According to the report, rates fall slower in areas such as the Mississippi Delta because of socioeconomic barriers like poverty, discrimination and restricted sex education. Advocates say that the majority of discussion about teen pregnancy centers on prevention. But, what is the next step when a teenager falls pregnant? Malynda Townsend (20), is a single mother to two and one-year-old girls. When she discovered she was pregnant, she didn’t know how to “take care of a child.” She said that her father left her, and she dropped out from school. Townsend stated, “I tried my best to take good care of her.” Spring Initiative, a nonprofit organization that offers after-school and family programs, was her only option. Clarksdale Baby University was recommended to her and she decided to enroll. Baby University was established in 2014. It is a 10-week free program for parents of babies under 3 years old to give them the resources and knowledge they need to be great parents. Additionally, transportation and childcare costs are covered. Parents graduate from the program and are given a gift of their choosing, ranging from strollers to playpens. Spring was co-founded by Bianca Zaharescu. The program focuses on the individual needs of parents, their real life experiences, and their children’s development. Parents build peer support networks and learn research-based early child development curriculums. They also get hands-on training for their children. Baby University director Chelesa Presley leads two evening classes per week for between 10 and 15 families. The classes include lectures, videos and games, as well as interaction on a variety of topics such attachment, bonding, parenting styles, and brain development. Townsend said that a lot of the information was surprising and helpful for new mothers. It’s something that I didn’t know about parenting. Desiree Wilson (26), a mother of three, said that she didn’t know breastfeeding could do other things, such as keeping them from getting sicker more often. She attended Baby University sessions in 2015. Wilson agreed with Townsend, and added that there were many myths about breastfeeding, healthy eating, discipline, and child discipline. Wilson laughed, “My daughter was breastfed at birth and she’s still breastfeeding at two.” “When I went to the classes, I discovered different things that were not healthy for my children. I made a change. I learned how to interact and communicate with them. We set up play dates outside Baby U and had a lot of fun talking to our parents. It was a wonderful experience for me.” Zaharescu said that there are many things parents don’t know. But, she added, “It’s all about helping them through that” and not feeling guilty. Access to these resources can make the experience more powerful. Zaharescu stated that parents can benefit from these resources by improving their lives, confidence, and happiness. “The idea (of parenting) is complex and you can always sort of benefit from more support, more resources as parents because it’s a difficult job and an important job. On-the-ground interventionists in Coahoma County and Baby U participants agreed that open-ended discussions and holistic education should be the top priority to address the problem. Some parents will be upset that their child gets pregnant young, but they don’t know much about condoms and sex. Wilson stated that this community requires more parenting lessons, more education about how to prevent teenage pregnancy and how to provide them with information that doesn’t make them feel guilty for having gotten pregnant young. Presley acknowledged the slow progress but said the program was not the end-all. However, it can be used as a seed-planter. She said that behavior change can take time so she’s planting seeds that will mature later. Everyone wants to talk to teenagers, but it is important to start with parents and children at the very beginning. It changes everything when you shift the mindset. Talking about stuff and being open are the best things.” Erica Hensely, Mississippi Today’s investigative reporter, explored sex education in the latest Inform[H]er newsletter. It is dedicated to issues facing girls and women. Subscribe to the Inform[H]er right here.