Why We Invested
Research indicates that fewer than 2% of teen mothers earn a college degree before age 30. Generation Hope aims to change this discouraging statistic and lift up the many teen parents who, with a bit more support, can succeed in college. Embedded in Generation Hope’s programs is an emphasis on a two-generation approach, supporting the educational success of student parents and the healthy development of their children. Generation Hope recently launched a national survey, supported by Imaginable Futures and Chegg.org, to establish more concrete information around the college experiences of the student parent population before working to broaden the organization’s reach to provide guidance and technical assistance to colleges and universities to increase their capacity to serve this population.
As a former teen mom, I know firsthand the difference a college degree can make. We’re proud of the impact that we have made in our first 10 years through direct service with young parents in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Now through our national advocacy and technical assistance for colleges and universities, we’re breaking down systemic barriers in higher education for the nearly four million undergraduate students who are parenting today.”