Make Your Voice Heard (teen parents, providers, supporters)

Who knows what the future will hold for our country?  We certainly don’t, but we want to make sure we’re prepared.  Last week, the United States House of Representatives announced their plans to cut teen pregnancy prevention initiatives, family planning services, and maternal and child health services.  Is this what we can expect in the future? { Read more … }

The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy believes that connecting policymakers to the story of teens and teen parents in their communities is the most effective way to meet our public policy goals. A critical part of our policy work is to help teens, teen parents, and service providers develop the skills and confidence they need to bring their voice to the development of policies. In this way, we ensure that the people most affected by policies are involved in creating and changing them. { Read more … }

Click here for fiscal year 2013 budget priorities for teen pregnancy prevention and teen parent services. The fact sheet includes current and previous state budget funding levels for these services.

The annual Teen Parent Lobby Day is a central piece of the Alliance’s work. It brings teen parents, their children, and their supporters to the Massachusetts State House to advocate for young parent programs. The event is also an important opportunity for teen parents to become involved in the policy process and to share their stories. { Read more … }

About the YPPF

The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy Young Parent Policy Fellows (YPPF) is a group of current and former teen parents working to help government decision-makers understand the needs of pregnant and parenting teens in Massachusetts. The Fellows provide the Alliance with a teen parent perspective on our policy strategies and projects. This improves the effectiveness of our advocacy on behalf of teen parents and provides teen parents an opportunity to build leadership skills and get involved in policy advocacy.  { Read more … }

Tips for Advocating to Policymakers

• Meeting with Legislators
• Writing and E-mailing your Policymakers
• Calling your Policymakers
• Additional Ways to Advocate

When legislators know more about the programs and the people they serve, they are more likely to support these programs.  { Read more … }