The Boys & Girls Club has ventured into new territory, working with the Pasco School District to keep teen parents in school while educating them about child care in the process.

Called Brighter Horizons and operated on the Horizons Alternative School campus in Pasco, the program opened with the 2007-2008 school year. Currently the Club has more than two dozen families enrolled with new growth weekly. Children attending can range in age from 4 weeks to 36 months old.

The Boys & Girls Club works with teen parents in an onsite center for one class period per day to help moms and dads gain experience and further their knowledge of caring for the children. They work right beside our Club staff in a supervised environment to feed, play, rock and read to their children. The Boys & Girls Club staff will also teach teen parents how to implement the READY! for Kindergarten program and when they have completed the entire session they will receive the materials for free.

This mentoring partnership is great for the teen parents who are able to finish their high school education on campus while their children are being cared for. The Pasco School District has been extremely supportive in our goal: keep teen parents in school while teaching them the fundamental skills of caring for their children. The school has also allowed our staff access to their resources.

Through the Brighter Horizons program we hope the Boys & Girls Club can make an impact on the lives of teens who are faced with completing school while raising young children. If we can keep them in school and teach them life skills, as well as experience in the child care industry, we’re hoping to give these young parents a leg up so that they too can become productive, caring and responsible citizens today and for years to come.