Young Parent Policy Fellows (YPPF)

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.  Meet the current Fellows here.

Some of the activities accomplished by the YPPF this year include creating the Emergency Resource Guide for Teen Parents, speaking at Teen Parent Lobby Day, creating an art exhibit for Teen Parent Lobby Day, and sending postcards to policymakers to advocate for funding for teen parent programs in the Massachusetts state budget. An important overall goal of the YPPF is for teen parents to positively impact the lives of other pregnant and parenting teens through policy change — in the words of one of our Fellows:

Being a member of the YPPF gives us the ability to change the lives of teen parents and their children across Massachusetts. The YPPF gives us an opportunity to better our futures. We can voice our opinions and present ideas knowing they will be heard. We are no longer wondering “What if we could change things?” But instead we are watching our changes happen.

Tabitha West, Fellow

How to Get Involved with the YPPF

If you are a current or former teen mom or dad (between the ages of 18 and 24) who wants to improve the lives of pregnant and parenting teens across Massachusetts, get involved in advocacy, and build leadership skills, then you are perfect for the YPPF!

Please contact Johnette Ellis at 617-482-9122 x107 or jellis@massteenpregnancy.org for more information about this opportunity.