Program gives young mothers nutritional information

At 6 months, Michai Collins was ready to explore the world by putting things in his mouth.

Portia Davis, his 19-year-old mom, crawled from room to room looking for potential dangers at her baby's eye level - fallen change, a loose button. “Everything goes in his mouth,” Davis said.

As a teen participant in Parents as Teachers (PAT), she'll soon take advantage of a program designed to watch what goes in hers.

PAT in Jefferson City was selected to participate in Moms 4 Healthy Balance, a pilot program introduced to help postpartum adolescents develop healthy nutrition and fitness habits.

The program, funded by the National Cancer Institute, is conducted by the PAT National Center and St. Louis University of Public Health. Researchers will track the results of the program over the next five years. If successful, it could be implemented nation-wide.

Renee Hendrickson, Davis' parent educator, already meets with several teen mothers during home visits and in group meetings at Jefferson City High School (JCHS)'s Teens as Parents program.

Since the district found out in early January they were selected to participate in Moms 4 Healthy Balance, Hendrickson went to specialized training to introduce the program to students in February.

Along with regularly parent education, Hendrickson will focus time on nutrition and fitness. Program coordinators hope by promoting health in young mothers, a life-long habit will be established in the lives of children and parents.

According to Micca Ruffin, director of early child education, research shows when a teen parents chooses something to eat, they tend to also feed it to their young child. And French fries or soda aren't always great meals.

“Just because a teen has a child, doesn't mean they're done developing,” Hendrickson said. “They need to be taught what's appropriate.”

While being young may be an obstacle to motherhood, Hendrickson was quick to point out that the teenagers she works with want the world for their sons and daughters. Inexperience did not mean lack of love.

“They don't ever want to do anything that harms their child,” Hendrickson said. “They want knowledge and have to have it. They take pride in knowing they are caring for their child.”

Research will follow teen mothers who meet certain program criteria, but all students in the Teens As Parents program at Jefferson City High School will be able to benefit from the knowledge.

After graduating from JCHS, Davis started at Lincoln University several weeks ago. “I'm going to be a substance abuse counselor,” she stated decisively.

Hendrickson said she'll soon start working with Davis on the Moms 4 Healthy Balance curriculum along with the group of teen moms at the high school.

At first, Davis couldn't point to one thing as her motivation for success. Then she decided.

“The people in your life - you have to have a support system. She's part of my family,” Davis said, referring to Hendrickson. “Support is the key in anything.”

Parent educator, Reneé Hendrickson, background left, works with Portia Davis and her son Michai Collins. (Julie Smith/News Tribune photo)