Pregnant Teen

So, your teenager is pregnant, now what? Well, in Mesa you could go to something called the Teen Age Pregnancy Program or TAPP. It helps keep teens in school during their pregnancy and assists them where needed. They have their own campus and their fellow students have gone thru or going thru what they are going thru.

The program is getting cut. If your teen ends up pregnant, they will more than likely stay in their home school.

We all have different feelings about teenage pregnancy and how to avoid this, but the bottom line is that it happens. Now what? It is hard for me to imagine what it is like to have a child pregnant, my oldest is only 9. If you have been thru this or know someone who has, can you share some of your insights as to, how as a community we deal with this, or how the people you know have dealt with this.
The story is below:

Schools to cut program for pregnant teens
by Ray Parker - May. 9, 2008 11:25 AM
The Arizona Republic
A 30-year-old Mesa Public Schools program that teaches pregnant teenagers how to be moms while keeping them on track to earn a high school diploma will close at the end of the 2008-09 school year.

The Teen Age Pregnancy Program is a victim of a district faced with cutting about $15 million from its budget next fiscal year.

Already, the district has announced it is replacing school librarians and some nurses with aides, and is cutting back on speech experts and counselors.

More than 1,000 students in Arizona's largest district didn't return to school after the Christmas break, continuing a three-year decline that is costing thousands of dollars. The district also blames the increased costs of teaching students English and higher food, gas and other supply costs for having to make deep cuts.

Superintendent Debra Duvall briefly outlined the cuts during a recent board meeting when members voted not to close Jordan Elementary, which had been considered as a cost-saving measure.

District officials say the proposed cuts are their best attempt at "protecting the classroom" in the midst of the district's largest funding shortfall.

But Stephanie Hernandez, 16, a new teen mom, said TAPP has been a lifesaver during a difficult time.

On the East Valley Academy campus, 1727 W. Main St., TAPP is a haven for 34 teenagers and is next door to the East Valley Institute of Technology, where the students could take vocational classes in everything from cosmetology to fire science.

"One of the biggest things about (TAPP) is there are 30 girls there and they already know what you are going through," said Stephanie, who returned to classes Monday after having her baby two weeks ago.

District spokeswoman Kathy Bareiss said there are other programs in the district that will fill the gap for pregnant teens, such as online programs, traditional high schools or other alternative programs. She said other services, such as daycare, would be provided by non-profit groups.

"We have all of these things in the district," Bareiss said. "These are free services to the students so they can continue their education."

The TAPP program costs $164,500 a year.

East Valley Academy and TAPP Principal Susan Scoon says the program has been a big benefit for many students but she understands the district's tough economic situation.

"It's always been our goal to keep students in school and not let them become dropouts, and we've done that," Scoon said.

She said East Valley Academy remains an option for the teens, many of whom prefer smaller environments to their home schools.

"I understand the global perspective for the district," Scoon added. "The district has had many difficult decisions to make."

TAPP is a one-year program, and all teens currently enrolled will finish. Heather Allen, Stephanie's mother, remains skeptical that other programs could replace what TAPP offers.

"The home schools strongly encourage the girls to leave because there's a lot of judgment from other kids," Allen said. "The most important thing about TAPP is there are girls going through the same thing together and they provide each other invaluable support."

She doubts there will be as big an outcry about closing TAPP as there has been for cutting school librarians, which prompted a rally two weeks ago.

Duvall has not gone over in detail in a public meeting all the $15 million in cuts. Rich Crandall, school board president, said the cuts were covered in detail in two DVDs produced by the district in which Duvall let employees know about the budget deficit.

Duvall did not go over of the actual cuts in either of those DVDs, instead outlining areas that could be cut.

Tuesday is the final public board meeting before the school year ends May 22. Board members can be e-mailed at govboard@mpsaz.org.

KarilouMomof2 is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Tempe. Her daughters are 9 and 6.