120. Adolescent mothers and their children: Outcomes of a Tots and Teens program in a Canadian urban setting

Abstract

sexual, 36% physical and 18% emotional). Thirty percent of mothers had child protection involvement in their own childhoods. The majority of adolescent mothers were living with family (54%), or in a maternity home (28%); 71% resided in lower SES neighborhoods. Forty-four percent of our adolescent mothers reported a history of substance use (tobacco 27%, marijuana 27% and alcohol 19%). Only sixty percent were attending school or had graduated high school prior to the birth of their child. A significant proportion of children in our population experienced expressive speech and language delay (47%) and poor growth (24%) by 18 months of age. Child protection services became involved with 65% of our families, primarily for instrumental support, concerns regarding parenting capacity, or due to intimate partner violence. Conclusions: The Young Families Program is an interprofessional family-centred program acting as the “medical home” for parenting adolescents and their children. This population is challenged by a significant burden of preexisting maternal mental health issues, maternal trauma history, maternal substance use, delayed educational attainment and residing in low SES neighborhoods. A significant number of infants of adolescentmothers in our samplewere at risk for delayed language development and poor growth. Comprehensive programs focusing on the unique needs of this population should endeavor to enhance the overall health and wellbeing of both the adolescent mother and her children, with a specific focus on maternal and infant mental health through both dyad and individual therapy, child growth and development including access to consistent caregiving in a stimulating, structured environment, instrumental support with securing safe, clean housing, educational issues, and effective liaison with child protection services. Sources of Support: Social Pediatrics Research Summer Scholarship (SPReSS) Funding, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.