Roadmap for Effective School-Based Practices to Support Expectant and Parenting Youth: Lessons from the New Heights Program in Washington, DC.
INTRODUCTION
New Heights is a voluntary school-based program that provides a well-defined system of supports for expectant and parenting students in Washington, DC, and was found to be effective at improving educational outcomes. This study explores the program elements and practices that, when used together, improved academic outcomes for New Heights participants and define a possible roadmap for service providers interested in replicating the program's success.


METHODS
The study team collected data through site visits, key informant interviews, staff surveys, program observations, case files, and program materials.


RESULTS
The core design and implementation elements of the New Heights program are (1) placing a trained staff member in the school to provide advocacy, case management, education, and in-kind incentives; (2) bringing community-based service providers into the school; (3) giving trained staff autonomy and a strong grounding in local context; and (4) using a highly collaborative process to hire and support school-based coordinators.


DISCUSSION
Staff and funders interested in improving outcomes for young parents in school could use the experience of New Heights and the key practices that were critical to its success as a guide: (1) ensure that the program is well defined but can be tailored to the needs of schools and students, (2) engage community partners to bring services to participants, (3) hire and train the right staff who are committed to "do whatever it takes," (4) actively cultivate a culture of collaboration among program staff, and (5) develop buy-in with school staff and illustrate program value.
['Asheer|Subuhi|S|http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0155-2117', 'Zief|Susan|S|', 'Neild|Ruth|R|']
D000293:Adolescent D016497:Adolescent Health Services D004219:District of Columbia D005260:Female D006801:Humans D016487:Parenting D011247:Pregnancy D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence D016730:Program Development D012574:Schools D012944:Social Support D013332:Student Dropouts
Expectant and parenting youth School-based programs Advocacy Case management Program implementation