Nov. 19, 1999
Contact: Teressa Tignor Gilbreth
Information Specialist
(573) 882-9144
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PREGNANT TEENS DRAW FROM EXPERIENCE OF RESOURCE MOTHERS IN MU EXTENSION PROGRAM
by Kristi Thompson
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Sierra James approached her pregnancy with the gusto and enthusiasm of any expectant mother, but her ardor was tempered by the knowledge of challenges ahead. After all, James was just 17 years old when she gave birth to Joshua, now a plump and bright-eyed two-month-old.
"I was scared," James recalled. "I needed a lot of people there with me and a lot of support." That's exactly what she got. Her mom was present for the birth, and so was the baby's father. One of her biggest sources of support, though, came from a woman she'd never lain eyes on until well into her second trimester. Lania Knight is James' friend and confidant. The two met after James joined Resource Mothers, a program introduced to Boone County by University of Missouri-Columbia Extension.
"Lania's someone I can really talk to on the same level --" I don't have to feel shy," James said. "She's really interested in my life and helping me out, and we have a lot of the same ideas about raising children."
Resource Mothers pairs pregnant teenagers with older mentors -- usually mothers themselves -- who provide guidance and support through the pregnancy and first year of life. In fostering this relationship, the program aims to improve the health of the teen mother and her infant, reduce child abuse potential, reduce parenting stress and support positive decision making.
"Research shows that if mothers have healthy babies and if they are knowledgeable about parenting, they're less likely to feel stress," said Lynn Blinn Pike, an associate professor of human development and family studies and MU Extension state specialist who helped organize the pilot program in 1993.
In evaluating results of the pilot program, researchers found significantly reduced child abuse potential; significantly reduced feelings of distress and social isolation; fewer hospital visits for infants; more commitment to breast feeding; and fewer repeat pregnancies.
"Many of these girls lack the social support they need during this transition in their lives," Pike said. "Some want a best friend. Others want a mother figure."
The mentoring relationship supplements the pregnant teen's natural social support network, which in many cases is dwindling or nonexistent. From doctor visits to attending monthly group meetings, the mentor's role is to encourage the young mother to make responsible decisions for the sake of her baby. Some mentors help determine a financial budget, others attend Lamaze classes with their younger partners.
"I know how incredibly hard it is," said Knight, a 30-year-old mother of two. "No one told me that, though. I thought everyone else was just breezing through, and I was struggling along. I wanted to be very honest with her about my experience."
For James, the program helped her keep sight of the future. Although she quit attending high school shortly after she learned she was pregnant, Knight helped James study for and pass the General Equivalency Diploma exam last June. In January, she'll begin working toward a degree in social work at MU.
"I'm really thankful that we had something like that to work on together," Knight said. "We had a task before us, but we were able to talk about the pregnancy in between math problems and studying."
With 14 Missouri communities sponsoring outreach groups modeled after Resource Mothers, MU Extension no longer directly administers the program. MU Extension's role now is to disseminate information and training materials and provide technical support to communities interested in introducing a Resource Mothers program.
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