MENTORING PARTNERSHIP ADDS PROGRAM FOR TEEN PARENTS

A new program seeks a few good parents to help pregnant teens learn skills they need to be self sufficient.

The new Teen Parents Program is part of the Missouri Mentoring Partnership, a work-site training program that helps at-risk youth find work and keep the jobs. Teen-agers are matched with mentors on the job.

The Missouri Department of Social Services asked partnerships across the state to develop similar mentoring programs to help teen parents. Cape Girardeau's is among the first to begin.

"A lot of girls we're seeing don't have basic life skills," said Marge Sullivan, coordinator of Missouri Mentoring Partnership. "They don't know how to bargain shop. They don't know how to make a grocery list or do laundry. They don't know what questions they should ask about their pregnancy."

A group of pregnant teens has been identified. More are being added through referrals from Division of Family Services or Division of Youth Services or other agencies that work with young people.

"Now we are looking for community volunteers to give support and guidance to these pregnant teens and teen moms," Sullivan said.

Stacy Taylor, associate coordinator for Teen Parents, explained that the teens are interviewed by Missouri Mentoring staff before being placed with a mentor.

"We will get to know them a little,' she said. "We will match the girls with a mentor who shares similar interests."

They are looking for mentors from varying backgrounds, not from any specific education level or income level. "The main thing is they care and want to spend some time with these girls," Taylor said.

Sullivan said, "A mentor needs a good caring heart, a good pair of ears, the ability to listen and compassion."

Mentors are asked to stay with the teen through the baby's first birthday.

Mentors will be trained and are asked to spend a minimum of six hours a month with the teen.

Two hours will be spent in a support group meeting. Speakers will discuss topics like health and child care.

"It also gives the girls an opportunity to talk to girls in similar situations," Taylor said.

The mentor and teen can choose how to spend the other four hours.

"It could be a phone call, a walk in the park, going out to lunch, going grocery shopping," said Sullivan.

The program is open to teens of both sexes. "If there are guys out there who would like to be part of this, we would wholeheartedly welcome them," Sullivan said.

Family members are also welcome to participate.

The first support group meeting is being planned as a field trip.

"We will take the girls bargain shopping," Taylor said. "If the weather is nice, we will go garage sale-ing. Otherwise we will go to re-sale shops and other retailers to show the girls how to comparison shop for the best prices on diapers and formula and other things they need."

The Missouri Mentoring Partnership, housed at the Southeast Missouri Private Industry Council, is funded through the Department of Social Services.

"The goal of the work-site program has always been self sufficiency," Sullivan explained. "We combine education and employment skills to give people a chance to provide for themselves."

The teen parents program offers support for girls until they complete school or begin work.

Some teens may participate in both the Teen Parents Program and the work-site program.

"A girl might have a mom mentor and a work-site mentor," Sullivan said.

The goal of both programs is to prepare young people for a lifetime of self sufficiency.

Sullivan and Taylor have been working with other social service agencies in the community. "We are networking extensively so we compliment rather than duplicate," Sullivan said.

For information about becoming a mentor, call Taylor at (573) 334-0990, extension 33.