Teen Parents Learn About Finances, Health, Education with Baby

Lynwood, Calif. – Community partners came together May 14 to ensure young parents have access to important resources to help them be successful parents while continuing their education.
The Young Parents and Pregnancy Fair held at the City of Lynwood’s Bateman Hall drew about 80 Los Angeles County teens who were either expecting or were already raising their children.
This is the second year of the fair which was inspired by Lynwood City Councilwoman and former Mayor Aide Castro, who herself was a teen mom. She personally knows the struggles the young parents face and developed the fair to give them access to many of the assistance programs that are available to them.
“While the teen pregnancy rate has dropped in Los Angeles County, there are still students who are having to learn how to become a good parent, while also gaining employment to support their children and continuing their own education,” said Lynwood Unified Superintendent Paul Gothold. “We want to show these young adults that there is support out there for them. There are many programs that will teach them how to raise healthy babies while still pursuing their high school diploma and going on to higher education and careers.”
The teens, some with the support of their own parents, went through workshops such as career planning, child care, nutrition for the baby, what to expect during the delivery, smart spending and car seat safety.
“We are hoping that the students can get a real-life education and the skills they need to be successful, nurturing parents,” said Celeste Goff, Director of Welcome Baby at St. Francis Medical Center. “Some teens have real fears about child birth, breast feeding and how to care for the baby. Other teens who already have a child have the fears associated with providing for the child, getting a career and moving forward after having the baby. We are hoping to ease those fears.”
Goff also said she was pleased that there were workshops directed to the young fathers, as many were stepping up and taking an active role in the upbringing of their new baby.
Goff said nearly 5,000 babies are delivered each year at St. Francis and about 15 to 20 percent of them come from teen mothers. The Welcome Baby program at St. Francis Hospital is funded through First 5 L.A., which focuses on helping women become self-sufficient and learn parenting skills so they can teach the next generation to be successful.
“It is important to ensure all Lynwood students are successful, no matter their situation,” said Christine Arostigue-Manson, LUSD Student Services Coordinator, who helped coordinate the fair. “We also want them to know that there are resources out there for them.”
About 25 vendors were there to provide services and programs to help the teens access health care, vocational programs, child education and nutritional programs. The young parents who completed the program were provided goodie bags with water and baby bottles, first-aid kits, books and other baby items. Larger gifts such as baby play pens, diapers, andgift cards to toy stores, restaurants and retail stores were raffled off.
“I am so pleased that our students could benefit from the outpouring of support from our partners,” said Maria Lopez, Board of Education President. “It is so difficult balancing a career and raising a family as an adult. These students still have their education to complete and careers to start. I hopethat the fair gets them on track with the services they need to fulfill all of their goals.”