Prenatal Education Program (PEP)

Eligibility:

Pregnant teens that are 19 years old or younger, who are under 5 months (24 weeks or less gestation) in their pregnancy, and living in Travis County are eligible for the PEP program.

Services:

Prenatal educators make visits in the home or school to complete individualized plans with pregnant teens and provide the following services, depending on the teens' needs:
- Assistance in accessing medical insurance and primary medical care
- Prenatal Education sessions:  Four (4) units address pregnancy, prenatal care, nutrition during pregnancy, and labor and delivery.  Four (4) units cover caring for a newborn, planning for the future, and the baby's early development.
- Supplemental books, videos and pamphlets for specific topics such as breastfeeding, nutrition, and labor and delivery.
- Referrals to childbirth preparation classes
- Referrals to parenting classes
- Referrals to community resources for baby supplies and safety items such as car seats
- Referrals to community services such as WIC, public assistance, and housing resources
- Planning for child care
- Advocacy to continue educational goals
- Mental health counseling
- Support

Services are free and available in English and Spanish.

The Prenatal Education Program is provided with funding from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

TANDEM

Program Goals & Objectives:

The primary goals of the Tandem Teen Prenatal & Parenting Program are to promote the health and well-being of participating young parents and their children and to reduce their risk of subsequent unplanned pregnancies. Specific outcomes utilized to measure success in meeting these goals include:

- Utilization of health care services by young parents and their children
- Use of contraception method following birth
- Rate of subsequent pregnancies within a year
- Utilization of mental health services
- Presence of positive parenting behaviors
- Participation in education or other activities promoting self-sufficiency
- Reduction in high risk behaviors (i.e. substance abuse)
- Involvement of young fathers in parenting

Tandem has been recognized for incorporating into its program many of the nationally-identified "best practices" for serving teen parents. It has been particularly effective in promoting positive health behaviors among its participants.

Program Description:

Tandem participants are identified through the Teen Prenatal Clinic at PCC. Interventions are planned and coordinated at the weekly Tandem team meetings. The majority of program activities take place at the People's Community Clinic site, with the exception of case management services, which take place in the client's home, at school or work, or at other convenient locations. Participants can choose to stay in the program until their child turns three: the long-term investment the program makes in its clients sets it apart from other briefer, less intensive interventions. The following services are offered through the Tandem program:

- Information & Referral (Any Baby Can, LifeWorks)
- Intake and Intervention Planning (All Agencies)
- Case Management (Any Baby Can, LifeWorks)
- Prenatal Health Care (PCC)
- Prenatal Education (PCC, Any Baby Can)
- Childbirth Classes (Any Baby Can)
- Nutrition Education, Counseling & Assistance (on-site WIC; PCC)
- Parent Education (Any Baby Can, Austin Child Guidance Center, LifeWorks)
- Child Development Education & Screening (Any Baby Can)
- Mental Health Services (including individual, family and group counseling) (Austin Child Guidance Center, Any Baby Can)
- Teen Parent Support Groups (LifeWorks)
- Paternity Education (All Agencies)
- Fatherhood Services (All Agencies)
- Parenting Classes (Austin Child Guidance Center, Any Baby Can)
- Substance Abuse Screening & Referral (All Agencies)
- Crisis Intervention (All Agencies)
- Educational Support Services (LifeWorks)
- Housing Services (LifeWorks)
- GED Services (LifeWorks)
- Pediatric Health Care (PCC)
- Adolescent Health Care (PCC)
- Family Planning Services (PCC)