2007-08 Positive Results...

• Celebrating 20 Years!

• 838 teen parents were served in 35 GRADS programs across the state

• 87 % of GRADS seniors graduated, compared to 40% of teens nationwide

• 2.2% repeat pregnancy rate vs. 19.4% nationally

• Only 2.7% of babies born were of low birth-weight (the avg. for NM was 8.9%)

• 161 students were employed
  

• 128 previous H.S. drop-outs generated approximately $495,589 for school districts (a total of $7,485,156 for 3,041 NM GRADS students recruited back to school since NM GRADS began in 1989).

• NM GRADS teachers had over 17,000 additional contacts with the GRADS students outside of the GRADS class (case management).
  

Our Mission...

The mission of the multi-component New Mexico GRADS

System is to:

• Facilitate parenting teen’s graduation and economic independence

• Promote healthy multi-generational families

• Reduce risk-taking behaviors

Collaboration and Youth Leadership...

In addition to public schools, the NM GRADS System collaborates with the following agencies:

• NM Dept. of Children, Youth, and Families
• Early Head Start & Even Start Programs
• NM Dept. of Health
• NM Dept. of Labor WIA
• UNM/CASAA

We collaborate with UNM/CASAA FAS Prevention to fund community and school peer presentations by GRADS students that inform other students and adults, in their community, on ways to reduce a variety of preventable birth defects.