A Teen Mom Reaches High

Published: January 16, 2006

by: Linda Baker

Caitlin & Malakai

At 15, Portland, Oregon resident Caitlin Crane dropped out of school. She was homeless and a heroin addict at 16 and got pregnant when she was 17. But if Crane sounds like a living stereotype, think again. Last fall, the microbiology student and aspiring public health worker was awarded a Ford Family Foundation Scholarship, which will provide 90 percent of her tuition and living expenses at Portland State University, as well as two years of graduate study.

Now 21 and the mother of a three-year-old son, Crane has become an unofficial spokesperson on the topic of teen pregnancy. She is a contributor to the Penguin anthology, "You Look Too Young to be a Mom," speaks to young women about postponing childbirth until after college, and leads a youth council at Portland Insights, one of the few nonprofit agencies in the United States that is devoted exclusively to the needs of teen parents.

Founded 25 years ago, Insights works with 1,500 young parents and their children every year. Programs include parenting groups, housing assistance and homeless teen parent support. In-house statistics provide the following snapshot of the teen mothers Insight serves:

  • Nearly 80 percent were sexually abused or assaulted before becoming pregnant.
  • One out of three are or have been in a relationship where they were the victims of domestic violence.
  • 50 percent report being severely physically abused as a child.
  • 50 percent live with someone who is abusing alcohol or drugs.
  • 98 percent of the families served live below poverty level.

"Caitlin is a natural leader, she has the ability to get through difficulties and she is an amazing parent," said Diane Cohen-Alpert, Insight's executive director.

Caitlin's personal history is fairly typical for an Insight client, said Cohen-Alpert. What distinguishes her from many teen moms, Cohen-Alpert said, is Caitlin's ability to identify and navigate the range of services she needs to move her life forward.

"Instead of Insights guiding her, Caitlin uses us," said Cohen-Alpert. "That is exceptional."

ConnectforKids caught up with Caitlin in the two bedroom Portland apartment she shares with her son Malakai and her boyfriend, Nathan Watson.

How did it feel to win the scholarship?

I was stoked! Malakai likes to open the mail, and now he always says: "I got a scholarship!"

There was a panel interview and an essay. I wrote about what it was like to be a mother and also a creative being, separate from that role. As a teenager, I was an avid reader and writer of poetry, and I focused my essay on how the role of mothering changed that for me in a positive way, and the steps I took to hold on to an important aspect of my identity.

Teen Pregnancy Down But Still High

  • The teen birth rate in the US fell 30 % between 1991 to 2002
  • U.S. teen birth rate remains highest in developed world—twice as high as Canada, five times as high as France.
  • Thirty-four percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20—about 820,000 a year.

(sources: Advocates for Youth; National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy)

Describe your parenting style.

We do art, take naps, we go to the park, we play games and puzzles. My main parenting strategy is to teach by doing. You act the way you want children to act. I'm an attachment parent. (Learn about attachment parenting)

What challenges do teen parents face?

For a long time, I was really strong about saying: teen parenting is the same as an older mom parenting. But now I'm getting to the point where I'll say there are limitations for some young moms. I'm not an advocate of teen parenting. It's hard to pay bills, it's hard emotionally, and it's not like you've had a chance to live your whole life....Another thing that's hard: teen parents are not part of the societal norm. I'd get on the bus and people would say: 'who's the father of your baby?' They would never ask a 30-year-old mother that! And everybody tells you what to do. The doctors told me to wean. But I decided on my own to breastfeed for 2 1/2 years.

One of the hardest things for me is being in school and giving Malakai the time he deserves. I've gone to the rehabilitation center (Northwest Behavioral and Health Management where Crane was treated for heroin addiction) and high schools, and told the young women, if you want to have children, just wait until after you've gone to college.

Why do teen moms want to have babies?

Caitlin & Malakai

Young women don't have enough education. They learn abstinence only, but when they do have sex, they don't know how to stop (a pregnancy) from happening. A lot of young people also have babies because they think it's going to solve problems. When people search for reasons teens have kids, I say: look at the school system, the school yard...

My parents divorced when I was three. When I was fifteen I moved in with my dad and I didn't know anybody at school. I was unchallenged. My dad didn't care about my drug use or anything I did. My brother was into drugs, he's also a teen parent... But I can't really blame anyone. I was young and the opportunity presented itself.

How did having a baby change your life?

Everybody thought I should have an abortion. I already had one abortion. I felt like I had been floating in the world and then all of a sudden there was this divine presence. I felt the need to go in a different direction. I was homeless for a couple of months, and the guy I was with had committed a crime. He had stabbed somebody. He was a really dangerous scary guy. Then when I had Malakai, I realized: How could I corrupt this child with his presence? I didn't want him here anymore.

I didn't get along with my mother. But we're much closer now. When you become a parent, you automatically understand how your parents felt. It must have been heartbreaking for my mom to see me go through the stuff I went through, not knowing where I was for months.

Many people believe teen parents are a burden on the social service and welfare system. What do you think?

I was on welfare for three months. We have a welfare system for a reason. A 16-year-old can't get a job to pay for her kids. We shouldn't make young parents feel bad about accessing welfare they are entitled to as American citizens. It's also important for teen moms to have someone to talk to. When I walked out of my crazy life, I didn't have any friends. I got clothes through Insights, they helped me with TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), and I met a network of people there.
At Insights' Youth Council we bring young people together, not to talk about all the crappy things, but to de-marginalize ourselves. One of the things we're doing is sending letters to DHS (Department of Health Services) trying to get more respect from case managers.

What has your experience taught you about positive outcomes for teen moms?

I used to drive the Insights van, and I would ask parents about their favorite thing. All of them wanted to go to school. But to do that you need support and encouragement. That's what allows people to live their dreams. But that encouragement is so lacking, not just in the lives of teen moms, but in society.

Resources

Linda Baker is journalist based in Portland, Oregon.


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