The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW), Bureau of Child Support Enforcement (BCSE) developed a Teen Parenting Outreach Program entitled “Teen Parenting: Playing for Keeps.”  The program was developed in cooperation with the County Courts of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Sections and the Pennsylvania State University.  The program goals include:

•  Inform teens about Pennsylvania’s Child Support Enforcement Program;
• Educate teens about the responsibilities of parenting; and,
• Reduce child support cases with parents under the age of 18.

The program is designed for presentation in a traditional classroom setting but is also available for delivery to larger audiences. The presentation provides an overview of the child support process in Pennsylvania using video clips showcasing teen parents who share their experience, interactive exercises, and open discussion to:

• Explain the child support process and how to obtain services;
• Highlight the child support responsibilities of a teenage parent; and,
• Facilitate classroom discussion of the difficulties of preparing for and raising a child as a teen parent.

BCSE will deliver the program free of charge upon request to high schools across the state beginning with pilots in six school districts in September 2011 for students in grades 9 through 12. Statewide rollout will follow the pilots for all school districts in Pennsylvania. To date, 38 school districts have requested the presentation. Presentations can be scheduled by contacting Ms. Jacqueline Berrier atjberrier@state.pa.usor (717) 772-2203, or Mr. Kevin Guistwite atkguistwite@state.pa.usor (717) 705-7120.