Programs:
Child Life’s Adolescent Prenatal Program
The Adolescent Prenatal Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue provides comprehensive, compassionate care for pregnant and parenting teens ages 12–18. Designed to meet young families where they are, the program offers a safe, nonjudgmental, and inclusive environment where adolescents—along with their partners and families—can access the support, education, and resources needed to navigate pregnancy and early parenthood with confidence.
Serving teens facing complex challenges such as housing instability, food insecurity, mental health concerns, and cultural or language barriers, the program takes a holistic, wraparound approach to care. Participants receive coordinated services across Pediatrics, OB/GYN, and Labor & Delivery, ensuring both medical and emotional needs are addressed every step of the way.
At the heart of the program is a unique, integrated model of care delivered through a dedicated weekly clinic. During each visit, patients receive medical care alongside social work support, followed by group-based prenatal education led by a Child Life Specialist/Childbirth Educator and a Doula. These group sessions foster community, reduce isolation, and empower teens with knowledge about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.
Core services include:
Prenatal education and childbirth preparation classes tailored for teen parents
Doula support throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum
Mental health screening, counseling, and referrals
Access to essential resources such as WIC, baby supplies, and parenting supports
Prenatal yoga and comfort strategies to support physical well-being
Ongoing peer support through adolescent parenting groups
The program is deeply rooted in health equity. Services are offered in both English and Spanish, and a diverse care team ensures culturally responsive support. By addressing social determinants of health—such as financial strain and access to basic necessities—the program helps reduce disparities in maternal and infant outcomes for a historically underserved population.
Through education, emotional support, and continuity of care, the Adolescent Prenatal Program aims to improve birth outcomes, reduce maternal anxiety and postpartum depression, and strengthen early parent-child bonding. Most importantly, it empowers young parents to build healthy, stable futures for themselves and their children.
What We Achieved
Our Impact in Numbers
353
PATIENT ENCOUNTERS
The Adolescent Prenatal program provided comprehensive support to young parents and their families, totaling 353 Child Life encounters/interventions. These interventions are designed to address the unique medical, emotional, and educational needs of adolescent patients as they prepared for child birth. These services included essential childbirth classes, weekly group education, and physical comfort measures such as prenatal yoga to manage the discomforts of pregnancy.
40%
PARENT EDUCATION
Through a comprehensive service model, our program empowers adolescent patients with the clinical readiness, emotional resilience, and essential knowledge required for a successful transition into parenthood. In 2025, Parent Education emerged as our primary driver of impact, accounting for the largest share of our dedicated support services.
27
ADOLESCENTS RECEIVED DOULA SUPPORT
A standout feature of the adolescent prenatal program is the specialized Doula Support provided to each participant. This was most notably reflected in the 27 one-on-one Procedural Preparation sessions conducted by the program's doula prior to delivery.
What We Envision
As we look toward 2026, our vision is to evolve the Adolescent Prenatal Program into a premier city-wide model for equitable, high-complexity care. By scaling our specialized parent education and doula initiatives, we are intervening at the earliest possible moments to break cycles of inequity.