BRIDGE

BRIDGE (Birthing Readiness: Individualized Development and Growth through Education) offers a home-based visitation program utilizing a prenatal care experienced public health nurse to provide individualized education in a family-centered model. The program is designed for pregnant teens, and focuses on "bridging the gap" between education typically offered in the clinic setting and childbirth preparation classes. The program follows a specific curriculum individualized to meet the client's own self-defined needs, and is implemented through a series of three home visits, scheduled during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. This approach allows the client to seek information at her own pace and comprehension level, thereby increasing her sense of autonomy and encouraging her active participation. Clients are encouraged to include the identified supportive persons (usually the father of the baby, sometimes parents) as desired.

The goal of this program is to educate teen parents about pregnancy, birthing, and parenting.

In 24 months, 138 teen women received 311 BRIDGE visits.