Services Offered :: Young Mothers Educational Development (Y-MED)

Y-MED services are directed toward the young parent or parent-to-be who is pursuing a high school diploma or GED. Those who want to take full advantage of the program will enroll in either the credit or GED classes at McDowell Adult Education Center. There they may access comprehensive family life education, pregnancy care coordination, licensed child care, healthy snacks, bus transportation, the Y-MED "store," and the availability of the Y-MED staff.

Students who choose to remain in their home schools may still have care coordination and child care, although the latter will generally be limited to McDowell's schedule.

Academic Services

Students who are at least 16 years old and wish to enroll in Y-MED and at McDowell may do so during the registration periods preceding each quarter. A pregnant student may transfer to McDowell at other times early in the quarter if McDowell and Y-MED personnel agree that a transfer at that time is in her best interests.

Students who remain in their home schools may register with Y-MED at any time. Expectant mothers under the age of 16 may take the Human Development and Child Development classes, but must continue their academic classes either in their home school or at Jefferson Education Center.

An intake interview will be conducted by the Y-MED counselor; pregnant students will also meet with the nurse for a health history. Parents who want to use the nursery will meet with the nursery director to complete the application process.

Highlights:

• The small school setting allows a more personalized interaction between the students and the staff of McDowell as well as that of Y-MED.
• The credit classes at McDowell are based on 9-week quarters; a student may earn up to 3 credits during a quarter, up to 12 during the entire school year (more if enrolled in evening classes also).
• Y-MED students at McDowell who complete the requirements for graduation may participate in an impressive commencement ceremony, where they are awarded diplomas issued by their choice of Columbus East or Columbus North High Schools.
• Students aged 17+ may choose to enter the GED program. Those under 18 must schedule an exit interview at their high school, complete a pre-test, and enroll in a class designed to prepare them for the GED test.

Three comprehensive life education classes are available for Y-MED students at McDowell. These may either be taken as credit classes or audited for personal enrichment.

Human Development

Human Development is a thorough pre-natal class covering growth and development of the fetus, self-care for the mother, healthy nutrition and lifestyle, birth defects, sexually transmitted infections, birth control, and labor and delivery. Pregnant students and their labor support coaches attend class one evening at Columbus Regional Hospital for information and a tour of the birthing facilities. The Y-MED teacher and the staff nurse form a knowledgeable team to instruct the mothers-to-be throughout the quarter. Human Development is offered during the first and third quarters of the school year.

Child Development

Child Development covers the care and nurturing of the infant and toddler. Skills are taught in the classroom through a combination of lecture, discussion, research, and activities. After undergoing tuberculosis screening at the Health Department, students receive hands-on experience at the Y-MED nursery under the supervision of the classroom teacher, nursery director, and nursery staff. The class is offered during the first and third quarters.

Family Relations

Family Relations embraces a wide range of topics in the fields of personal growth and interpersonal relations, including but not limited to self-concept, personality, love, marriage, effective communication, substance use and abuse, and self-sufficiency. The classroom teacher allows the Y-MED counselor to conduct the class once each week. Family Relations is offered during the first quarter.

Support Services

Pre-natal care coordination

Pre-natal care coordination involves collaboration among the Y-MED nurse, counselor, and the expectant mother. Included in this service:

• Monitoring of health during pregnancy by the staff RN
• Childbirth education through individual and class instructor
• Home visits during pregnancy and after delivery
• A pregnancy care plan for a healthy mother and baby
• Referrals to appropriate service agencies

Client Counseling

Counseling is offered to young parents both before and after the birth of the baby.

• Individual and group counseling by a licensed mental health counselor
• Monitoring of student's attendance and educational progress
• Social assessment
• Referrals to outside agencies or professionals

Additional Services

• Milk, juice, and healthy snacks are available at no cost.
• The Y-MED "store" contains new and gently used baby clothes and other items for the young parents. Purchases are made with incentive Y-MED "dollars" earned through grades, attendance, participation, or other achievement.
• Bus transportation can be arranged for students and their babies who live within the Bartholomew County Schools district.

Child Care

The Y-MED nursery is licensed to provide free or low-cost care for babies between the ages of 3 weeks and 24 months while their parents attend classes. Located just up the street from McDowell in the Columbus Child Care Center, the nursery is staffed by a director, who is also a registered nurse, and trained nursery teachers.

• Nursery hours are based on McDowell's schedule. It is open from 7:45 until 1:00 unless other arrangements are made.
• Food and formula is furnished according to the child's doctor's dietary instructions.
• Teaching is designed to stimulate the infants' motor skills, socialization, language, and cognition.
• Guidance, education, and a listening ear are offered to the parents by the nursery staff.
• Infants receive love and nurturing at no extra cost!

Requirements

In order to use the nursery, the parent must

• contact the nursery director for an appointment to complete required forms. This may be done during registration for first and third quarters on a walk-in basis.
• obtain the pediatrician's signature on instruction forms.
• furnish the required documents and information
• register with Human Services for child care vouchers