In 2009, Youth & Family Connections, in collaboration with several partner agencies identified an unmet need in Weld County concerning teen pregnancy, teen parents and their ability to access services that can significantly reduce the negative impact that teen age pregnancy and parenting can have on their lives.  These challenges often include balancing school, finances, child care, parenting and being parented, and their own physical and emotional development.

Seeing this unmet need, Youth & Family Connections created the Weld County Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Support (WTPPS) project through the utilization of SSUF Round I funds.  Within the first year of operation, 49 teen parents, 43 pregnant teens were served and 382 at-risk-youth were presented with pregnancy prevention education/materials and referred to appropriate services, education and/or support deemed beneficial for their circumstances.

Through the utilization of SSUF Round III funds, Youth and Family Connections continued to act as a county-wide resource center for parenting and pregnant teens, and continued to develop additional services, supports and provide a more focused and coordinated response to this issue.

This program is structured to provide pregnancy prevention education to at-risk teens throughout Weld County and a county wide resource center designed to help parenting and pregnant teens receive direct support services and education.  Some of the no-cost services available through this program include pre & post-natal healthcare, parenting education, child birth support, nutrition classes, short term child care and relationship building. This is a collaborative community effort to support and nurture positive infant care, enhance parenting skills, reduce the potential for additional pregnancies and promote self-sufficiency for young parents as they remain engaged in the education.

Youth & Family Connections receives referrals for intervention and support services from school districts, law enforcement, the Juvenile Diversion program, Probation Department, Weld County Health Department, several municipal courts and Weld County DHS to help parenting/pregnant teens in Weld County.

The Truancy Response and Intervention Program (TRIP), developed over successive years and implemented in July 2008, involves YFC staff working with the19th Judicial District Truancy Court and 9 school districts in Weld County to provide intervention services, support and alternatives for middle and high school students with excessive unexcused absences (truancy) or on the verge of dropping out. TRIP has been designated as a “best practice” Truancy Intervention model by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) based on our work with truant youth during the 2008/2009 school year. Approximately 450 students participate in the TRIP program each year.

Each school district determines criteria for students to be referred to TRIP, Level I for intervention support, typically 2-4 unexcused absences. YFC staff complete an individual assessment with the student and at least one parent to determine the cause(s) for the attendance issue and offer specific recommendations, which may include accessing services designed to impact those causation factors and support the student's return to school or provide other educational alternatives. Students failing to improve school attendance after the needs assessment or having more than 10 unexcused absences during the school year may be taken to Truancy Court by their school district and be subject to a court order compelling attendance and requiring participation with TRIP, Level II. Failure to comply with the court order may result in a contempt of court action by the school district, which elevates the student/parent to TRIP, Level III. At this point the student/parent will be subject to consequence based supervision, continued case management by YFC and other services deemed appropriate to help the student reengage in school or alternative education options.

The 19th Judicial District Truancy Court/Magistrate makes use of the services/features of Youth & Family Connections to compel school attendance, provide supervision and resources which are supportive of students reengaging the educational process. Weld County School Districts RE-1 Gilcrest, RE-2 Eaton, RE-3J Keenesburg, RE-4 Windsor, RE-5J Johnstown/Milliken, RE-6 Greeley/Evans, RE-7 Kersey, RE-8 Ft. Lupton and RE-9 Ault refer students for truant behavior. Support services such as school/attendance records, liaison with attendance personnel and tutoring services are provided at the school sites by the individual school attended by the students involved in this program.