Aliyya Swaby Photo
Johnson.
Pregnant and parenting parents will not longer attend a separate New Haven high school called the Polly McCabe Center. But they will still get the comprehensive help Polly McCabe offers — at other schools they attend.
As of this year, Polly McCabe is no longer operating out of its 400 Canner St. location, but rather dispersed to offer services for pregnant and parenting teens in their own mainstream schools.
The move is part of a larger shift in the perception of pregnant teens, allowing them to comfortably remain in their schools instead of being separated from other students.
At a press conference at 400 Canner Thursday morning, schools director of instruction Billy Johnson said the changes should help pregnant and parenting teens stay on track for graduation and keep academic standards high. The state pays about $175,000 annually for services for Polly McCabe students and will continue to provide wraparound services for students in the program.
“The wraparound services are still here,” although the school site is not, Johnson said.
Johnson, Harries.
Polly McCabe Center has been in New Haven since 1966, when people thought of teen pregnancy as something to be sequestered from other students, said Superintendent Garth Harries. Title IX requires New Haven to offer the same academic opportunities for all students, including pregnant and parenting teens.
The services will support parenting teens as well as “their young children who will become our students,” Harries said. “The priority for us is to make sure parents get” both child care and academic rigor.
Pregnant middle school students who do not want to remain in their mainstream schools can access homebound education services, he said.
Board of Education members discussed the change this past April as a way to cut costs—a $135,306 reduction for former Polly McCabe Principal Belinda Carberry’s salary. Carberry started this year as principal of Barnard Environmental Magnet School.
Benivegna.
The Canner Street location still is home to LULAC Head Start, one of two child care centers in New Haven. LULAC offers early learning opportunities for children 8 weeks old to 3 years old in low-income families, including dental, mental health, and nutrition assessments, said Michelle Benivegna, LULAC education manager.
This year, with another classroom license, LULAC can service 24 students, instead of just 16, Benivegna said.
The other child care center is the Celotto Child Care Center located inside of Wilbur Cross High School at 181 Mitchell Dr., which operates from 7:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with extension hours to 5:30 p.m., said Director Robin Moore-Evans. Celotto offers care for children from 6 weeks to 3 years old, and “academic support for seniors preparing to transition” from high school, she said.
Superintendent Harries said ideally the district could afford to pay for child care centers at other locations throughout New Haven, including in Dixwell, Newhallville and the Hill neighborhoods.
Other services include counseling, medical support, case management monitoring of student attendance, home visits when necessary, and social worker coordination. Sharon Bradford-Henderson coordinates social workers for pregnant and parenting teens throughout the school system.
New Haven Public Schools students who want to access those services should call counselor Irma Davis at 475 – 220-3422.
This "program" is promoted to put a positive spin on saving a salary. I'd like to hear from the young mothers. Polly McCabe has been a god-send for many young women. The staff there is specifically trained to work with teenage mothers and babies. I don't believe that "wrap around" services will replace the love and professionalism of PM staff. Closing Polly McCabe is a huge loss for pregnant teens and those with small babies to care for.