The Tri-Rivers Career Center GRADS (Graduation, Reality and Dual-Roles) Program has received a grant from the Central Ohio March of Dimes for the 2008 calendar year. This grant covers the expenses for three GRADS Seminar Days and two additional community outreach projects.

The “Handle With Care: This Side UP!” grant will increase education related to reducing the risk of SIDS in the high-risk teen population who are pregnant and/or teen parents. This goal will be achieved by reaching pregnant teens and teen parents through three separate projects.

Project I: Two GRADS Seminar Days will focus on teaching high-risk pregnant and parenting teens specific techniques they can use to decrease the risk of SIDS in their children. Educational materials on SIDS and Back to Sleep will be distributed to each GRADS student.

Project II of this grant extends these SIDS Educational Materials for distribution to 300 new mothers, ages 14-19, enrolled in the WIC programs in Marion and Morrow counties.

Project III of this grant will provide the same SIDS Prevention Bags and newborn t-shirts to 150 new mothers, ages 14-19, who give birth at Marion General Hospital. Project II and III will be distributed in plastic bags imprinted with funded by the Central Ohio March of Dimes and coordinated by the Tri-Rivers Career Center GRADS Program.

This grant will reach 600 teen parents in Marion, Morrow, and Union Counties. In this way, the target population is increased to reach new young teen mothers in a two county area that may not be enrolled in the GRADS program.