City-As-School High School
Joanne M. (Room 101)

-All Are Welcome-

LYFE's Mission:

LYFE provides comprehensive services to meet the needs of teenage parents who wish to stay in school or resume their education. Its mission also includes providing a school-based child care program for the babies of these teenage parents that is based on an understanding of child development and accepted best practices of infant and toddler development.

Background:

LYFE is a school-based program that has been in existence since 1982. It uses a multidisciplinary case management model that accesses a variety of services to benefit young parents. Located in 41 sites in city schools, the program assists approximately 700 to 1,000 parenting female teens and 50 teen fathers annually. It serves African-American (70 percent), Hispanic (24 percent), white (5 percent), and Asian (1 percent) populations from 12 to 21 years old. On-site child care is provided.

Description:

Through an initiative of the City Council, the LYFE program provides services for teen parents who are enrolled in regular or alternative high schools or who are preparing for the GED exam. While these young parents attend class, LYFE provides developmentally appropriate child care for their children (from 2 months to 3 years of age) in schools or school sites throughout the five boroughs. Each center provides care for 10 to 40 infants and toddlers. Licensed early childhood teachers and specially trained caregivers provide a nurturing, caring environment for each child. In addition to their academic program, student parents are encouraged to take a credit-bearing parenting class covering topics such as nutrition, health care, child development, and short and long range planning. Teen fathers are encouraged to participate, and support groups and counseling are provided by social work staff.

LYFE assists students in finding their next child care placement after they leave school. Each center is linked to an extensive social service referral network developed by the social worker and family outreach paraprofessional assigned to each center. LYFE works closely with the child care community, particularly the Day Care Council of New York, the Agency for Children’s Services, the Department of Health/Bureau of Day Care, and the Bureau of Nutrition. School health clinics and hospitals are also valuable links in the social service networks developed by the LYFE staff.

LYFE operates two Early Head Start programs, one in collaboration with the Educational Alliance, a 107-year-old New York multiservice agency, and the other in collaboration with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. LYFE is participating with the Educational Alliance and New York University in the national Early Head Start evaluation.

Cultural enhancements for parents and their children include trips to the libraries, children’s museums, farms, and concerts and performances around the city. The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides Doing Art Together, a program where toddlers and parents enjoy art experiences. Queens College operates a family literacy program at several sites and two other sites are involved in the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) Program. The Teachers and Writers Collaborative has worked with several sites in a Read To Me Program where parents and babies read together and each parent makes a special book for her own child.

Evaluation Methods:

LYFE monitors graduation statistics, students’ academic records, babies’ health records, early intervention referrals, and developmental screenings. It also conducts follow-up ("After LYFE"). In addition, the Early Head Start programs are in local and national evaluations.

LYFE Supports...

Social Services

• LYFE Provides an array of Comprehensive Socail Services to meet the needs of young parents who wish
  to stay in school and complete their high school education.
  
• The center is linked to an extensive socail services and health referral network developed by the social workers and family outreacher paraprofessionals.
  
• Social workers provide individual and group counseling and other support services. They work with the immediate and extended family to stabile the environment so that the young part can concentrate on school attendance and academic success.
  
• Our social workers ensure a smooth transition to post-secondary education or employment and assist the students in finding thier next childcare placement when they are ready to leave high school.

LYFE Cares...

Infant -- Toddler Care

• The LYFE Program is grounded in understanding of child development and based on accepted beat practices in infant-toddlers education.
  
• We believe that by establishing respectful, warm and nurturing relationships with babies and providing an environment that invites active exploration and play, we encourage optimum growth and development for all our infants and toddlers.
  
• The LYFE nurseries are under the direction of licesnsed early childhood teachers. All staff members have specialized training in infant-toddleer development, health and safety.
  
• A small group of children is assigned to each primary caregiver ensuring individualized, continuous care.
  
• LYFE nurseries are inclusive. We work closely with Early Intervention providers.

LYFE enriches...

Parent education and cultural enhancements.

• Credit bearing parenting classes are provided at many sites.
  
• LYFE staff run parenting aupport groups and individualized parenting instructions at all sites.
  
• "Reading is Frundamental" and "Read to Me" programs build early Literacy skills.
  
• "Chances for Children" provides support for the parent-child relationship at several LYFE sites.
  
• Trips for Parents and babies introduces yound familes to a wider cultural world.
  
• Early Head Start provides enriched services at several LYFE site