A new class is designed to help teen mothers and fathers make the grade as parents.

Called Shared Beginnings, the program offers parenting classes, support groups and career coaching, said Dr. Elan Welter Lewis, founder and director of Family Pathways, a 15-year-old agency designed to meet the changing needs of Butler County families.

“It is a program specifically designed for pregnant and parenting teens to understand the severe needs of young parents,”said Welter Lewis. “We have had similar services before, but they ended because of budget cuts.”

The program is open to people between the ages of 12 and 21.

The Shared Beginnings program is needed, said Welter Lewis.

“Teen pregnancies are beginning to rise in this county. They had been dropping for the past decade, and in the last two years they are starting to creep up again,” she said, adding there are nearly 100 pregnant teens attending schools in the county and more taking classes in cyberschool.

“I think it is the economy and youth not having opportunities for recreation. Families have to work longer and harder, so children have less supervision,” she said.

“Also the television programming makes it cool to be a teen parent now. They really glamorize teen pregnancies,” said Welter Lewis.

Shared Beginnings will have support groups for teen mothers and teen fathers.

In these groups, participants will learn about parenting, hygiene and health care.

“There will be a big push toward continuing education and a big push for not having subsequent pregnancies,” said Welter Lewis.

Grandparents also will have their own support group.

“It's quite a shock to hear their child is expecting. They will be able to talk about how scary it is, and see other grandparents who have made it through to the other side to the joy of having a grandchild,” she said.

She said there also will be an incentive program. Teen parents will win “Baby Bucks” for participating in such activities as attending a doctor's appointment or completing a home visit.

The baby bucks can be traded in for items such as diapers or baby wipes in the program's “baby boutique.”

“It's for the main things they have a hard time getting because they don't have the financial resources,” said Welter Lewis. Family Pathways will supply the items either by buying them or through donations.

Shared Beginnings will teach life skills such as budgeting, nutrition and healthy eating.

Welter Lewis said Family Pathways is building a kitchenette in the Shared Beginnings classroom. so teen parents will be able to cook and eat meals as part of the learning.

Welter Lewis said she also hopes to start a used-clothing exchange for teen parents to get articles of baby clothing. They can bring them back and exchange them for larger items as their child grows.

Participants in the program will be referred to Shared Beginnings by school guidance counselors or doctors.

“We will do some social marketing through radio and some advertising,” said Welter Lewis.

“The biggest challenge is staying in school and thinking of a long-term plan. We have to keep them thinking about the future and help them attain a healthy future.”

Shared Beginnings is funded over the next three years through a $120,000 grant from the Pa. Children's Trust Fund, which receives its money from a $10 surcharge on marriage and divorce applications.

“We certainly think that this is exactly the type of program to reach out to young parents so they get a little more support, and our society has the chance of avoiding neglect and abuse in our child population,” said Donna Kirker Morgan, a spokesman for the Dept. of Public Welfare, which oversees the trust fund

“It's one of nine programs that received funding in this round of grants,” said Kirker Morgan. “They are proven programs that are successful in teaching parenting skills and reducing abuse and neglect.”

For information about the Shared Beginnings program, call 724-284-9440.