What does a pregnant teenager do about her education?

What does a pregnant teenager do about her education

when she wants to carry the child to full-term? Statistics show she will likely drop out of school, become an unemployed mother, and need some type of public support. These circumstances can foster a cycle of poverty and dependence that is very difficult to break.

Residents of Columbus, Indiana (pop. 40,000), developed a program intended to prevent those circumstances by allowing pregnant teens and young mothers to continue their education. The Young Mothers Educational Development (Y-MED) program began in 1972. This non-profit organization affiliates itself with the public school system and receives funding from both public and private sources. Y-MED provides education, counseling, child care, and other support services for pregnant adolescents, young parents, and their children.

Connie Whitley, director of the Y-MED program, tells us that, "Any pregnant teen may enter the program, any time during the school year." Students in the Y-MED program can work toward a regular high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). In either case, the program requires three additional courses: Human Development, Child Awareness, and Family Relations. The Y-MED program also tries to match the young mothers and pregnant teens with volunteer mentors from the community.

During academic year 1992-1993, there were 150 students enrolled in the program. Of that total, 73 were pregnant students. Fifty students placed their children in the Y-MED nursery. There were 25 seniors enrolled in the program. Of the 25 seniors, 20 graduated with high school diplomas and one achieved a GED -- a graduation rate of 84% compared to national statistics of only 50%. Many schools have programs like Y-MED. Check out how you can get involved!