November 2023Vol. 24, No. 9New Publication Provides Tips for Expectant and Parenting Youth in Care
Youth in foster care who are pregnant, expecting, or parenting require individualized services and supports to thrive. Unfortunately, these young people often do not receive adequate support from the child welfare system and face challenges related to a variety of issues, such as housing, education, and work. To help these youth better access the information, services, and resources they need, Child Welfare Information Gateway released a factsheet for youth with tips about government assistance, parenting supports, medical services, and more.
The factsheet, Expecting and Parenting in Care: Tips for Youth, was developed with the help of those who have direct experience expecting or parenting while living in foster care. These lived experience leaders from FosterClub partnered with Information Gateway throughout the development of the tipsheet by sharing their experiences, insights, and advice about expecting or raising a child while in care.
This resource is written for young people and features sections about pregnancy in care, parenting in care, and transitioning from care that address the following topics:
- Understanding your options when you or your partner becomes pregnant
- Prenatal care and health care
- Paternity testing
- Labor and childbirth
- Government assistance programs
- Child support
- Housing
- Education
- Workforce and career supports
- Parenting support
- Oversurveillance
- Mental health
- Transition planning from care
- Extended foster care
- Social support systems
In addition to the factsheet, Information Gateway also released a publication designed for child welfare professionals, Improving Services for Expectant and Parenting Youth in Care. Both publications are available on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website.