Teen Parenting Initiative

Teen Parenting Initiative Program (TPI) is a school-based program for teen mothers who are pregnant and/or parenting children ages 0-3, and attending high school in Chicago. The program currently provides these services at seven Chicago Public High Schools, and focuses on school completion and prevention of child poverty.

TPI is a relationship-based program with a specific focus on the prevention of subsequent pregnancies and school completion. Parent Educators work closely with the teens to promote self-sufficiency, strengthen parent /child relationships within the family system and to ensure school readiness for the child. Services for each teen are individualized and specific to their needs, as well as culturally sensitive.

TPI recently began offering specialized services to teen fathers, a program expansion that reflects the importance of fathers in the lives of babies born to teen mothers. Currently, TPI serves approximately 300 teen mothers and their children, and about 40 fathers.