Research

The FSU Young Parents Project's data through the years has demonstrated that the Minding the Baby relationship-based intervention is key to reducing recidivism, preventing subsequent pregnancies, maintaining school enrollment, enhancing the parent/child relationship and improving health outcomes for the participants served.

Multiple Risks

The demographic data below was collected about the 55 teen mothers who participated in the FSU Young Parents Project during 2018. The data was collected at intake through interviews with the teens and clearly reveals a population that has multiple risk factors.

• 56% reported having anywhere from one to five prior arrests; 15% of the teens have extensive histories with five or more prior arrests; of the most recent arrests, 54% consisted of higher-level crimes such as aggravated assault, battery, grand theft, burglary/larceny. The average age of first arrest was 14 years


• 56% reported they had been involved with the child welfare system at some point in their lives


• 13% of project participants were identified as crossover youth and were also in the custody of the Department of Children and Families


• 51% were not enrolled in school at the time of intake


• There were indications that 15% of these youth had been trafficked


• Only one (2%) of the young mothers were receiving traditional home visiting services such a Healthy Start or Healthy Families

Promising Outcomes

Outcome: Reduced recidivism

Of the 55 teens, only seven (13%) had additional law violations during their time in the FSU Young Parents Project. Efforts to reduce recidivism require attention to the challenging circumstances faced by delinquent youth and services that can specifically address their needs.

Outcome: Reduced number of subsequent births

Six (11%) of the young mothers had subsequent pregnancies with five births. National data indicates that 25% of teen parents will have a second child within 24 months of their first baby (The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2002).

Outcome: Increased number of youth continuing their education

There are multiple barriers to enrolling teen mothers in an educational program. The majority of participants are not at an appropriate grade level, and often are more than one grade level behind. Of the 32 program participants in Miami-Dade County, school enrollment increased from 38% to 63% after 3 months in the project. In Circuit 2, with most of the 23 participants from Leon County, there was an increase in school enrollment from 63% to 74% after 3 months. While unique systemic barriers are faced in each location, the FSU Young Parents Project strives to support the parenting student's academic progress. The program is an investment in the future of some of the most at-risk youth 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, and providing the trauma-informed intervention necessary to promote healthier, happier young families.