PREGNANT TEENS TAKE PARENTING CLASSES; `ALL IHOPE TO BE IS A GOOD PARENT TO MY DAUGHTER,' MAINTAINS COURSE PARTICIPANT

In a conference room at the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, five pregnant teen-age girls met for the last of six pre-parenting classes Tuesday. Each wore an unmistakable look of anticipation, questioning her ability as a soon-to-be parent.

"All I hope to be is a good parent to my daughter," one teen said. "I was an only child. I've never been around small children much. I'm afraid I won't know what I'm doing."

Donna Fields, director of the group, was reassuring in her response.

"You just kind of figure it out as you go along," Fields said. "It's your baby; you'll really end up doing a much better job than you now think you're going to do."

The teen pregnancy group is a division of PARENT (Parent Accessibility Resources) groups in Cape Girardeau County.

The PARENT program sponsors four different classes: one for single parents 19 and over, one for parents of teen mothers, a support group for teen parents and special six-week programs for expectant teens or teens with children.

All programs are free, and transportation can be provided for participants. Free child-care services are also provided.

Over the past six weeks, the teen-age girls have heard from a variety of speakers on topics ranging from child care and safety to how to have fun as a parent.

Those who attended received free gifts every week for themselves or their babies. Participants will also be given a certificate for free childbirth education classes at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

"We try to give them movie tickets, baby blankets, diapers, passes for free meals things that they need for themselves and for their new baby," Fields said. She added that the PARENT groups accept donations or gift certificates from area businesses to pass on to the group participants.

At Tuesday's meeting, the girls were told about resources available to them in the community ranging from low-income health care to parenting assistance.

Fields, who is employed by the East Missouri Action Agency, told the girls about the health care and contraceptive services available through her organization.

Lynn Karens, an employee of the Division of Family Services, invited the teens to join her sessions for new teen parents. Karens said that the sessions try to give every woman who attends a free bag of diapers for her baby.

When asked what they thought of the group, the girls unanimously agreed that the presentations and guest speakers provided a novel approach and several little-known tips to rearing a child.

"I've been to a lot of these things," one teen said. "I got information in this class that none of the others provided."

Fields was glad to have been given the opportunity to lead the classes.

"The kids that went through this program are showing an affirmation of their effort and devotion to becoming good parents," Fields said. "These girls are trying hard; they're concerned about their babies.

"Society will point its finger at pregnant teens and call their actions irresponsible," she continued. "I saw no irresponsibility in these girls. They are doing what's right in a difficult situation."

The next six-week program for pregnant teens is expected to begin some time after the first of April.

The support group for teen parents meets the second Thursday of every month at the Cape County Health Department.

For more information about any of the PARENT programs, call Lynn Karens at 290-5603 or Molly Strickland at 334-5866.