FSU Young Parents Project
  • FSU Young Parents Project
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FSU Young Parents Project

The Florida State University (FSU) Young Parents Project is an intensive, home visiting program that addresses the complex needs of court-involved pregnant and parenting teens and their young children. These teens have extensive trauma histories, deeply embedded in under-resourced communities. Most have experienced victimization due to violence, sexual abuse, and exploitation. The high prevalence of complex trauma for these young parents impedes not only their ability to follow-through with positive life choices, but also impacts the relationships they have with their children.

The FSU Young Parents Project is unique, as there are no other programs in the state that specifically target this population of female youth. It addresses the teen's right to parent with support, safety, and dignity. The project was initiated in 2005 and evolved into an interdisciplinary home visiting model that includes a Social Worker, Infant Mental Health Specialist, and Nurse Educator.


Currently the FSU Young Parents Project serves seven counties including Miami-Dade, parts of Broward, as well as Leon County and surrounding rural areas. Referrals for the program are initiated through juvenile court judges, Juvenile Probation Officers, and other community service providers. The criteria for participation in the program include youth who:

  • have entered the delinquency system;

  • are pregnant/parenting (ages 13-18 at the time of intake);

  • have custody or visitation privileges with their child.
The project is an investment in the future of some of the most at-risk families and aims to address systemic barriers and the intergenerational cycle of teen parenting, trauma, violence, and involvement with the courts. The FSU Young Parents Project can transform the lives of these young mothers and children through supportive relationships, advocacy and parenting education, as well as providing the trauma-informed intervention necessary to promote healthier, happier young families.