Young Moms' Experiences With Education and Policy Recommendations

• In Event: In Their Own Words: Young Parents' Experiences With Education and a Call to Action for Education Stakeholders

Abstract

This paper describes the second symposium presentation that will center the voices of young parents. The process of reflection required to build this presentation utilizes a desire-based rather than deficit-based framework to avoid further harming marginalized groups (Tuck, 2009). This desire-based framework centers young mothers' experiences to understand how they employed strength and advocacy and identified policy or program supports to achieve their desired state rather than describing their deficits. This process is important as engaging youth in issues that impact them can foster critical questioning, confidence, and collective and sociopolitical identity (Watts & Hipolito-Delgado, 2015).

Two previous research studies engaged young parents in participatory processes. Barcelos and Gubrium (2018) held digital storytelling workshops with pregnant or parenting teens who created videos regarding motherhood, sexuality, or another topic. This provided a tangible product for young moms, but data interpretation was completed by the researchers only. Secondly, Carter (2018) created educational policy recommendations with young mothers. These are examples of sharing power in research that situates lived experience as important.

This proposal further creates a grassroots call to action by using lived experiences of young moms to impact policy. In this part of the symposium, three current young moms will describe:
how they experienced high school and the transition to college including what helped them succeed,
what colleges, K-12 schools, and federal and state policymakers can do to better support young parents.

Their lived experiences will focus on intersections of identity such as race and ethnicity, class and income, citizenship, and more. They will reflect on the support that their high school offered including benefits and what they gave up by choosing an alternative high school program. Finally, they will focus on the transition to attending college and will share stories regarding problematic college advising, FAFSA and dependency requirements, and other barriers such as securing childcare.

Authors

• Guadalupe Cosme
  Presenting Author

• Laura Ruiz
  Presenting Author

• Sinetra Wilson
  Presenting Author