Teen Age Parenting Program (TAPP)

What happens when a teenager in the Sheboygan Area School District gets pregnant?

• Students who become pregnant share that information with their guidance counselor.
• The guidance counselor contacts Central High School to schedule a meeting with the guidance counselor, TAPP teacher, parents, and student.
• At the meeting, parents and students meet the staff, tour the facility, and learn about the TAPP program. A start date is determined at that meeting as well.

What do students do in the TAPP program?

• Students attend school from 8:30 AM - 2:40 PM (MTThF) and 8:30 AM -1:40 PM on Wednesdays for two grading periods, when the baby is approximately 4 months old.
• Students are introduced to the following community resources either through field trips to go onsite or with guest speaker presentations. Some of these programs visit with the students in the program on a weekly basis.
  • Anchor of Hope
  • County Nurse
  • Family Connections
  • Family Resource Center- Parents as Teachers / Home Visiting Parent Educators
  • Health and Human Services (Public Health Educator)
  • Mary's Room
  • Project Motherhood
  • Sheboygan County Child Support Services
• Evening, on-line birthing classes through Aurora Medical Center or HSHS-St. Nicholas are supported / navigated and encouraged to help prepare students for the birthing journey
• Students are set up with individualized plans to accommodate their needs during the time spent in the TAPP program. This plan includes a four (4) week maternity leave period, which can be adjusted to the needs of each student and their child.
• Students take classes such as: Health / Exercise during  Pregnancy; Child Development; Nutrition; and other required courses.

What happens after TAPP?

Students who have been in the TAPP program have the opportunity to utilize the Parenting Lab with on site child care for children aged 3 months old and older. While their child is nurtured by a staff of educational assistants supervised by the TAPP teacher, the young parents have the ability to continue their education and path to a high school diploma while only steps away from their baby/toddler. The Parenting Lab continues to provide community resources and parenting suggestions aimed to help reduce potential stressors throughout this period of time.