Young Parents Program (YPP)
ABOUT US
The Young Parents Program (YPP), a specialty clinic within the CHPCC at Boston Children's Hospital, provides comprehensive medical care, mental health services and advocacy to high-risk, inner-city teen parents and their young children. Our program was launched in 1980 and serves approximately 250 teenage mothers, 75 young fathers and 300 babies every year.
WHO WE SERVE
We work with teen mothers and fathers from low-income and at-risk environments that have the highest rates of pregnancies and the greatest risk of poor birth outcomes.
OUR VISION
The vision of the Young Parents Program is that all families will have comprehensive and compassionate health care that empowers, educates, and supports families towards a successful future.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Young Parents Program is to provide a family-centered medical home with excellent primary care, behavioral health, case management, and parenting resources to teens and their children. We are committed to creating a non-judgmental, supportive community where families access innovative, evidence-based, flexible care. Our goal is empowering parents in making healthy, informed choices for themselves and their children as they transition into adulthood.
OUR PROGRAM
- provides quality medical care, counseling and health education to teen parents and their children
- teaches positive parenting skills, attitudes and behaviors
- encourages teen parents to make proactive, smart decisions as they become adults
- makes sure teen parents' children are exposed to healthy development and growth through the critical first years
- helps young parents find housing and complete school
- creates healthy social activities and programs, such as The Boston Proud Mamas crew team, to bring together teen parents
Our program also address other teen health concerns such as AIDS/HIV, mental health issues, sexually transmitted diseases and substance abuse.
OUR TEAM
Our team includes physicians, social workers and a nurse and nurse practitioner who have an average of 15 years experience working with urban parents, adolescents and children. We are knowledgeable in the medical, social and developmental issues of adolescence and early childhood. Several of our team members teach teen-parenting training sessions throughout the region.
Former participants stay involved
Former YPP participant, Deandra Howard, speaks at the State House.
