Teen & Young Parent Program

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Quick Link: Parent Education & Family Services of Knox County

The Teen and Young Parent Program

of Knox County

“Committed to building a strong, nurturing community
for young families.”

PO Box 805

231 B Park Street

Rockland, ME 04841

207-594-0975 fax 207-594-7682

in the State of Maine Toll Free 1-866-486-3549

The Mission of The Teen and Young Parent Program is…
to support young parents and their children through the involvement of caring, trained volunteer mentors and parenting education home visits.

This program offers several services especially for teen and young parents. Caring adult mentors may be matched with young parents to provide friendship and support through pregnancy, delivery and/or the early years of the child’s life. Mentors can assist with transportation and access to community services, as well as social and recreational activities.

The Teen and Young Parent Program offers a weekly Playgroup for parents and their children. Healthy snacks and fun activities are provided in a safe and well-equipped playroom. Group events, such as pot luck dinners, open swims at the Y, and lessons or classes are offered throughout the year.

What does the Teen and Young Parent Program do?

Provides group time for discussions, dinners and fun with other young families
including playgroups for young children.
Matches a young parent with a mentor for a one-on-one relationship.

Provides a safe place to bring questions, issues and problems.

Provides assistance with transportation to programs and necessary services.

Helps with goal setting and attainment.

Helps with access to community support systems.

Offers home visits for new or expectant teen parents using
the Parents As Teachers™ curriculum.

What is a Mentor

A mentor is a caring, adult volunteer who has education and experience in working with young parents and is committed to supporting a young parent through pregnancy, delivery and/or the early years of the child’s life. Each pairing of a volunteer and young parent can be different depending on the needs and interests of the young parent and their mentor. A mentor offers friendship and support during the challenging first years of parenting.

The young parent and the mentor decide together on the activities they would like to participate in. Perhaps a mentor will give a teen and her baby rides to a doctor’s visit. Maybe they’ll take a cooking class or go on a hike or a picnic together. They will choose!

The Teen and Young Parent Program is a partner in the collaborative known as Parent Education and Family Services of Knox County. PE&FS provides home visiting parent education using the “Parents as Teachers”™ curriculum. PAT is an internationally recognized child development program that assists parents in realizing their potential as their child’s first and most important teacher. Mothers and fathers are provided with timely information on pregnancy issues, infant and early childhood development, and enjoyable parent-child activities that encourage language, intellectual, social, and motor development. PE&FS also serves as a resource to connect young families with related community services.

These programs are voluntary and no fee is charged to participants

Our program is supported by a Governing Board of Directors:

Sandra Lowe LPN	President
Roberta Walker Donna Gray-Hanc, BS.Ed., LMT	Vice President Treasurer
Sheilagh Guyer	Secretary

Directors:
Tracy Camber Beverly Bayer M.ED. Mara Crans MD Rebecca Dinces Pamela Fowles Shannon Parker Wendy Wood Susan Harris CNM

In 1999, the Maine State Legislature expanded opportunities for home visiting parenting education
to all first-time parents in Maine. Mid-Coast Children’s Services, Healthy Families of Knox County
and the Teen and Young Parent Program of Knox County, a program of the University of Maine Cooperative

Extension, responded to this opportunity by collaborating to establish the Knox County Parenting Education
and Family Services Project.

Parenting Educational Professionals

the staff

from left to right back row: Nadine Reimer, Irene Hopkins, Ruth Griffin, and Wendelanne Augunas of Penobscot Bay Medical Center.

from left to right bottom row: Caryn Drapkin, Judy Powers - MCCS, Nancy White, and Cindi Staples in front.

Nancy White Parent Educator, UMaine Extension PO Box 805 231B Park Street Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-1980 in Maine toll free 877-972-5804 nwhite@umext.maine.edu Cindi Staples Parent Educator, MCCS PO Box 805 231B Park Street Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-1980 in Maine toll free 877-972-5804 cindista@midcoast.com	Caryn Drapkin Parent Educator, UMaine Extension PO Box 805 231B Park Street Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-1980 in Maine toll free 877-972-5804 cdrapkin@umext.maine.edu Ruth Griffin Volunteer Coordinator PO Box 805 231B Park Street Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-0975 in Maine toll free 866-486-3549 rgriffin@umext.maine.edu	Irene Hopkins Parent Educator, MCCS PO Box 805 231B Park Street Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-1980 in Maine toll free 877-972-5804 irenehop@midcoast.com Pamela Doherty Administrative Assistant I UMaine Extension Knox-Lincoln County office pdoherty@umext.maine.edu

Information in this web site is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products
or services mentioned in this web site. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.

Non-Discrimination Notice: We are committed to providing our mentoring services and home visiting parenting education without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation or handicap status, veteran status, family or marital status. If you are a person with a disability and will need any accommodations to participate in a UMCE program, please contact your county office to discuss your needs.

The Teen and Young Parent Program is a program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Putting Knowledge to Work with the People of Maine

University of Maine Cooperative Extension logo A Member of the University of Maine System

Last Modified: 03/14/08
These pages are currently being maintained from the
Knox-Lincoln County Office, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Send comments, suggestions or inquiries to Nadine Reimer