New county program aids pregnant teens

The Fairfax County Department of Health launched a program in May called Stable Families, Thriving Futures to improve the health, educational, and socioeconomic outcomes for pregnant teens and mothers.  

Stable Families will provide support to small groups of future mothers and fathers age 14-25. The program is aimed at helping them achieve their educational goals, improve their confidence as parents, and ensure a pathway to economic self-sufficiency and employment.

Fairfax County received a $1 million grant in April from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Employment and Training Administration to implement the program.

Stable Families is an outgrowth of a similar program for pregnant youths called Stronger Parents, Brighter Futures funded by the Virginia Health Department. Stable Families is more focused on health outcomes, says project manager Bianca Vasquez.

The most recent data from the state health department indicates there were 332 pregnant teens in Fairfax County in 2020. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen pregnancy accounts for more than $9 billion in costs to U.S. taxpayers and significantly contributes to high school dropout rates among females.

Under Stable Families, the county health department is setting up support groups in Culmore, Mount Vernon, the Springfield/Franconia Family Resource Center, and Mountain View High School in Centreville.

The group in Culmore is the largest with 18 pregnant youths and young mothers enrolled. It will meet in the Culmore Family Resource Center. In selecting participants, the Health Department gets referrals from its partner nonprofits. In Culmore, the partner is Second Story.

Vasquez says the program will expand to other areas, including Annandale, and new classes will be formed for young fathers.

Participants attend four two-hour classes. After that, county staff will monitor their progress for two years to help them stay on track and get additional support if needed.

Participants in Stable Families, Thriving Future will:

• Learn to improve their parenting skills.
• Make a plan for financial independence and meaningful employment.
• Work with a mentor to create customized support systems for maternal and child healthcare, affordable housing, food access, and nutrition support.
• Acquire confidence-building skills.
• Develop culturally competent health literacy skills.
• Connect to other supports for specialized issues, such as substance use disorder, domestic violence prevention, and mental health services, as needed.

“Unfortunately, the reality is that most teen and young adult parents are at increased likelihood for negative outcomes – such as dropping out of school, chronic illness, and poverty,” says Vasquez. “Enrollment in Stable Families creates supports for the parent – and the next generation of their family – that lead to positive health, financial independence, and an overall brighter future.”