Second Chance Homes

Providing Transitional Living Programs for Youth with Children

click here for a link to a list of Wisconsin's Second Chance Homes

Second Chance Homes are supervised nurturing residences for teen families with nowhere else to go. The majority of these teen’s families have histories of abuse, neglect, substance abuse, or circumstances that make it impossible for the teen mothers to live with them.  Second Chance Homes provide teens with babies, who have no appropriate adult relative with whom they can reside, with a safe, stable, and supportive living arrangement. The teens are required to learn parenting skills, child development, family budgeting, health and nutrition, and other skills to promote their long-term economic independence and the well being of their children.

 

Text Box: BREAKING THE CYCLE “TEEN MOTHERS” • 60% of teen moms have been sexually assaulted as children • 80% of teen moms lived in poverty before they became pregnant • 7 out of 10 teen moms will not have a high school diploma by age 30 • More than 7,000 girls under age 20 give birth in WI every year “CHILDREN OF TEEN MOTHERS” • Are more likely to be born premature and 50% more likely to be low birth wgt. • Are far more likely to be physically abused, abandoned, or neglected • Sons of teen mothers are 2 times more likely to end up in prison The Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services Second Chance Home Project will address several injustices and ensure that all homeless pregnant and parenting youth in WI will have a safe alternative to the street. On the level of service provision, this project addresses the needs of disenfranchised pregnant and parenting teens who are not currently provided with resources that will teach them necessary parenting skills. This project also addresses the need of these young people and their children for a safe living environment by creating a system of second chance homes.  Despite pressing needs, rural areas have frequently been denied federal funding due to the presumption of a lower incidence of need for services. Many rural programs are unable to collaborate with other agencies due to lower overall service availability and lack of staff time. Ultimately this results in inadequate service provision for residents of rural areas, despite existing problems.  Additionally, only federally funded programs (typically urban) provide reports that influence federal policy and research.  Problems associated with running away or teen pregnancy are studied (and funded) based on urban needs with little attention given to how these problems manifest themselves in lower populated areas.  Those rural agencies that manage to provide such services find themselves with less funding and lacking in tools and methodology to provide services in a manner that is appropriate to the needs of their service population.  Based on the WAHRS statewide funding model, the Second Chance Homes project will ensure funding for Transitional Living Programs for young people and their children is evenly distributed throughout the state.

 

WHY ARE SECOND CHANCE HOMES NEEDED IN WISCONSIN?

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

 

In the development of the Wisconsin Association for Homless and Runaway Services Second Chance Home Project, the Association will:

·        Implement a 24 hour technical assistance hotline for Second Chance Home directors and staff..

·        Develop statewide standards for Transitional Living Programs serving young people who are pregnant or parenting.

·        Provide on-site technical assistance in the development of Second Chance Homes by Association staff and staff of existing Transitional Living Programs.

·        Track progress of state and federal funding and providing technical assistance to programs regarding the funding and application process.

·        Represent Transitional Living Programs and their clients on State, Regional, and National levels

·        Ensure that members will be kept up to date on issues regarding pregnant and parenting teens.

·        Develop and provide a forum for program collaboration and exchange.

·        Provide Statewide training conferences geared towards issues affecting homeless and parenting teens.

·        Provide Technical assistance regarding legal issues affecting pregnant and parenting teens by knowledgeable staff.

·        Distribute materials addressing issues affecting pregnant and parenting teens to programs

·        Provide joint on-going training opportunities based on the needs of Second Chance Home directors and staff.