Teens With Tots is a Comprehensive Program of Support and Child Care for Teen Parents and their Children.
Teens With Tots (TWT) offers support services and child care services to thirteen teen parents and their children. Support services are provided by a mental health clinician and include bi-weekly psycho-educational support groups, monthly parent child activity sessions, and weekly or bi-weekly individual counseling.
Teens With Tots offers family or center based child care services to the teen’s children to support their efforts to continue their education and/or employment. Children can enroll in one of our Cole-Harrington’s Family Child Care System’s family child care homes located in towns in the Bristol, Norfolk or Plymouth counties, our Infant Toddler Enrichment Program, Preschool Enrichment Program or the Children’s Place, all located in Canton.
The age of the child, proximity to child care program and parents’ preferences are factors considered when choosing a particular child care program.
ENROLLMENT/ELIGIBILITY
Teens With Tots (TWT) is open to teen parents up to age 20, who meet income and service need guidelines as specified by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Eligibility requirements include enrollment in high school, GED program or higher education or employment. A minimum of twenty activity hours per week is required. Funding for TWT is provided at no cost to teens.
Teen parents currently participating in the state’s Department of Transitional Assistance Program can also participate in the program. A referral for these teens can be obtained by the local voucher management agency. TWT staff can help facilitate this referral.
Once enrolled, teens may stay in the program until the end of the month that she turns 20. If the teen is in college, she may remain in TWT until the completion of the college semester. Upon graduation from TWT, children can remain in their child care program with funding provided by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Depending on the teen’s income a parent fee may then be assessed.
Service Areas Covered by TWT:
CURRICULUM
TWT’s psycho-educational groups cover a variety of topics, such as balancing school, work and family, money management, family planning, nutrition education, domestic violence, substance abuse prevention and parent education. Parent child activity sessions are led by an early childhood educator and are designed to support healthy parent child interactions for children’s optimal growth and development. Individual counseling sessions are structured to support each teen’s specific developmental needs for growth and well-being.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation is available to children on an as-needed basis to attend child care and for parents to attend biweekly evening group counseling. Transportation is also provided for teens to enable them to attend their counseling and parent child activity sessions. Child care is available for the evening group sessions.
SCHEDULE
Teens With Tots is open during the school year with an option for continued services during the summer for teens enrolled in school or working.