P&P October 2016

Figure 1: Pregnancy Prevention as a Breakthrough Strategy for SuccessfulTransition to Adulthood

multiphase plan with built-in agility for swift course adjustment as indicated and congruent with evolving readiness, capacity, momentum, and landscape. See Figure 2 for the starting points. We focused on areas of immediate influence and oversight authority: social workers, foster and kinship care- givers, and youth and young adults in foster care. These starting points also laid the pathway for pregnancy pre- vention as a breakthrough strategy for successful transition to adulthood (see Figure 3). 5. Identify and cultivate dedicated leaders Identify a group of internal and external champions to spearhead planning, mobilize resources, trouble- shoot, study lessons learned along the way, adjust course, pursue emergent opportunities, and guide and anchor advancement. This requires passion, sustained attention, specialized skillsets, influence, consistent partici- pation, and lots of time. We established a three-level oversight structure to optimize the harnessing of momentum, broad support, and sustainability. Each group level maintained a structured meeting and written communications schedule to monitor progress, adjust course if indicated, celebrate successes, troubleshoot challenges, and sustain meaningful engagement. „ „ We convened a larger external Steering Committee of community partners representing the juvenile dependency court; education; housing; foster youth; public health; child welfare social workers, super- visors, and managers; foster and kinship caregiver education; policy advocacy; research; transition age youth service providers; early child- hood in-home visitation providers; mental health; and funders. This group was tasked with developing the strategic plan, developing policy, guiding implementation of recommendations, and overseeing continuous quality improvement.

Figure 2: Starting Points

● Reproductive Health & Parenting Policy & Procedure ● „„ Resource Guide ● „„ Training (induction & ongoing) ● „„ Data Collection

● „ Training ● „„ Reasonable &

Prudent Parenting Standard

● „„ Resource Guide ● „„ Medical Provider

Improved Practice, Improved Outcomes

Report with prompts for reproductive health, HPV & OBGYN referral

Social Workers

● „„ Pregnancy & STI

Prevention Evidence- Based Curriculum ● „„ Youth Engagement ● „„ Resource Guide ● „„ PHN ● „„ Middle & High School Comprehensive Sexual Health Education ● „„ Pregnant & Parenting Planning Conference ● „„ In-Home Visitation for Expectant/New Parents ● „„ Askable Adults

Caregivers

Youth/Young Adult

Community Partners / Steering Committee

See Teen Pregnancy on page 40

October 2016 Policy&Practice 27