Implementing Case Management with Positive Youth Development to Empower Young Mothers in California

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Program Implementation Science

Background:

• The Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Division (MCAH) in California enhanced its Adolescent Family Life Program (AFLP) for young parents.
• The redesigned program, AFLP with positive youth development (PYD), aimed to be more intensive and structured.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present key findings from a rigorous implementation study of the original AFLP and the enhanced AFLP with PYD.
• To evaluate the implementation fidelity and participant experiences of the two program models.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative data was used.
• Data were collected from January 2016 to December 2017 across 13 agencies.
• Methods included interviews, focus groups, surveys, and observations involving case managers, supervisors, and young women participants.

Main Results:

• The AFLP with PYD model was more structured and intensive than the original AFLP.
• Case managers and supervisors recognized the value of the PYD approach but required more support for fidelity.
• Despite noted differences in approach, young women reported similar experiences across both program models.

Conclusions:

• Integrating positive youth development (PYD) into case management can enhance youth self-sufficiency and resilience.
• The rigid structure of the PYD program presented implementation challenges.
• Future implementations should allow for flexibility and provide comprehensive preservice training for staff.