Funded Projects

Early Childhood Intervention for Young Parents

Project Year

2025

City & State

Miami, Florida

Program Name

CATCH Resident

Topic

Teenage Pregnancy & Parenting

Program Description

Problem and Interventions: Pregnancy rates among teens age 15-19 in the United States have dropped from 618 to 15.4 births per 1000 since 1991, falling to the nation’s lowest point in 70 years and continuing to decrease annually. The trend has been linked to increased use of contraception, school-based sex education, access to abortion, and societal messages urging teens to wait until marriage or financial stability to conceive children. However, teenage pregnancy continues and particularly affects communities of color; in 2018 the birth rate for Hispanic and black teens was almost double the rate among non-Hispanic white teens and five times the rate of Asian-American and Pacific Islander teens (Livingstone). Teenage pregnancy is a risk factor for complications such as prematurity and gestational hypertension as well as sociocultural, psychological, and financial consequences for the family. Therefore, once a teen becomes pregnant, supporting families is a crucial initiative for high-risk communities.   Pediatricians are in unique positions to care for both teen parents and their children. In this program, we focus on promoting healthy outcomes for early childhood and adolescent development. The literature on children of teen parents suggests a higher risk of cognitive delays and language learning that become apparent by the start of preschool (Molborn et al). Furthermore, these parents are still pediatric patients themselves. They are more likely to drop out of school or fall behind in their academic milestones, which impacts their readiness for higher education and the ability to seek higher-paying jobs. To promote healthy futures for both child and parent, holistic educational and social support is needed.  Parenting classes, counseling, and other resources for young parents are conducted in a variety of settings, but access disparities may exist among Miami's diverse neighborhoods and immigrant populations. We want to build a special connection between pediatricians and young families in Miami through individualized developmental play sessions. We will also screen children for developmental delays and navigate conversations about academic readiness in the parents as well. Trust between patients and providers is built through direct connection; we will apply our diverse experiences within pediatrics to facilitate these sessions in a safe and joyful atmosphere.   Project Goals and Anticipated Outcomes: Our specific goals are to (a) Increase scores on the Home Literacy Environment Questionnaire (HLEQ) by 30% in our population after one session and donating age-appropriate books for both parent and child, (b) achieve 50% rate of contact with developmental referrals we provide when children fall short of Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC) thresholds for their age by the second session, and 75% by the third session, and (c) to increase knowledge and comfortability with developmental milestones among parents and pediatric trainees.   Primary Setting and Children Affected: We are focusing community partnerships on The Honeycomb House, a nonprofit serving adolescents and teen mothers in Miami, and a local shelter for women and families. We hope to build vital partnerships within our community and reach teens who range widely in terms of access to medical and social care. We aim to enroll 15-20 families in the program. 

Project Goal

To provide education on early childhood and adolescent development as well as developmental referrals to young families in Miami through pediatrician-led sessions.

Project Objective 1

To Increase scores on the Home Literacy Environment Questionnaire (HLEQ) by 30% in our population after one session. 

Project Objective 2

To provide timely screening for developmental delays using Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC) questionnaires. Among families with concerning SWYC scores who are referred to the appropriate developmental services, achieve 50% rate of contact with those services by the second session and 75% by the third session.  

Project Objective 3

To  advance the literature on young parents in urban settings, and how practitioners can recognize and respond to the needs of these complex families.  

AAP District

District X

Institutional Name

University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Health

Contact 1

Allison Ong, MD