Concepts and Approaches to Welfare for Teenage Mothers

Most teenage mothers often conceal their pregnancies because families usually cannot accept the pregnancy. Most are still students or have unstable jobs and are likely unable to care for the child after birth. Some teenage mothers have psychiatric conditions, disabilities, or substance abuse issues. The welfare approach for teenage mothers needs to work with both the teenage mothers and their families, as detailed below.

Goals in Working with Teenage Mothers

• • Safe and quality pregnancy under acceptance, respect for decisions, and consideration of the rights of teenage mothers
  • Semi-permanent contraception to prevent premature repeat pregnancies
  • Rehabilitation and enhancement of the self-worth of teenage mothers
  • Empowerment to be self-reliant and not a burden on society
  • Support to appropriately fulfill the roles and responsibilities of a mother
  • Preserve, protect, and safeguard the rights of teenage mothers

Goals in Working with the Families of Teenage Mothers

• • Support and enhance the capacity of the teenage mother’s family to accept and appropriately care for the child
  • Provide counseling to families to accept and raise the child with quality
  • Protect the mother and child according to relevant laws, such as the Child Protection Act, the Domestic Violence Victim Protection Act, and the Anti-Human Trafficking Act
  • Strengthen the relationship between the teenage mother and her family
  • Enhance acceptance and relationships between the family and the community, including acceptance of the teenage mother and child
  • Support the community in protecting the teenage mother and child

Welfare to be Provided for Teenage Mothers and Families

• • Consultation on options to consider whether to raise the child themselves or give the child up after birth
  • Coordinate safe and friendly pre- and post-natal accommodation (if needed)
  • Prenatal care and continuous antenatal services
  • Assist in managing healthcare rights
  • Coordinate with the teenage mother’s family
  • Coordinate with other relevant agencies, such as in cases of violence
  • Provide financial and material support necessary for living
  • Coordinate temporary childcare services to allow teenage mothers to develop readiness to care for the child themselves after birth
  • Arrange for adoptive families in cases where the teenage mother and family cannot care for the child
  • Support funding and other materials to empower teenage mothers to be self-reliant in the future

In the opinion of the Sahathai Foundation, with over 40 years of experience in caring for teenagers and pregnant women, it is believed that providing welfare for teenage mothers to care for their children must be carried out alongside welfare for children born to teenage mothers to ensure these children grow up to be quality members of society in the future.

Facilitating Factors are as follows

1. 1. Agencies responsible should have staff with attitudes and skills ready to work with teenagers facing problems adequately
   2. Provide and support teenage mothers with safe places to stay for quality pregnancy
   3. Establish a fund to help teenagers rehabilitate and develop their potential to help themselves and be able to raise their children
   4. Have agencies that support teenage mothers in acquiring self-management skills and fulfilling the role of a single mother
   5. Provide facilities and welfare both centrally and locally to support the original family in raising children born to teenage mothers with quality

Network Book Supporting Women’s Choices for Unplanned Pregnancies
Worker’s Manual: Working Together to Care, 7th Edition, 2018