A Focus on the Future for Teen parents and their Children

YES YOU CAN!

Nancy E. Fay & Dawn R. Mehan

In cooperation with Cheryl Jurgens & Molly Mrozowski for Hamilton East Public Library

• Only 30 percent will receive a high school diploma or GED

• Only 1.5 percent has a college education by age of 30

• 80 percent will end up on welfare

Teenage Moms

Their Children

• On average born prematurely and with lower birth weight

• Suffer more health problems

• Perform poorly in school

• At greater risk of abuse and neglect

• Sons are 13 percent more likely to end up in prison

• Daughters are 22 percent more likely to become teen mothers

• 5 times more likely to be on welfare

Hamilton County is one of the fastest growing in the nation with a 625% increase in population

1960 = 40,132 2000 = 182,7402006 = 250,979

24.8%

25.6%

29.2%

32.0%

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

1960 2000 2006

HamiltonCountyPopulationGrowth

32% of the population of Fishers and Noblesville is under the age of 18 6.4% higher than the state of Indiana = 6,313,520 children

7.2% higher than the USA as a whole

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

USAIndianaHamilton County

Fishers/Noblesville

= 6,313,520

= 35,698

2005-2006 estimates, http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/

The structural nature of human capital and its relationship with poverty

Human capital as structural vulnerability of US, Equal Opportunities International http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/02610150710726516

Self-Esteem

Distress

Dissatisfaction

Conflict Unhappiness

Child’s Education

Economic hardship is particularly problematic when it is of long duration or when it occurs during adolescence.Juliana M. Sobolewski and Paul R. Amato University of Notre Dame, Pennsylvania State University

In a nutshell

Education and Economic Factors Influence Future Well-being

. . . and higher poverty rates burden the economy

• Employment discrimination persists among women and non-whites, particularly those with young children.

• Despite their capabilities, women are considered less desirable employees because of discrimination grounded in social stigma regarding female employees, such as child-care and child-bearing.

• Education, training, and health are linked to poverty, especially for individuals who have been trapped in poverty during their formative years.

• At best, many are trapped in a cycle of unemployment or underemployment, and more likely to live in poverty.

Hamilton East Public Library service to youth

Youth programs have always been offered for ages newborn to 6 years of age

Number of cardholders under 18 years of age = 21,818

Programming for traditional and home school families kindergarten - 4th grade The big push in teen programs has been in the last 2.5 years So far, a specific program has not been offered for teen parents and their

children

currently offers

Teens • Materials written by and for teens • Reference assistance• Privacy• Comfortable furniture • Snack machines • Display space to exhibit art• Monthly program offerings• Online databases• Computer classes

Literacy Programs for all ages

Children•Nursery time and toddler time•Story time•School age programs•Create-a-Story and Craft-a-Story•Summer reading program

Constancy of Purpose

Hamilton East Public Library recognizes the need to address social issues currently facing teen parents and their children.

Libraries are uniquely positioned to offer

the excellent, accessible services necessary to help these families achieve their objectives and

break the cycle of low literacy and poverty.

Based on information obtained through research and community interviews, we are proposing an initiative to

focus on teen parents, their children, and indirectly, other teens and pre-teens.

Mission

To assist teen parents and their children in their quest to achieve their potential through knowledge

• Safety and security• Functionality• Pleasantness• Excellent customer service• Diversity• Accessibility• Excellence and Innovation• Integrity and Respect• Empowerment

Values

Vision for the Future

• The community participates and teenage parents are empowered

• Patrons are satisfied with services and opportunities for input and volunteerism.

• The facility is clean, safe, comfortable and well-suited to its purpose

• Efficient processes allow us to provide quality services by retaining valuable employees.

• The Library and community share enthusiasm and clear communication.

• Members of our expanding community are aware of and sensitive to cultural diversity

• The program is sustainable, viable, and recognized as a valuable asset to the community.

Community Partners

extended families other teens organizations community

Benefit teen parents education career economy

children futures city county state nation

Bob Bragg, Director of Juvenile ProbationInsight into behavior that gets teens into difficulty, counseling & recommendations;

provides services - refers offenders to appropriate programs to support rehabilitation.

Loretta Boor-Sutherland, Prevail Victim awareness, support programs, safe-place, offer services in a supportive, non-judgmental environment

Sherry Skelton, Healthy Families Child health & development, psychology, diversified, work with families as a whole; offer resources & refer to other sources.

High School CounselorsHelp students to understand & deal with social, behavioral, personal problems; advocate for students, work with other individuals & organizations to promote student’s development.

Partners recommended by community leaders

Measures This section includes information on how to measures success of future programs, using the Balanced Scorecard method. The Balanced scorecard is a performance management system used worldwide to translate strategies into tangible objectives and measures. This enables the Library to assess itself as well as plan for the future.

Teen Parents will have access to quality programming

Objectives Measures Financial 1 - Donations of door prizes and

refreshments 2 - Dollar value of contributions in volunteer time

1 – log value of items and calculate saving 2 – log volunteer time and make calculations

Customer 1 -Teen parent’s attendance of programs 2 -Teen parent’s satisfaction with programs

1 – count attendees 2 - survey

Learning 1 -Staff incorporates information learned into other programming 2 -Teen parents incorporate information learned into daily life

1 – observation 2 - survey

Processes 1 -Present the Program 1 – incorporate a ‘plus and delta’ system at the end of program

Financial “How do we

appear to our

stakeholders?

Processes How well are our processes performing?

Learning/Growth How well are we sustaining our ability to

change/improve?

Customer “How do we

appear to our

customers?

Mission Vision Values

Education - Career - Lifestyle - Social Issues - Raising Healthy Children Recreational Outlets - Community Resource

Key Messages and Promotional Channels

YES YOU CAN!Realize Your Creativity & Encourage Your Baby’s

Be Yourself…and a Great Parent TooMake Connections - Discover New Friends

Dare To Dream - Focus on the FutureFinancial Experts share their Secrets…for free!

Friendly Professional and Technical Staff------------

Books, and So Much More

Meet you at the Hamilton East Public Library!

Marketing

Networking Partners

LibraryKey success

factors

Services response

Teen Parents and Children

YES WE CAN! A community focused on assistance to teen parents

and their children in their questto achieve their potential through knowledge.

Special thanks to community leaders for their contribution:

Debbie Driskell, Delaware Township Trustee Jan McCrory, Assistant Delaware Township TrusteeAnne Kenley, Director of Guidance, grades 9-12, Noblesville SchoolsMarli Howell, Director of Programs, Hamilton Centers Youth Service Bureau