Research has indicated that effective parenting programs for pregnant and parenting teens greatly improve educational and career opportunities for teen parents. Such research underscores the need for schools to use these programs in their efforts to increase high school graduation rates for this population. The aim of this case study was to assess if a school-based parenting program was successful and, if so, how elements of this program might be useful to educators who are planning similar programs. The study included an examination of archived program data, which included end-of-year reports related to the program and participants, and interviews with 12 key program administrators and teachers. Outcome evaluation theory and a logic model served as the conceptual framework. The research design had 2 parts: a quantitative secondary analysis of archived data and qualitative interviews. The program data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The interview data were downloaded into a computer-assisted qualitative software program to organize the data, code the data, and to determine major themes. Major findings were that the program met goals and objectives due to: (a) clearly stated and specific program objectives;(b) a high level of program support from district and administrative staff; (c) a major asset of the program, its curriculum; (d) adequate resources and funding, and (e) the active participation of, and open communication between, parents/guardians of program participants, faculty, and staff. This study contributes to social change by showing educators and parents that an effective school-base parenting program can result in improved high school completion and brighter outcomes for pregnant and parenting students.

The numbers of homeless adolescent mothers have been increasing over the past decade. Previous studies have focused on homeless individuals, but no studies examined late adolescent mothers' homelessness and pregnancy experiences while living in transitional housing. Using a phenomenological methodology, this study explored the lived experiences of 7 adolescent mothers, 18 to 24 years old, who were homeless, pregnant, and living in transitional housing. The social construction of reality theory provided the framework and interpretive lens for this study. Social networking and snowball sampling were used for participant recruitment. Through in-depth interviews, data coding and analyses were conducted to identify 6 major themes: (a) unknown risk and coping, (b) improved outcomes, (c) hopes, dreams, and goals, (d) rules, rules, and more rules, (e) strain, mental illness, and abuse, and (f) good and bad family relationships. Two primary public policy and social change themes were examined in depth: (a) improved outcomes and (b) hopes, dreams, and goals. These 2 key themes illustrated the importance of implementing sustainable social service public policy and the influence of transitional housing access on the lived experiences of adolescent mothers' homelessness and pregnancy. Southeastern Florida policymakers, in conjunction with public and private sector collaboration, can facilitate positive social change by creating and funding proactive and preventive initiatives to help reduce adolescent pregnancy, reduce homeless, and provide sustainable, skill-building transitional living centers.