The Missouri IV-D Child Support Program will use the Parenthood Can Wait Program to address teen parenthood issues by targeting at- risk young teens, who are enrolled in an alternative school or who are in the custody of the Division of Youth Services. By offering various parenthood curricula, independent living skills, child support education, financial literacy, and mentoring services the Missouri Child Support Program hopes to change teens’ behavior and mindset to reduce the likelihood that they live in poverty. This program will offer pre-parenthood content aimed at youths that are not yet parents and a teen-parenting program for those who are already parents or primary kinship caregivers. Increasing understanding of the financial costs of parenthood can be particularly persuasive in helping young teens make responsible decisions around parenting.
