Teenage Parent Program

What is the "Teenage Parent Program" (TAPP)?                       

• TAPP is a program of the Sunnyside School District, started in 1986, that seeks to prevent the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and support teenage parents with multidisciplinary resources starting with a case manager and a teacher. We serve students at all three high schools in the district.
• It is well known that teenage parents have a higher incidence of having children that have poor outcomes in school, the majority live below the poverty line and are at risk of serving jail time in their lives. This program acts as a support during these difficult situations to maximize success of our students and their children.
• We offer classes for students on pregnancy and chilbirth preparation, parenting, and early child development.                                                                                                                 

• We have an infant center on our Sunnyside campus. 
• We have a case manager to keep our students on track to graduate and provide any resources needed, from diapers to WIC to finding housing and anything in between.

The Mission of the Sunnyside Unified School District Teenage Parent Program (TAPP) is to:

Contribute to the school district’s efforts to reduce the incidence of teen pregnancy.

Assure that pregnant and parenting students receive the support they need to stay in school through graduation.

Being a Parent means…

according to TAPP students

• “learning about strengths you didn't know you had and dealing with fear you didn't know existed.”
• “being able to learn and grow with your child. Being responsible and mature. Being a parent means  being your best for you and your child.”
• “se me hace una bendición bien grande en saber que está una personita chiquita creciendo en mi. Saber que en unos meses lo voy a poder cargar, ver y tocar - me llena de emoción y felicidad.”
• “to own up to the fact that you have a baby. Being there for your kid physically, mentally and emotionally. Being able to provide for him. Being a parent means loving your child REGARDLESS.”
• “having to grow up a little sooner than everyone else and taking responsibility to becoming the best parent you can be.”
• leaving all things you do as a non-parent and stepping up to the plate.

About our TAPP staff

• Monica Luna, Program Specialist and Teacher
  
  • I am a native of Tucson. I graduated from the TAP Program at Tucson High School. I graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education. I worked at Banner University Medical Center since 1993 in several positions but, primarily in the Mother/Baby Unit up until December of 2015. I have been coordinating TAPP since 2013. I am a Certified Doula, Lamaze Instructor, and also certified to instruct CPR, BLS and First Aid.  I love to garden, the beach, riding with my husband, and hanging out with my grandchildren.

• Maggie Benavidez, Case Manager
  
  • I am a graduate of Cobre High School in Bayard, NM. I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Western New Mexico University. I am currently working on a master's degree in School Counseling. My case management experience includes working with infants, toddlers, and children whom have a developmental delay or disability and working with pregnant and parenting teens. I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends.

• Jovita Gonzalez, Infant Center Director
  
  • I was born in Clifton Arizona.  I have been working with children for the last 35 years. I started at Hollinger school in TUSD when my children were 5 and 6 years old going into kindergarten and first grade.  From there, I moved on to CODAC Behavioral Health Services where I worked with Children at Risk.  I moved on from there to Pio Decimo Center where I worked for 10 years, left for 4, then came back and worked there another 10 years.  That was my  home away from home.  Within those ten years I was able to earn a certificate in Early Childhood Development, an associates degree in Early Childhood Development in Applied Science and a General Studies Diploma.  I have really enjoyed my career working with pre-kinders and building a foundation for them in their education so they can continue to go on to college which some of them have. I'm very proud to say that I was a part of that. Now, I am the director of the Sunnyside Infant Center and I have enjoyed my first year here.                                       

• Laura Cuiltre, Infant Center Staff 
  
  • I have 3 years of experience in Infant Development.  I am certified in numerous classes in Early Childhood Education.  I have a business degree from Hermosillo, Mexico.  I love cooking, walking, gardening, reading and children.  

• Linda Soto, Infant Center Staff
  
  • I have a Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate and have taken numerous classes in Early Childhood Education at Pima Community College and Central Arizona College. I have worked 31+ years in SUSD working as an assistant at Ocotillo Preschool and the TAPP Infant Center. I also work in the summers for the City of Tucson Parks and Recreation at the Therapeutic Center with autistic children and as a coordinator for the last 4 years. I love to play softball or any sport, walking, reading books (mostly the newspaper) and watching U of A basketball – Go Cats! I also love making tamales for people that order them, and the casino!

• Yolanda Bonillas, Office Assistant
  
  • I have worked in the Sunnyside Unified School District since 1990 at Los Niños Elementary, Drexel Elementary, and Sunnyside High School in the nurse’s office before my current position as secretary for the Teenage Parent Program. I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends.