In a perfect world, Mother’s Day is a celebration of mothers and all that they do. But for people who carry memories of childhood trauma, the feelings it evokes can be painful. Being a mother is hard for most of us, but it can be especially hard for young people with a history of trauma, who may not feel able to be the kind of parent they want to be.

At Healthy Teen Network, we have worked since 1979 to keep the field engaged in supporting young parents…and the research study led by Dr. Elizabeth Aparicio confirms what we’ve been saying all along: young parents, like all parents, need support, and when they get it, they and their children thrive.

“These moms have experienced child abuse and neglect themselves but they are young and full of energy and optimistic about wanting to change the trajectory of their families” Aparicio explained. “From a prevention standpoint, they are usually really motivated to access services, but from the system side, we need to make sure that they can access all the supports they need. Most interventions address parenting and mental health needs separately, although we know that they are intertwined and should be integrated together.”

Aparicio and her colleagues partnered with a local organization to interview young mothers to learn what the “right support” would be for them.

“These moms have experienced child abuse and neglect themselves but they are young and full of energy and optimistic about wanting to change the trajectory of their families” Aparicio explained. “From a prevention standpoint, they are usually really motivated to access services, but from the system side, we need to make sure that they can access all the supports they need. Most interventions address parenting and mental health needs separately, although we know that they are intertwined and should be integrated together.”

Hear more from the authors in an interview they shared with the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

The authors found that the young mothers would like to see mental health support integrated with parenting support, and for services to be community-based rather than one-on-one. This research provides more evidence that the social determinants of health are intertwined, and that we need a holistic approach that is person-centered.

All parents—regardless of age!—need support, and we should offer it proactively. Healthy Teen Network has has a practical resource to help you do just that—our Young Parents Logic Model. Don’t be put off by the terminology—a logic model is just a fancy road map based on evidence about the right direction to take. And we would LOVE to help you put it into practice.

Send us a note if you’d like to find out more.