teens’ parenting skills, encouraging them to read with their children, and boosting their understanding of child development and early literacy. Teen parents who participate in this kind of program are much more likely to continue using early literacy practices with their little ones, to improve their own reading skills, and to graduate from high school. The teens, the children, and the community all benefit.