TEEN FUTURES

Description

TEEN FUTURES is a multi-program organization centered around youth empowerment. Our largest programs are implemented within two Pasadena public high schools, as well as a Pasadena foster youth transitional living organization. Our primary program, "Baby, Let's Wait," focuses on teen parenthood prevention. Our counselors utilize small group dynamics to implement a 12-week long curriculum emphasizing healthy relationships, values exploration, decision making skills, sexual responsibility and healthy, emerging adulthood. By way of adult alliances, teens build their sense of efficacy in the world, engagement in the community and command over their destinies. Our supplementary program, requires the loaning out of Infant Simulators for a 48 period at some stage of the 12-week program. This is followed up with an hour-long one-on-one post-interview at some point during the 12-week program. Our trained counselors use this interaction to help teens process the experience and explore how it impacts their attitude about becoming a parent. TEEN FUTURES also hosts the male mentoring program "Mentors with Purpose" which implements a cascading mentorship approach. Adult males mentor male high school students who then mentor male middle school students. The young men in this program gain valuable leadership skills, in addition to learning a male's role in preventing teen parenthood. "LaunchPad" engages our teen participants through a career exploration process. In this program they learn applicable professional skills such as interview techniques, resume building, office etiquette and networking skills.