§ 40-19-2 - Comprehensive parenting and pregnancy program established.

SECTION 40-19-2

   § 40-19-2  Comprehensive parenting andpregnancy program established. – The state, under the supervision of the department of human services, shallestablish the statewide comprehensive adolescent pregnancy and parentingprogram, which will include the existing department of human service programs,Project Hope, and Pawtucket's school based adolescent pregnancy project,providing both school based and community based services including, but notnecessarily limited to, the following:

   (1) To assist pregnant adolescents in accessing earlycomprehensive and complete prenatal and pediatric care which will be sensitiveto the special needs and risks of adolescents and infants;

   (2) Mobilize resources and/or provide support services toaccess adequate parenting programs, family involvement, nutrition programs,transportation, clothing, child care programs and job training and employmentopportunities;

   (3) In cooperation with the school systems, coordinate thedesign of an educational plan to include options for completing high schoolprograms;

   (4) In cooperation with the school systems, coordinate thedevelopment of plans to reach pregnant students in order to offer services andsupport to encourage pregnant and parenting students to remain and completetheir high school education;

   (5) Provide for crisis intervention and emergency assistance;

   (6) Home management and parenting and nutrition skillbuilding opportunities;

   (7) Encourage program providers to employ staff that isreflective of the racial and ethnic populations of the adolescents in theircommunity.