There are a number of current federal efforts available to support expectant and parenting young families. The following reviews the currently available programming and approaches offered through federal agencies:
Education
The Department of Education provides funding to states to disperse the funds to the expectant and parenting young family population, including Race to the Top. Additionally, the Department of Education also administers the Perkins Career and Technical Education Program and acts as a lead agency for the Performance Partnership Pilots for Disconnected Youth, both of which serve expectant and parenting young families in select cities.
Employment
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WOIA), a youth employment program (PDF, 3 pages) available through the Division of Youth Services in the Department of Labor, provides employment support to in-school youth ages 14 to 24 and out-of-school youth ages 16 to 24.
Home Visiting Programs
The Maternal and Child Health Bureau in the Health Resources and Services Administration provides home visiting programs and referrals to community resources that directly benefit expectant and parenting young families.
Homelessness
The Family and Youth Services Bureau provides Maternity Group Homes for homeless pregnant and parenting youth ages 16 to 22. This programming also offers educational services on parenting skills, child development, family budgeting, and health and nutrition.
Intimate Partner Violence/Teen Dating Violence
The Family and Youth Services Bureau provides educational resources and awareness on intimate partner violence and teen dating violence. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Program helps provide support for emergency shelter and related assistance for victims of domestic violence and their children through a number of different programs.
Juvenile Justice
The Second Chance Act program – Strengthening Relationships between Young Fathers, Young Mothers, and Their Children – from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention provides funding to support the successful transition for young fathers and mothers as they return to their families and communities from detention, out-of-home placement, or incarceration.
Nutrition
The Supplemental Food Programs Division in the Department of Agriculture provides nutrition education and breastfeeding support to mothers and fathers, including expectant and parenting young families.
Resources
Launching Programs to Support Expectant and Parenting Youth (PDF, 56 pages)
This report from the PAF Program includes how grantees developed a strategic approach, programs to address complex needs, a structure to support success, and conclusions from early program implementation.
Meeting the Needs of Pregnant and Parenting Teens: Local Health Department Programs and Services (PDF, 20 pages)
This resource from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) describes local programs from across the U.S. that serve expectant and parenting young families, challenges faced by these types of programs, and recommendations.
OPA's Pregnancy Assistance Fund: Supporting Young Parents and Their Children
This Office of Population Affairs (OPA) video describes how former Pregnancy Assistance Fund PAF grantees support expectant and parenting youth in caring for children, building healthier relationships, and achieving their goals.
PAF Successful Strategies
This OPA webpage profiles the accomplishments of former Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF) grantees and highlights their strategies for working with pregnancy and parenting teens, women, fathers, and families.
Sustainability Study of Former PAF Programs
This OPA webpage provides information on key lessons on sustainability that were learned from a set of grantees funded through the PAF program.
