Good Beginnings for Teen Parents is an educational program for students who are pregnant and parenting.
It’s sponsored by the Adolescent and Family Enrichment Council of Rowan County, the United Way, and Smart Start Rowan. Good Beginnings is designed to help pregnant and parenting teens gain good parenting skills.
As Good Beginningscoordinator, Amy Cozart goes into Rowan County high schools twice a month to giveclasses to program participants. The classes ó which are free and confidential ó are coordinated with the school’s intervention specialist.
There are separate classes for teen fathers.
The goals of the program are to promote prenatal and post-natal care, to prevent child abuse and neglect, to encourage young women to postpone future pregnancies; to challenge teens to stay in school.
Anne Hoffman is a guidance counselor at East Rowan High School.
“The program is wonderful,” says Anne Hoffman, a guidance counselor at East Rowan High School.
“It allows us to offer (pregnant and parenting teens) information and services.”
The program is important, Hoffman says in keeping teen parents in school. “If they don’t feel supported at school, they’re more likely to drop out,” she says.
The program began in Rowan County Schools in 2000.
For more information about the Good Beginnings program, call 704-630-0481.