Healthy Babies Project announces it will host its 2011 Teen Parenting Empowerment Program (TPEP) orientation Monday, January 10 at 4:30 PM and officially launch its 2011 TPEP series on Monday, January 24 at 4 PM.
TPEP is a 20 – 24 week holistic program that educates and empowers D.C. teens to be effective parents, to make better life choices and to become responsible citizens. All sessions are held at Healthy Babies Project (801 17th Street NE, Washington, DC).
What do teen parents and parents-to-be learn at TPEP?
A teen facing with the reality of parenthood is understandably afraid. TPEP addresses topics most important to teens through group discussions, lectures, and hands-on sessions designed to take the guesswork out of parenting.
TPEP is held on Monday nights at the Healthy Babies Project from 4:00 – 7:00 PM and covers child development, workplace readiness, budgeting, relationships, and other topics. Participants are offered free child care and nutritious meals. TPEP is open to teen mothers and their partners.
Perhaps TPEP’s most significant ingredient is its Effective Black Parenting sessions, which help participants examine their parenting beliefs and discuss choices they can make, with the ultimate goal of reducing the cycle of abuse and neglect.
More benefits to participating in TPEP
For every TPEP session registered teens attend, they receive $5 in TPEP “Bucks” which they can redeem at our TPEP “store” for hygiene products, baby clothes, or school supplies.
At the completion of the sessions, participants receive a $200 stipend, participate in a graduation ceremony, and attend a family-centered camp where they can build on the leadership and team-building skills they learned during TPEP.
What is required to participate?
All participants will sign a contract indicating their willingness to comply with the program requirements and complete a TPEP Registration Form.
Quality staff, quality program, quality results
TPEP Coordinator, Kahlil Kuykendall, MA, is a certified yoga instructor, former teacher, and has held a number of positions as a community leader. When not working with TPEP participants, Kahlil teaches yoga classes for children, adults and pregnant women.
Ruth Rich, MA, and Director of Health Education and Development for Healthy Babies Project, serves as TPEP facilitator. Ruth’s expertise in youth development and health communications (with an emphasis on cultural diversity) perfectly equip her to guide and mentor this groundbreaking program.
Launched in 2003 when HBP discovered that its numbers of teen clients increased each year, TPEP has proven to achieve outstanding results in equipping D.C.’s teens to be responsible and effective parents. Since 2005, 92% T-PEP participants have graduated from high school, obtained GED, go on to college, training, the military, or become employed.
For more information about HBP’s Teen Parent Empowerment Project (TPEP), contact Kahlil Kuykendall at (202) 396-2809, by email, or at Healthy Babies Project, 801 17th St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002