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Beyond the High School Diploma:

Beyond the High School Diploma: . A College Catalogue with Every Pregnancy Test. Susan Warfield, MSW, LICSW, Program Director Melanie Soland, MSW, LGSW, Student Parent Counselor. University of Minnesota Student Parent HELP Center. Why a High School Diploma is Not Enough.

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Beyond the High School Diploma:

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  1. Beyond the High School Diploma: A College Catalogue with Every Pregnancy Test

  2. Susan Warfield, MSW, LICSW, Program DirectorMelanie Soland, MSW, LGSW, Student Parent Counselor University of Minnesota Student Parent HELP Center

  3. Why a High School Diploma is Not Enough • Knowledge Based Economy • The Days of High Paying Low Education Jobs are Gone • Even Minimum Wage Jobs are Drying Up • Single Mothers Experience a Higher Positive Effect from Degree Acquisition Than Any Other Group • Higher Education Impacts Two Generations at Once: Children of Teen Parents who Attend College are Almost Certain to Attend Themselves

  4. Why a High School Diploma is Not Enough Poverty is Correlated with Teen Pregnancy and Subsequent Pregnancies A College Degree is the Way Out of Poverty Higher Education and the Hope for a College Degree May be the Best Tool We Have for Preventing Teen Pregnancies We Can No Longer Afford the Wasted Human Potential

  5. Distribution of Unplanned Pregnancies by Income as a % of Poverty* (2001) • The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. (n.d.) Data, charts, research report section A: Unplanned Pregnancy in the United States Among All Women. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/dcr/SectionA/DCR_SectionA.pdf.

  6. Percent of Unplanned Pregnancies by Income as a % of Poverty* (2001) * The federal poverty threshold (100% poverty) was defined as $10,787 • The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. (n.d.) Data, charts, research report section A: Unplanned Pregnancy in the United States Among All Women. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/dcr/SectionA/DCR_SectionA.pdf.

  7. Unplanned Pregnancy by Income (as a % of Poverty) in 1994 & 2001 • The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. (n.d.) Data, charts, research report section A: Unplanned Pregnancy in the United States Among All Women. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/dcr/SectionA/DCR_SectionA.pdf.

  8. Percent of Unplanned Pregnancies by Education (2001) • The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. (n.d.) Data, charts, research report section A: Unplanned Pregnancy in the United States Among All Women. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/dcr/SectionA/DCR_SectionA.pdf.

  9. Rate of Unplanned Pregnancy by Education in 1994 & 2001 • The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. (n.d.) Data, charts, research report section A: Unplanned Pregnancy in the United States Among All Women. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/dcr/SectionA/DCR_SectionA.pdf.

  10. Infant Mortality Rates by Mother’s Education Commission to Build a Healthier America. (2009, September). Education Matters for Health. Retrieved April 26, 2011 from http://www.commissiononhealth.org/PDF/c270deb3-ba42-4fbd-baeb-2cd65956f00e/Issue%20Brief%206%20Sept%2009%20-%20Education%20and%20Health.pdf

  11. Percentage of Children with Poor/Fair Health by Parental Education Commission to Build a Healthier America. (2009, September). Education Matters for Health. Retrieved April 26, 2011 from http://www.commissiononhealth.org/PDF/c270deb3-ba42-4fbd-baeb-2cd65956f00e/Issue%20Brief%206%20Sept%2009%20-%20Education%20and%20Health.pdf

  12. Academic HOPE is the Greatest Tool We Have to Fight Unplanned Pregnancy The HOPE of a College Degree Could be the Single Greatest Deterrent to Teen Pregnancy and to Subsequent Pregnancies We are Not Presenting this Possibility Soon Enough to Low Income Students We are Not Emphasizing the Possibility Broadly Enough to Teens Already Parenting

  13. The Facts… • Adults With a Bachelor’s Degree Make 79% More Than Those With Just a HS Diploma • Those With an Associate’s Degree Make 42% More Than High School Graduates • Those With HS Diploma or Equivalent Make 24% More Than Non-Completers • Those Born Into Families With Incomes in the Bottom 20% Are 4 times More Likely to Reach the Top 20% of Income Earners if They Have a 4 year College Degree Taken from TANF Education and Training, Elizabeth Lower-Basch, February 11, 2011, CLASP

  14. More Facts…. • 5 Years After Exiting the Welfare System, Only 20% of College Graduates had Ever Returned to Welfare Assistance • 5 Years After Exiting the Welfare System, 50% of High School Graduates had Returned to Welfare Assistance Taken from TANF Education and Training, Elizabeth Lower-Basch, February 11, 2011, CLASP Taken from TANF Education and Training, Elizabeth Lower-Basch, February 11, 2011, CLASP

  15. Broad Spectrum Educational Planning Not Everyone Has the Ability to Attend a Four Year University Most Teen Parents Have the Ability to Pursue Some Type of Post HS Option Technical/Trade Training Opportunities Workforce Experience/Entrepreneurial Coaching Mentorships Community College Four Year Colleges and Universities

  16. Teen Pregnancy and Academic Ability are Not Negatively Correlated There are More Teens Who Have the Ability Than are Entering Higher Education: We Know This… From the Number of Former Teen Mothers and Fathers who Enter the SPHC Years After Becoming Teen Parents From the Number of High Ability Teens We Have Seen Who Never Follow Through and Apply Post-High School Because There is No Known Correlation Between Intelligence and Reproduction Because Many Bright, Highly Intelligent Individuals Have Experienced an Unplanned Pregnancy

  17. It is Poverty that Has the Greatest Impact on Teen Pregnancy Rates The Way Out of Poverty is Through Higher Education

  18. Despite the Benefit the Gap is Huge A 2000 US Bureau of Labor Statistics Report Found that a Woman Holding a Bachelor’s Degree Could Expect to Earn 68% More Per Year Than a Woman Holding a High School Diploma YET Less Than 2% of Young (Under 18 Years of Age) Teen Moms Attain a College Degree by Age 30 (Why It Matters, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy)

  19. We Would Pose that Presenting College as a Viable Option Would Actually Decrease the HS Drop-Out and Teen Pregnancy Rate

  20. Teen Parents Must be Shown a Future with a Degree…

  21. and the Alternative…

  22. Model for Success

  23. SPHC Teen Parent Outreach Program A Model for Best Practices

  24. Our Teen Parent Outreach Philosophy • Encourage Teen Parents to Pursue Post-Secondary Education or Training • Provide an Honest, but Upbeat, Look at the Challenges and Opportunities that Pursuing a College Degree Provides Young Parents. • Provide the Information and Resources They Need to Effectively Access Higher Education at Any Level • Provide Models of Success Through U of M Student Parents Who Were Themselves Young, and Often Teen, Parents.

  25. Our Philosophy, cont. • Teen Parent Outreach is NOT a Recruitment Tool for the University of Minnesota! • Each Teen Parent has Different Interests, Skills, and Needs, Use Broad Scope Approach to Meet Them Where They Are. • Main Purpose is to Drive Home the Message That Post-Secondary Education is Not Out of Their Reach Simply Because They Have Children

  26. A Look at the Numbers • SPHC Has Been Conducting Teen Parent Outreach Presentations for Five Academic Years, Starting in 2006-2007. • Connected With, and Present to, 13 Area Teen Parent Programs Annually. • Have Also Presented to 8 Other Supportive Programs That Work With Teen Parents (i.e. ECFE staff, school counselors and administrators). • Have Presented to 1,145 Teen Parents, Teachers, and Support Staff Through the Years (Although Some of These are Repeat Students). • Have Also Provided Same Outreach to Programs Serving Older Single Mothers, Such as Women’s Shelters.

  27. SPHC TPO Presentation Model • Presentations Last 45 minutes to 1 Hour • 15-20 Minutes for Overview of Related Resources • 15-20 Minutes for Current Student Parents to Share their Stories (Using Talking Point Tip Sheet as a Guide). • 15-20 Minutes for Q&A

  28. Information Presented: Related Resources • Admissions Information and Criteria for Various Vocational, Two, and Four-year Institutions. • General Financial Aid Information (FAFSA) • ACT/SAT Prep Info • Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) • Child Care Referral Services and Grants or Assistance Programs • Affordable Housing Resources • Student Parent Support Programs Available in Area • Welfare Considerations and Post-Secondary Education Guidelines

  29. Information Presented: Success Tips • Overview of Differences Between High School and College • “College Survival Tips” From Advisors, Professionals Who Work with Students with Children, or Student Parents Themselves. • Review Options for Community Connectedness if No Student Parent Program Available • TRIO • Student Groups (Student Parent, Non-Traditional, Interest Groups) • Advisors

  30. College Resources • Even Colleges That Do Not Have Student Parent Support Programs Have Other Support Programs in Place • Look for Programs for Other Under Represented Populations, (First Generation, Students of Color, Students of Varied Ethnic Backgrounds). • Office for Multi-cultural Affairs • Office of Equity and Diversity • Some Campuses Have Chicano/Latino Groups, Black Student Unions, etc. • TRIO is Federal and Exists on Every College Campus

  31. Important Components of Successful Teen Parent Outreach • Engage the Teen Parents Early on Through Introductions, Questions, Querying about College Thoughts/Plans. • Utilize a Current Student Parent as a Speaker • Hugely Valuable Experience for the Volunteers as Well as the Teen Parents • Leave it Open-Ended and Provide Contact Information so Teens Have the Option to Contact you Later, Whenever They are Ready.

  32. Pulling It All Together… • Couple the Teen Parent Outreach Presentations with an Event on, or Field Trip to, a Local Campus. • Helps to Break Down the Barrier Between Higher Education and Low-Income Students • Particularly True for First Generation College Attendees who May Not Have the Family Background or Exposure.

  33. Student Parent Visibility Day

  34. What is Student Parent Visibility Day? • All-Campus Event to Raise Awareness of the Existence of Student Parents in the Higher Education Community • Two-Fold Purpose • Raise Awareness of Our Current Undergraduate Student Parent Population , Attempt to Locate Other Student Parents Currently on Campus, Raise Awareness for all SPs in Higher Ed. • Break Down the Barriers Between Higher Education and Teen Parents by Exposing Them to the College Environment in Person, Thereby Making it Less Scary and More Accessible

  35. Components of Student Parent Visibility Day • Morning Activities Specifically Geared Toward Teen Parents • Past Activities Have Included a College and Resource Fair, a Scavenger Hunt of Supportive Programs and Resources on Campus, and a Series of “Lectures” Highlighting Different Experiences Available to Student Parents, Such as Study Abroad and Research Opportunities. • Free Pizza Lunch Open to the Entire Campus Community Along with Lunchtime Speakers and Entertainment • Held in the Mall Area Outside of the President’s Office in a Highly Visible Area of the Campus

  36. SPVD: A Look at the Numbers • Have Held 5 Annual Student Parent Visibility Days on Campus, Starting in October 2005. • Over the Past 5 Years, Teen Parents from 9 Area Teen Parent Programs Have Attended, for a Total of Over 470 Teen Parents brought to Campus (There May Have Been Some Repeats Over the Years). • Have Reached Over 500 Members of the General Campus Community Annually Through These Events. • Planned and Hosted by SPHC Staff Along with Assistance from Student Parent Volunteers. • Funded Through the SPHC Budget Often with the Assistance of Coke Grants Through Student Unions and Activities.

  37. How Can This be Done With Limited … Everything? • Locate a Student Parent Program in Your Region or At Least Utilize Their Websites…Many Have Success Stories, National Scholarships Posted, etc. • Collaborate with Colleges in Your Area • Plan Field Trips to College Campuses • Hold a Career Day • Host Former Teen Parents Now in College as Classroom Presenters • Look for On-line College Prep Options

  38. Cont… • Locate College Prep Programs for Under-Represented Populations • Upward Bound • Admission Possible (MN example) • Ask Your Districts to Share Their College Guidance Resources • Start a Career Library: Get Donations for B and N, Amazon.com, etc. • Send Away for Free Catalogues for all Colleges in Your Area • Host a Student Parent Panel of Successful Former TPs • TALK to Them About Their Plans Beyond College…in 9th Grade or Earlier • Expose Them to Things Like the FAFSA/Financial Aid

  39. Think of Other Points of Connection… • Most TPs Share Other Under-Represented Population Characteristics • First Generation College Attendees • Low Income Students • Women • Students of Color • Help Them Find Resources (Scholarships, College Prep Assistance, etc.) Targeting Those Populations.

  40. What Non-Educators Can Do… • Medical Professionals Should Discuss the Impact on the Patient’s Academic Career at EVERY Pregnancy Test and Pre-Natal Visit. “This Does Not Have to End Your Plans for College.” “You Need to Get your HS Diploma and Go to College Now More Than Ever.” • “You were not pregnant this time…so if you had been what would that have done to your academic future……..” • Talk to TPs as If You Expect Them To Go To College...Not As If You Assume They Won’t. • Introduce Them to Successful Former TPs You Know

  41. This Has to Be the New Talking Point • HTN and Other Organizations Must Have Higher Education for TPs as a Featured Topic at Every Conference • TPs and Low Income Single Mothers In College Must Become the Accepted Norm • Everyone Working With TPs Must Be Well Versed in a Broad Spectrum of Post HS Education and Training Options • We Must be Looking for the Academic Potential as Early As Possible..By Junior Year it is Almost Too Late • We Have to Advocate for More Advanced Curriculum and College Guidance Resources for TP Programs

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