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 People's Community Clinic. 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
- Intake and Intervention Planning
- Case Management
- Prenatal Health Care
- Prenatal Education
- Childbirth Classes
- Nutrition Education, Counseling & Assistance
- Parent Education
- Child Development Education & Screening
- Mental Health Services (including individual, family and group counseling)
- Teen Parent Support Groups
- Paternity Education
- Fatherhood Services
- Parenting Classes
- Substance Abuse Screening & Referral
- Crisis Intervention
- Educational Support Services
- Housing Services
- GED Services
- Pediatric Health Care
- Adolescent Health Care
- Family Planning Services