Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Planning Council Supports Teen Families

Did you know that…
• Despite recent declines, the teen pregnancy rate in the U.S. is still much higher than the rates in all other industrialized countries?
• Each year about 750,000 U.S. adolescents age 15 – 19 become pregnant and more than 400,000 give birth?
• Teen childbearing costs this country an estimated $9.1 billion annually? Most of the costs are associated with negative consequences for the children of teen mothers such as the costs of health care, foster care and incarceration.

The Planning Council, in partnership with UW-Milwaukee Center for Urban Initiatives and Research, is currently evaluating a program that aims to reduce the number of repeat teen pregnancies in Milwaukee. The program, called “Supporting Teen Families,” is run by Rosalie Manor Community and Family Services and serves over 100 pregnant and parenting Milwaukee teen mothers annually.

The evaluation is now entering its fifth and final year. Preliminary results have shown that program participants are:
• Learning positive nurturing parental behaviors;
• Improving their relationship with the fathers of the babies and with adult supporters;
• Achieving self-sufficiency goals;
• Learning job strategies;
• Understanding their babies’ developmental needs; and
• Using effective family planning techniques.

To view a poster with more data about Supporting Teen Families, visit our website at http:\\www.planningcouncil.org. To learn more about Supporting Teen Families or other services provided by Rosalie Manor Community and Family Services, visit their website at http://www.rosaliemanor.org.

Primary funding for the initiative is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Adolescent Life, Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention. Local support is currently provided by Windhover Foundation, Catholic Community Foundation, Park Bank, Kiwanis of Wauwatosa, Krause Family Foundation, Women’s Fund, St. William parish and an anonymous foundation donor.

Poster of Rosalie Manor "Supporting Teen Families" Evaluation

Published April 2010

Download or View it HERE .pdf format.

The Planning Council, in partnership with UW-Milwaukee Center for Urban Initiatives and Research, is currently evaluating a program that aims to reduce the number of repeat teen pregnancies in Milwaukee. The program, called Supporting Teen Families, is run by Rosalie Manor Community and Family Services and serves over 100 pregnant and parenting Milwaukee teen mothers annually. Preliminary program evaluation results were shared via a poster presentation at a recent U.S. Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention conference. Click on the link above to access the poster.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Planning Council 2009 Annual Report

Published April 2010

Download or View it HERE .pdf format.

Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare 2009 Annual Report

Published April 2010

Download or View it HERE .pdf format.

The Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare (Ombudsman Office) is a free, public service that conducts objective, impartial, and independent reviews of case-specific concerns regarding the safety, permanence, and well-being of children and families involved with the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (Bureau). The 2009 Annual Report provides information on areas for improvement, contacts for services, and review findings. Click on the link above to access the report or click here to view the Executive Summary.

Planning Council Supports Quality Services for Children and Families

Did you know that…
• From June 2005 through December 2009, the Ombudsman Office received 544 complaints?
• In 2009, 81% of complaint findings affirm the actions of the Bureau?
• 52% of recommendations in 2009 were systemic?

The Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare (Ombudsman Office) is a free, public service that conducts objective, impartial, and independent reviews of case-specific concerns regarding the safety, permanence, and well-being of children and families involved with the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (Bureau). To learn more about areas for improvement, contacts for services, and review findings, visit our website at http:\\www.planningcouncil.org to view the 2009 Annual Report.

The Planning Council has also released its 2009 Annual Report. This can also be found on the Planning Council’s website.