This document summarizes research and a program proposal to prevent teenage pregnancy in Clark County. Interns interviewed local teenage parents to understand their needs and experiences. They found key needs were safer sex education, support groups, career guidance, and help with continuing education and accessing resources. The interns then collaborated with staff to develop a comprehensive self-esteem initiative for at-risk youth. The initiative focuses on youth development through six pillars of self-esteem. It aims to empower young adults to avoid unintended pregnancy and rely less on social programs by taking control of their futures. The proposal was well-received and the program is set to begin in October.

1. Teenage Pregnancy
Prevention
through
Opportunities for
Individual Change
Hagen Center for Civic &
Urban Engagement:
Summer 2014 Internship
Research and Program Proposal prepared by:
Maggie K. Kramer, Wittenberg University ‘15
Nicole Waers, Wittenberg University ‘15

2. WHAT WE WERE
ASKED TO DO
 Prevent pregnancy
 Develop a
comprehensive plan
 Consolidate
programming

3. Current Situation
 National trends--- on the decline
 Yet, Clark County ranks #2 out of 88
 OIC Clark County
 Approximately 20 LOC Students each
semester are teenage parents

4. Comprehensive Plan
 Youth development
 Male targeted programing
 Family involvement
 Community collaboration
 Improved college preparation and
employment opportunities

5. Consolidate Programming
 Community resources
 Community Health Foundation
 Oesterlen Services for Youth, Inc.
 Wittenberg University
 OIC resources
 Programs, classes, projects
 Where is the connection?

6. HOW WE WENT
ABOUT IT
 Mentors
 Research
 Collaboration with staff

7. Mentors
 Dr. Warren Copeland
 HOPE
 Stephanie McCuistion
 ENGAGEMENT
 Dr. Mary Jo Zembar
 CONVERSATION

8. Going Forward…Research
 Interviewing LOC teenage parent alumni
 About…
 Life Skills
 Education
 Career
 And, experience at LOC

9. Why?

10. What did we ask?
 Life skills
 “In school, did you ever take financial planning or home ec?”
 “How comfortable are you with the activities we’ve mentioned (i.e.
paying bills, budgeting for grocery shopping, etc.)”
 “What surprises in terms of raising a child have you experienced?”
 “What help do you wish you had in thinking about these surprises?”
 Higher education
 “What did you know about applying to schools? /What kind of help did
you have?”
 “What kinds of sex education information (abstinence, contraceptives,
service learning, etc.) were available to you, and at what age/grade?”
 “Did you plan to have a baby?”
 “Did you view having a baby as expensive?”
 Career
 “Before your pregnancy, what did you want to be after graduating from
high school (and/or college)?”
 “In school, were you given information about employment opportunities?”
 “Did you ever think about going to a Vocational School like CTC? What
jobs would you like to have known, or know, more about?”
 “What jobs do you currently feel qualified for?”

11. Quick Demographics
 18 Participants
 Age =18-26
 Female = 15
 Male = 3
 Single and married

12. What we found…
 Teenage parents talk a lot about…
 Safer sex
 Support groups
 Finding the right job
 Continuing education
 Connecting to resources

13. Collaboration with Staff
 How could we meet these needs?
 Jenni Shaffer
 The Community Health Resource Book!
 Angie Maroney
 Financial Planning
 Vince Harshaw
 Career Opportunities
 Georgia Wilson
 Support

14. What we
wanted:
• HOPE
• ENGAGEMENT
• CONVERSATION
• Surrounding the needs of
at-risk youth and young
adults

15. Self-Esteem Series
A Youth Development Initiative
o The 6 Pillars of Self-Esteem
1. Living Consciously
2. Self-Acceptance
3. Self-Responsibility
4. Self-Assertiveness
5. Living Purposefully
6. Integrity

16. Connected the Pillars to..
o The community members
o The resources
o The mission:
To empower Clark County young adults to take control of their
individual futures in order to avoid the generational problem of
becoming a parent at a young age, before being emotionally
and financially prepared to support a family, without needing
to rely on federally or state-funded social programming

17. Developing the blueprint…
 What will it look like?

18. Takeaways
 Program proposal
 Empowerment
 Development
 Hope
 Positive response!
 Beginning in October

19. THANK YOU!