As hard as it’s been for parents of young children to cope with the life-changing obstacles of this pandemic, imagine how difficult it is for first-time parents of infants and toddlers, especially parents who are under age 21. They have educational goals for themselves and their children, but may also have urgent needs for housing, income, childcare, food, or health care.
PPMM Teen Parent Support Program (TPSP) Senior Case Manager Mindy A. has been supporting young Santa Clara County parents during this time with frequent phone check-ins, including calls to guide them through online enrollments for public aid programs or even explaining confusing terminology on many of the forms, in Spanish or English.
“Whether it’s helping them navigate how to pick new primary care provider or talking them through an application process for returning to school, I can help them get through the process and help minimize their stress,” Mindy said. “I’ve also helped people apply for jobs and enroll in high school or higher education, while they’re also caring for their children.
“We have really been able to continue our youth advocacy, despite the pandemic, keeping young parents engaged and connected to the help they need.”