Bladensburg High School... Home of the Mustangs

PROGRAM PURPOSE
It is the purpose of Even Start to help break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by improving the educational opportunities for the Nation's low-income families by integrating literacy or basic education, early childhood education, and parenting education into a unified teen family literacy program. The Teen Family Literacy Program is implemented through cooperative projects that build on existing community resources to

create a new range of services
promote achievement of the National Education Goals
assist children and teen-parents from low-income families to achieve to challenging State content standards and challenging State student performance standards.


PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Teen Family Literacy Program at Bladensburg High School was developed as an Even Start program in the Prince George's County Public Schools in 1996 with collaborative funding. This program has four elements that incorporate the basic components of secondary, parenting, and early childhood education. The teen parents participate in secondary education classes while their infants/toddlers are participating in the early learning center in close proximity. All of the teen parents participate in the parent and child together (PACT) play group. Each teen parent and infant/toddler participate in a personal home visit from the Even Start Home Visitor two times each month. Logistical problems encountered by the families are overcome by the following:

The Even Start Teen Family Literacy Program is open to private school students who are interested in participating in our program. Students must reside the Bladensburg High School attendance area and must qualify for a Purchase of Care Voucher through Department of Social Services. Please call 301-887-6795 or email cleahy@pgcps.org to receive additional information or program services.
STAFF Andrea Phillips Hughes, Principal Carolyn Leahy, Site Coordinator Cathy Stanley, Teen Parent Child Care Coordinator Theresa Jones, Home Visitor (paraprofessional) Cindy Campbell, Child Care Assistant India Green, Child Care Assistant Sandra Guandique, Child Care Assistant Barbara Tolbert, Child Care Assistant Darniece Slater, Child Care Assistant

ADMISSION CRITERIA
High-needs teen parent families with: Child from 0 months to five years old Teen parent(s) under the age of 16

INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM
Parent support groups: "Nurturing Philosophy" Parenting training: Certified parenting and child development course Parent and child together learning activities Personal home visits School -to-Work Completer Program: meets University of Maryland admission requirements Developmentally appropriate early childhood education

INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES
Family Learning Center equipped with books, resources and computers (20 families per center) Certified Parent Educators (PAT) Nurturing Program Parenting Curriculum Supportive Learning Environment Home-School link Learning-initiated goals and objectives Family strengths philosophy Collaboration

SUPPORT SERVICES
Transportation for teen parents and infant/toddlers On-site early learning center Advocacy services Academic assistance through mentors and monitoring system

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
Direct referrals from collaborating agencies Face-to-face meetings Group support in a nurturing learning environment Learner-directed instruction Word-of-mouth recommendations Community Outreach