The Economic Opportunity Program, Inc.'s
umbrella program for Chemung and Schuyler County
pregnant and parenting teens
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Next Step
Next Step began in March, 1986 as one of the first outreach intensive case
management programs dedicated to working with pregnant and parenting teens in Chemung and
Schuyler Counties. As a result of the Teenage Services Law (TASA) passed in
1984, every county in New York State should have a case management program to work
with the pregnant and parenting teen population.
As a result of Next Step's dedicated effort, the program has grown to
include
community partnerships focusing on primary prevention and intensive strategies for
enhancing self-sufficiency with young families served. A description of each program
within the Next Step Component of the Economic Opportunity Program, Inc. follows
below.
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NEXT STEP Participant Bill of Rights
At NEXTSTEP, each participant has the right to:
Be approached in a caring and non-judgmental manner.
Be treated with dignity and respect and regarded as worthy and valued.
Feel understood and listened to.
Expect an appreciation of differences without judgment.
Be assured of absolute confidentiality.
Voluntarily enroll into the NEXT Step program.
Be informed of all other services available.
Request services be ended at any time during program enrollment.
Expect regular monthly contact from NEXT Step staff, or more often as
needed.
Have choices and make decisions with information and support.
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The major goal of this Program is to work with and support teen parent families to
become independent, economically self-sufficient and to achieve family life stability.
This case management service is available to male and female teens, under 21 years
of age who are expecting or have a child. In addition, in Schuyler County the
Program also serves youth at-risk under 21 years of age. In both Counties, teens must be either Medicaid eligible directly or have a child who is
Medicaid eligible. This Program serves all
program participants up to age 21 years of age.
Highlights of this service include:
Voluntary enrollment into program on outreach basis.
Comprehensive needs assessment.
Information and referrals provided for needed services.
Frequent contacts with other services involved to coordinate
service plans and delivery efforts.
Short and long range goal planning with an emphasis on career
oriented education and training, employment, family planning, primary health care and
child care. Revisions made as necessary.
Continuous counseling, ongoing follow-up and support.
Transportation assistance provided to and from services on an
as needed basis and in conjunction with meeting planned goals.
As an outgrowth of community partnerships, Next Step Case
Management has added a Job Coach who develops job placements, makes job
placements and provides continuous support for job retention. Particular attention
is given to teen parents more vulnerable to unsuccessful work experience so that social
skills needed for job retention are reinforced.
To enhance family life stability and foster good parenting, Next Step also schedules
group sessions with teen parents that meet weekly. Child care and transportation are
provided so that young parents can participate in the group process. Many and varied
topics are covered including: parenting, relationship building,
affective communication as well topics related to family problem solving and
employment readiness.
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Next Step is a participating member of CCAPP which is a community partnership
dedicated to prevention of teen pregnancy and the development of projects and activities
aimed at giving youth positive messages about their own value and providing experiences to
reinforce self-confidence. This partnership involves: the Arnot Ogden Medical Center's
Health Center for Women; Chemung County Health Department; Elmira City School District; Planned
Parenthood of the Southern Tier; and the Southern Tier Interfaith
Coalition, the YMCA and Schuyler-Chemung-Tioga-BOCES. CCAPP as a community program is funded
by the NYS Department of Health. There are
several service components to this comprehensive prevention effort. At Next
Step, the Coordinator of CCAPP facilitates the partnership planning and program
monitoring. Special events with youth are also planned, e.g. weekend retreat
experience at a local college. In addition to CCAPP coordination, Next Step sponsors
two additional prevention education service components as described below.
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The CAPTeen program consists of volunteer students from Elmira
Free Academy and Southside High School, who serve as peer educators.
All participants must maintain a passing grade in all courses
and provide three letters of recommendations (not from a relative or close friend. Two
should be from teachers or employers.)
The CAPTeen program is an (abstinence-based program) which
conducts presentations on various teen issues to:
High School and middle school students.
Parent and teacher gatherings
Groups outside the schools.
The goal of the CAPTeen program is to empower teens to be
effective decision makers in their own lives and to be valuable resources to their peers
and to the community. Students receive a minimum of 35 hours of training before giving
presentations. Training includes information needed to deal with issues involving
abstinence, sexuality, reproduction, sexual transmitted diseases, relationships,
referral sources, and other sensitive issues affecting personal health.
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Next Step's Teen Parent Panel is made up of program participants
who share their experiences as young parents to students in the elementary, middle
and junior high school grades and community organizations.
The Panel portrays an honest and realistic picture of what it's really like to be a teen
parent. Panelist talk about financial issues, single parenthood, lack of
privacy, loss of freedom and fun, the affects that parenthood has on their
education and personal goals for growth and development.
The panel encourages abstinence and appropriate choices regarding sexuality and addresses
myths about getting pregnant and being a teen parent.
The Teen Parent Panel experience also gives Teen parents an opportunity to build
confidence and make a positive contribution to the community.
Requests for either the CAPTeen or Parent Teen Panel to make a
presentation at your school or organization can be made by contacting the Prevention
Education Coordinator at EOP's Next Step Program: 318 Madison Ave., Elmira, N.Y. 14901 or
by calling: (607) 734-6174.
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EXCELS (Experiences in Career
Education and Life Skills)
*Services provided by the Next Step Partner*
MISSION: Is to provide participants with a
greater chance for employment and self-sufficiency.
Next Step and Projects For Success working together
to secure the future with our teens by providing better employment opportunities
through vocational training and assistance in finding employment.
EXCELS PROVIDES:
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Short term vocational training at BOCES
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Case Management services
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A Job Development/Placement Specialist to assist with work
readiness, job search and development
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Monies for childcare, transportation, uniforms and supplies
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Work with SCT BOCES pregnant and parenting teens with job readiness
workshops and job shadowing opportunities
WHO QUALIFIES?
18 to 21 years of age
Residents of Chemung and Schuyler Counties
Participating in an E.O.P. Projects For Success or Next Step Program
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