“Parenting Teen Partnership” Launches in Richland County

Luncheon Showcased Community Support for Young Parents
COLUMBIA, SC – United Way of the Midlands, along with statewide and community partners, today celebrated the launch of “Parenting Teen Partnership” a program that will support pregnant and parenting teens in Richland County. A lunch event at Benedict College’s Charlie W. Johnson Stadium in Columbia brought together community and state leaders to mark the kickoff of the innovative program that will encourage pregnant and parenting teens to stay in school, delay the next pregnancy, improve their parenting skills and become better connected to supportive resources.

Pictured, left to right: Lee Porter, Chief Program Officer, Children’s Trust; Rep. James E. Smith, Jr., D-Richland; Mac Bennett, President and CEO, United Way of the Midlands; and Doug Taylor, Chief Program Officer, South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Richland County ranks third in the state for the number of births to 15 to 19 year olds and 15th in the percentage of repeat births. The new program is expected to serve around 200 young parents in Richland County this year.

Statewide organizations that are working together to provide program oversight, evaluation and support include Children’s Trust of South Carolina, South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, South Carolina Rural Health Research Center and South Carolina Thrive/The Benefit Bank. Funding for this effort comes through the Pregnancy Assistance Fund at the Office of Adolescent Health at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“We know young parents need an array of support services to ensure children are raised in a safe and nurturing environment,” said Sue Williams, chief executive officer of Children’s Trust. “The collaboration and partnerships at the statewide and local levels will ensure young parents have everything they need to be successful — both in the short- and long-term of raising their family.”

Organizations working together to implement the local program include Benedict College, Brookland Baptist Church, Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center, Midlands Fatherhood Coalition, Mothers of Black Boys, The Nurturing Center, Palmetto Health, Pressley House, Richland School District One, Richland School District Two, School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties and South Carolina Contraceptive Access Campaign/Advocates for Youth.

“United Way of the Midlands and its community partners were chosen based on the need as well as the ability to successfully implement the collaborative model,” said Forrest Alton, chief executive officer of the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. “In a state where more than 25 percent of all of the teen births are repeat teen births, we must be more diligent about providing appropriate programs and services to expectant and parenting teens. We are excited to be a part of this partnership with some other great statewide leadership organizations, and are equally as excited to be working in great communities!”

Community and state leaders have endorsed and expressed support for the new program.

“I’m proud to support the collaborative work United Way is leading to help the pregnant and parenting teens of Richland County,” said Rep. James Smith, who was present for the kickoff. “This collaborative approach — on the county and state level — is what’s needed to ensure families are stable and strong and children are safe.”

The 14 community organizations are in the final stages of preparing for the program to begin serving young parents.

“We’re honored to part of this statewide effort, and excited to be working with a broad group of partners,” said Mac Bennett, chief executive officer for United Way of the Midlands. “Expecting and parenting teens and their children need an array of services and supports to be successful. This grant opportunity brings together the partners who can do that work and really make a difference.”

As part of the project, a website for teens, pregnant teens and parents of teens is available at NotRightNowSC.org. The interactive, mobile-friendly site features resources about love, sex and relationships and will encourage teens and their parents to engage in conversations with one another on these topics.