EMPOWER: Empowering Parents for Wellness in Shelter
at The Bridge for Youth
Pilot Grants in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Program for Health Disparities Research
What is EMPOWER?
Of Minnesota's 6,000 youth experiencing homelessness on any night, 35% are pregnant or parenting, posing health risks for both parent and child. Yet, few programs exist to reduce health disparities among parenting youth experiencing homelessness and their children, strengthen their connections with healthcare, and prevent subsequent unplanned pregnancies.
To address this gap, in 2019 our community-university partnership developed and piloted Empowering Parents for Wellness in Shelter (EMPOWER) at Marlene’s Place, a transitional living program for pregnant or parenting youth experiencing homelessness at The Bridge for Youth. EMPOWER includes 3 elements: a youth-driven health empowerment group, support and training for shelter staff, and on-site health services.
In 2022 and 2023, we worked to adapt this program into EMPOWER 2.0 alongside youth, staff at the Bridge and our Community Action Board to improve its outcomes and better serve participants.
Related Publications and Dissemination Products
Youth-led solutions for teen parents and parents-to-be experiencing homelessness: The Bridge for Youth, Marlene’s Place provides supportive housing, on-site healthcare, and more for pregnant or parenting youth and their kids.
Gewirtz O’Brien JR, Brar P, Worley J, Woodlee CH, Denight Kelly E, So M, McRee AL, Mehus CJ. Development of a Shelter-based Health Empowerment Program for Pregnant and Parenting Youth Experiencing Homelessness. Accepted to Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, published online ahead of print, March 2022.
Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine 2024 Conference Poster Presentation:
University of Minnesota Pediatric Research, Education & Scholarship Symposium Poster Presentation, April 2024: Effectiveness of a Shelter-Based Health Empowerment Program for Pregnant And Parenting Youth Experiencing Homelessness: A Mixed-Methods Community-Based Participatory Research Study
Infographics: What We Learned from EMPOWER 2.0
EMPOWER Study Results Graphic-2.pdfEMPOWER Effectiveness.pdf