Nicholls has added a new younger parents program called the Hands On Parents Education project here on campus. It is sponsored by a grant funded from the nursing department in conjunction with the Department of Social Services. “Basically the purpose of the program is to provide younger parents with support and information. Parenting is already hard and it is even harder when you are a younger parent.” Jessica Davies, program organizer, said.

“The groups also are here to give support and information by parents who were teens and younger parents themselves.”

She said the issues addressed at the meetings are group- centered, but the actual topics are suggested by the group members.

“The program is also a prevention program, to prevent teenage pregnancy from occurring,” Dr. Adrienne Bethancourt, assistant nursing professor, said.

Group members meet weekly to participate in the H.O.P.E. program.

“There are two groups that meet. One group meeting is during the day on Wednesdays. The day meeting is for Nicholls students who are parents, and lunch will be provided. The other group meeting during the evening is for all people on and off campus. The group meetings for the evenings are held on Thursdays. These meetings will provide a meal and child care,” Davies said.

However, Davies also said there is an evening group meeting in Houma.

The group meetings involve support and information on parenting and pregnancy. Other information given in the group meetings include a wide range of topics such as sexual transmitted diseases.

The younger parents program is sponsored by many groups at Nicholls.

“As of January the steps to success and the nursing department were awarded a grant from the Department of Social Services. There are several people here at Nicholls who are sponsoring the younger parents program. They are Dr. Adrienne Bethancourt, Pamela Williams, and Charlene Smith, who are assistant nursing professors,” Davies said.

Davies also said, “They have been instrumental in helping with the collaborate the program. They play an important role in recruitment and their students volunteer to provide child care during the group meetings.”

“In the summer there were three retreats. The girls who attended the retreats were from all over the area around Thibodaux, particularly from the Lafourche and Terrebonne parish. They participated in the Baby Think It Over program,” Bethancourt said.

“The girls had to carry with them a baby containing a computer chip. They went through the process of delivery, and had to carry the babies with them 24 hours in the dorms. It was a reality check for the girls,” Dr. Bethancourt said.

The H.O.P.E. program that is now being offered provides information for parents.

“I think for any parent you can never have too much support. Even for parents who think they have support they can still come to the meetings, and give support and information to other parents. By providing support and information it allows all of the parents to focus on being a parent,” Davies said.

Anyone who is a parent wanting information on the group meetings can call 850-6302.