Parenting Can Wait Locations

The Missouri IV-D Child Support Program intends to use the Parenting Can Wait Program to address teen parenting 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 parenting 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-parenting content aimed at youths that are not yet parents and a teen-parenting program for those who are already parents or primary kinship caregivers.

Many children cannot learn effectively in traditional school environments and run the risk of dropping out. Alternative school programs may vary region by region, but aim to ensure that the needs of the children and adolescents who cannot learn effectively in a standard school environment are provided a learning opportunity to give them the most successful futures.

Alternative Schools

Cape Central Academy

Cape Girardeau, MO
Cape Central Academy is a public high school located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Cape Central Academy enrolls students 9-12 from throughout the Cape Girardeau Public Schools District.

Frederick Douglass

Columbia, MO
Frederick Douglass Alternative High School is an alternative public high school located in Columbia, Missouri. Douglass enrolls students 9-12 from throughout the Columbia Public Schools District.

Northwest School

Marshall, MO
Northwest School is an alternative public high school located in Marshall, Missouri. Northwest enrolls students 9-12 from throughout the Marshall Public Schools District.

Pearce Hall

Wentzville, MO
Wentzville School District has just over 17,400 students and serves over 85,000 residents. The High School Alternative Program is available for students from all three high schools in the Wentzville School District.

Charleston School District

Charleston, MO
Charleston R-I School District is a public school district located in Charleston. Charleston is a city in Mississippi County. Charleston has a population of 5,947 and has 880 students in grades K-12.

Within the division there exists a continuum of residential facilities with community based, moderate care, and secure care programs. Regardless of the security level, an overall emphasis is placed on meeting the individualized psychosocial, educational, vocational, and medical needs of the youth in a dignified, structured, supportive, and therapeutic environment. Youth learn to recognize the various factors associated with their unhealthy decisions and to identify and implement appropriate and effective ways of meeting their needs while respecting the rights of others. Common treatment targets include communication and social skills development, problem solving, conflict resolution, substance abuse prevention, establishing healthy relationships, esteem enhancement, and victim empathy enhancement. Educational achievement and vocational skills are emphasized as well.

W.E. Sears

Poplar Bluff, MO
The W.E. Sears Youth Center (SYC) is a 24- hour, residential treatment program operated by the Missouri Division of Youth Services (DYS), a division of the Missouri Department of Social Services. Located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, SYC has the capacity to house 60 male juvenile offenders up to 18 years of age who are committed to DYS through the juvenile court system.

Giradot

Cape Girardeau, MO
The Girardot Center for Youth and Families (GCYF) is a 24-hour, residential treatment program operated by the Missouri Division of Youth Services (DYS), a division of the Missouri Department of Social Services. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, GCYF has the capacity to house 24 male juvenile offenders up to 18 years of age who are committed to DYS through the juvenile court system.

Fulton Treatment Center

Fulton, MO
Fulton Treatment Center is a 32-bed staff secure moderate level residential treatment facility operated by the State of Missouri, located in Fulton, Missouri. The facility serves adolescent boys, ages 14-17, who have been committed to DYS through the juvenile court system.

Camp Avery

Troy, MO
Camp Avery Park Camp (CAPC) is a 24-hour, residential treatment program operated by the Missouri Division of Youth Services (DYS), a division of the Missouri Department of Social Services. Located in Troy, Missouri, CAPC has the capacity to house 36 male juvenile offenders up to 18 years of age who are committed to DYS through the juvenile court system.

Hope Life Learning Center

Sikeston, MO
Hope Life Learning Center is a DYS Day Treatment Center. Both male and female students receive supervision, education, treatment and recreation services while living in their community. The facility serves adolescents, ages 14-17.