The only statewide comprehensive school-based program in the nation that serves pregnant and parenting teens and their families
DAPI provides a standards-based educational opportunity for pregnant and parenting teens with unique outreach, mentoring and supportive services promoting empowerment and self-sufficiency.
Academic Instruction
Certified teachers are provided to the pregnant and parenting teens served at the Delaware Adolescent Program, Inc. (DAPI). The teachers are provided through area school setting. The students also receive homebound instruction in the core classes offered in any middle or high school setting. The students also receive homebound instruction immediately following the delivery of their newborn baby. A regular school day is provided to each student. All work compliments the course-work provided from the students' home schools.
Social Services
Each center has a social worker to assist the students with issues that cannot be addressed during class time. The social worker is responsible for coordinating services for the students to assist with proper academic programming and attempting to assist the family in preparing for a new baby. The students are able to receive individualized case planning that will transition them to healthy decisions for the future. The students participate in prevention sessions each day to teach them how to make independent life choices for future success.
Child Care
Pregnant and parenting students require assistance with placing their newborns into a daycare program that will allow them to continue their educational studies. DAPI provides this service in each center. It is the student's choice to keep the baby in the center where she attends school or use an alternative placement. The students receive help with this process to ensure there is a solid childcare plan following the delivery of the baby.
Health Services
On-site medical attention helps each student to feel safe during the course of her pregnancy. The students are able to access a certified nurse at every location. The students ask questions, hear the heartbeat of their babies, and address any other medical appointments. The nursing staff provides free child birth classes each week and on going medical case management services.
Be a Mentor
The Laurel Kids Connection Mentoring Program is a high quality mentoring program that matches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students, one-on-one, with trained community mentors. This unique program is family friendly, and has been designed to improve academic achievement, link positive school experiences to the student’s family, provide job and career planning concepts, and promote parent and community involvement via the Laurel Kids Connection Advisory Committee. Accepting up to 50 students, this mentoring program will continue to run during the summer months. Most students and their mentors meet for an hour each week at the Laurel Public Library.
