An Integrated Human Service Program for Teenage Mothers and Their Children

Abstract

[ Abstract: There have been various programs specially designed to help school age mothers and pregnant teenagers in the United States. The most frequent unmet needs of such special programs have been sacial services, health care, and day care for the mothers and their children. Cantinuing Education for Young Women (CEYW) in Michigan provides all of these essential services plus edu cation which meets credit requirements of the regular junior and senior high school curriculum. The public school system has assumed the responsibility of delivering compre hensive service to young mothers and their children. The paper describes the current operation and developments of Michigan' multi-faceted package of service plus education modalities provided within a single program framework. Social work is an integral part of this comprehen sive program. In particular, the inclusion of a well-organized child care pro gram into the public school setting is considered as a significant development in this area of human service. It appears from the literature and the author's communications with inter national social and health problem specialists that the experience of the Michi gan program has potential applicability to similar efforts elsewhere.]