A Lasting Impact: Community Support for Young Parents
The Community Support for Young Parents (CSYP) project officially ended on September 30th, 2021. This three-year initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs, supported expectant and parenting teens and young adults including fathers. The CSYP program focused on meeting the educational, social service, and health needs of eligible individuals and their children during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Children’s Trust of South Carolina provided administrative and fiscal oversight and sub awards funds to Fact Forward for programmatic oversight and training, and to the SC Center for Fathers and Families to manage local fatherhood programs. The University of South Carolina’s Rural and Minority Health Research Center provided evaluation support.
Agencies providing direct support to participants included Darlington County First Steps and Man 2 Man in Darlington and Florence Counties, Family Outreach and A Father’s Place in Horry County, Prisma Health Healthy Start program and Midlands Fatherhood Coalition in Richland County, and the Mary Black Foundation, Middle Tyger Community Center in Spartanburg County and the Upstate Fatherhood Coalition in Anderson and Spartanburg Counties. A total of 992 individuals were reached, including 548 mothers and 374 fathers.
Prior to completing the project period, CSYP partners sat down to discuss the uniqueness, impact, and outcome of the project. Leaders from Children's Trust of South Carolina, Fact Forward, The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, A Father's Place, and Middle Tyger Community Center all took part in the discussion.