By Christina Campbell
As a teenager, Cassie Rowan learned the responsibilities of balancing high school and having twins. Now Rowan’s twins are six and she teaches teenage parents through a program called Pregnancy, Education and Parenting (PEP).
“I went through the program in Mabank and it benefited me so much I wanted to work with it,” Rowan said.
The PEP program is run through the HELP Center in Athens.
According to the center, the PEP program is a dropout prevention program for pregnant and parenting teens.
“Often these teens are overwhelmed with everything and our main goal is to keep them from dropping out,” Rowan said.
The program offers help during the academic year to anyone enrolled in a Henderson County school and actively attending.
“They have to have confirmation by a doctor if they are pregnant and turn their paperwork into the school,” Rowan said. “Usually the school will suggest our program.”
Twice a month parents meet at the school with a counselor from the PEP program, along with a school contact for the program.
“It is a one-hour meeting, and they can discuss things with each other or they can talk to a PEP person individually,” Rowan said. “We discuss their goals, what their career goals are and what they want for their future.”
She said they also teach parenting skills and pregnancy education. For example, if a parent is experiencing a particular problem with their child, the group may discuss how to handle the situation.
“It is also a lot like a support group,” Rowan said.
Another service this program provides is a licensed day care for parents who attend school.
“It is a free program as long as they are in school,” Rowan said. “And if they live in one of the schools farther away, we try and help arrange day care.”
The program offers many services to help mothers and fathers finish school.
“I also believe the numbers show a difference in dropout rates and also help the parents learn how to cope with a baby,” Rowan said. “For me, (the most important part was) the involvement with other people in the same situation.”
For more information on the PEP program call the HELP center at 903-675-4357.
—————
e-mail ccampbell@athensreview.com
