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C12.21 Pregnant Youth and Family Planning

Legal Authority

Social Security Act 477 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood ...

Introduction

Youth in out-of-home care (OOHC) are more likely to become pregnant or parent early as compared to their same-age peers. Pregnancy prevention and prompt prenatal care when needed are among the array of services to be provided to transition-age youth in OOHC.

Practice Guidance

It is critical to provide youth in OOHC information about reproductive health and contraception as described in C12.20 Sexuality Education, Prevention of Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases for Transition Age Youth.
When youth in OOHC become pregnant, it is crucial to provide them with accurate information and connect them to needed resources and medical care as early in the pregnancy as possible.
It is also essential to provide information and resources to expectant fathers as soon as possible so that they can contribute to informed decisions or prepare for a parenting role.

Procedure

The SSW:

Routinely discusses prevention of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention with transition-age youth and young adults, including ensuring access to contraceptives;
May work in partnership with caregivers and service providers to ensure provision of such information and resources is occurring on an ongoing basis and documents in the service recordings;
Ensures that the youth receives a physical examination if pregnancy is suspected, for confirmation of pregnancy and to determine when the baby is due to be born;
Discusses pregnancy with the youth in a factual, objective manner, as with any other medical issue, when a youth in OOHC is pregnant and needs information about their family planning options, including:

Abortion;
Adoption; or
Plans to parent the baby;

May request the assistance of providers, other staff, or health professionals in discussing these options with youth;
Informs the youth about all possibilities and remains neutral in the presentation of options, while ensuring current state laws are accurately represented;
Ensures information and resources are provided to the youth, including:

Medical services or prenatal care;
Adoption services and resources, if desired by the youth;
Financial support;
Counseling; and
Any other appropriate service;

Provides information regarding how to contact resources when the youth is aware of each option and asks for assistance with a referral;
Does not become directly involved in the implementation of the youth’s plans after the youth is aware of all options and has referral information;
Documents in TWIST that:

The youth has received a medical exam confirming pregnancy;
The youth has been provided information about options and resources;
Who provided the information, and
The date on which the information was provided.

Refers the youth for medically complex designation at any time during the pregnancy if it is determined that the pregnancy is high risk, or that the fetus has medical complications;
Ensures that the pregnant youth is assessed if substance misuse is suspected;
Ensures the youth receives services for smoking cessation or substance use if this is determined to be a need;
Ensures that the pregnant youth completes an online independent living skills assessment to determine areas in which the youth has strengths or needs assistance for:

Independent living by selecting the age-appropriate assessments;
Pregnancy health skills by selecting the Casey Inventory for Pregnant Teens; and
LYFT Learning curriculum (if not completed).

Ensures that the pregnant youth:

Attends all prenatal appointments;
Enrolls and attends all prenatal Lamaze classes when recommended by the medical provider;
Enrolls and participates in the Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) program offered through the local health department; and
Receives mental health services, if needed.

Ensures expectant fathers:

Have opportunity to attend prenatal appointments if invited;
Attends any prenatal classes offered that are inclusive of fathers;
Enrolls and participates in the HANDS program offered through the local health department; and
Receives behavioral health services, if needed.

Convenes a family team meeting (FTM) following the guidelines in SOP G1.8 Family Team Meetings and includes participants, including but not limited to:

The pregnant youth;
The youth’s parents, if no termination of parental rights (TPR);
Expectant father;
Foster parents or private child care (PCC)/private child placing (PCP) worker;
Regional transitional living specialist (TLS);
HANDS worker; and
Mental health therapist, if applicable.

Facilitates topics in the case plan meeting, such as:

Placement status and potential placement change if needed to allow the baby to remain with the parent;
Information on making an informed decision about parenting, adoption, or abortion;
The youth’s educational progress, including options such as special educational services and/or tutoring if needed; and
Options for post-secondary/vocational training.

Provides assistance to the parenting youth with the following after the baby is born:

Attendance at all post-natal checkups as scheduled;
Attendance at all well-baby checkups as scheduled;
Request for paternity testing;
Referrals for the following services:

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program through the local health department;
Family support for needed services;
Child care assistance when the youth is ready to return to school and/or work;
Kentucky Early Intervention System (KEIS), as needed; and
HANDS or parenting classes if not utilizing the HANDS program;
Family preservation or other Title IV-E prevention services if it would be beneficial to the parenting youth and child;

Follows procedures in SOP C12.22 Parenting Youth in Care and SOP C3.7 Early Childhood Services for Parenting Youth and Young Parents who Experienced Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) for further guidance on meeting the needs of young parents in care and their children.