The Elizabeth Ministry Two-Generation Approach

1. The Elizabeth MinistryTwo-Generation Approach “Mommy will you read to Me?”

2. Introduction to The Elizabeth Ministry • The Elizabeth Ministry (TEM) is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization, organized in 2006, and fully operationalized in 2013 with the acceptance of 18 teen mothers and their children into its community. • TEM is located in Ward 7 of the District of Columbia at 200-210 55th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019.

3. Introduction to The Elizabeth Ministry • TEM’s mission is to provide comprehensive, stable, quality housing and developmental supports to teen mothers (near aging-out of the child welfare system) and their children. • TEM’s ethical commitment is to guide and support the young women such that they become loving and nurturing parents; and empowered young women--intellectually, economically, socially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. • TEM’s model is family-centric, and focuses upon the healthy development of both mothers and children. Through the AsA Early Learning Academy, TEM provides quality early childhood development to the children who reside in the TalithaKoum residential community; and using as its teaching/learning model, the Abecedarian program. TEM embraces the principle that children should be ready to learn when they enter school.

4. TEM’S Population Served • TEM has 18 young women and 20 children in one of its 3 programs located on TEM’s secure campus in far-Northeast Washington, DC: • one program supports teen mothers near-aging-out of the District’s foster care system (11). • A second program supports young women who aged-out-of foster care and were homeless within the past year (7); • and the onsite infant toddler development program (AsA Early Learning Academy—AsA) for children of teen mothers in TEM’s residential community.

5. Overall goals of two-generation work: • They will forego another pregnancy until they have achieved school completion, and are working and earning a living wage; • They will complete school or achieve a GED, and enroll in workforce development programs and/or higher education; • They will become healthy, supportive parents; and achieve, • Economic security through savings and money management

6. OVERARCHING CHALLENGE FAMILY LITERACY

7. Specific two-generation initiative aimed at family literacy “Mommy will you read to Me?” • Draws upon the conversational program of the Abecedarian model; • Interactively engages mother/father and other caregivers with their children as young as birth; • Causes parents/caregivers to read and have conversations with their children while they teach children object recognition; • Parents/caregivers’ reading skills are enhanced as they teach children using a basic outline known as the 3S’s: seeing, showing, and saying.

8. Challenges & Anticipate Outcomes • Our greatest challenge will be getting parents to stay committed to the process[ • Our desired outcomes are that, • Parents are reading nightly to children; • Parents are routinely using the lending library and checking-out at least three books per week; • Parents will master the teaching/learning process as demonstrated by their improved language and reading skills ; • Children will demonstrate their improved language skills by identifying complex objects and using more descriptive language.

9. Questions for the group • How do you propose that we stop the tide of social promotions that occur in our schools that leave young adults so vulnerable? • Is there a public policy strategy that might also be pursued? • What recommendations would you give me for keeping parents engaged?