Roadmap for Effective School-Based Practices to Support Expectant and Parenting Youth: Lessons from the New Heights Prog
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FROM THE FIELD
Roadmap for Effective School‑Based Practices to Support Expectant and Parenting Youth: Lessons from the New Heights Program in Washington, DC Subuhi Asheer1 · Susan Zief1 · Ruth Neild1
© The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Introduction New Heights is a voluntary school-based program that provides a well-defined system of supports for expectant and parenting students in Washington, DC, and was found to be effective at improving educational outcomes. This study explores the program elements and practices that, when used together, improved academic outcomes for New Heights participants and define a possible roadmap for service providers interested in replicating the program’s success. Methods The study team collected data through site visits, key informant interviews, staff surveys, program observations, case files, and program materials. Results The core design and implementation elements of the New Heights program are (1) placing a trained staff member in the school to provide advocacy, case management, education, and in-kind incentives; (2) bringing community-based service providers into the school; (3) giving trained staff autonomy and a strong grounding in local context; and (4) using a highly collaborative process to hire and support school-based coordinators. Discussion Staff and funders interested in improving outcomes for young parents in school could use the experience of New Heights and the key practices that were critical to its success as a guide: (1) ensure that the program is well defined but can be tailored to the needs of schools and students, (2) engage community partners to bring services to participants, (3) hire and train the right staff who are committed to “do whatever it takes,” (4) actively cultivate a culture of collaboration among program staff, and (5) develop buy-in with school staff and illustrate program value. Keywords Case management · Expectant and parenting youth · School-based programs · Advocacy · Program implementation
Significance What is already known? Programs designed to address the needs of young expectant or parenting mothers often use multiple components and approaches, involving numerous partners. The body of evidence on the effectiveness of some of these programs is growing, but there is still a lack of knowledge about what drives program success. What does this article add? This paper defines and explores the key program design and implementation components of New Heights, an effective school-based program for young parents, which was found to increase * Subuhi Asheer sasheer@mathematica‑mpr.com 1
Mathematica, P.O. Box 2393, Princeton, NJ 08543, USA
credit accumulation; reduce absenteeism; and, to some extent, increase school completion rates. We share key lessons learned for the field based on the program’s successful implementation in Washington, DC.
Introduction Programs designed to address the needs of young expectant or parenting mothers often use multiple components and approaches, involving numerous partners (Person et al. 2018). The body o
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