This report analyzes the parental leave policies of secondary Catholic schools across the United States. Current research suggests Catholic schools lack the ability to provide parental leave, which aligns with the methods and length recommended by various organizations, including the Vatican, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and…

Pregnant and parenting teenagers in the United States face academic, social, and emotional hardships (Baney et al., 2022; Kinser & Masho, 2015; Masterson et al., 2021). Schools, programs, and policies can aid pregnant and parenting students by alleviating burdens or improving schooling outcomes (Brouwer et al., 2019; Modesto, 2018; Zief et…

This report analyzes the parental leave policies of secondary Catholic schools across the United States. Current research suggests Catholic schools lack the ability to provide parental leave, which aligns with the methods and length recommended by various organizations, including the Vatican, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and…

High-risk sexual behaviors (HRSBs; e.g., having sex without protection against pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections) are a public health problem. HRSBs disproportionally impact college students and are associated with numerous negative outcomes, such as unwanted pregnancies. Alcohol use has been strongly linked to HRSBs in college…

Recent events have drawn national attention to the fight for reproductive rights. However, Black women, Indigenous women, Women of Color, and LGBTQ+ people have long been fighting for reproductive justice, which connects reproductive rights to issues like immigration rights, fair wages, housing, quality education, and safe neighborhoods. There has…

This study employed qualitative research methods to conduct an in-depth learner needs analysis of the learning motivations, needs, and preferences of first-time fathers in the perinatal period. Occurring within the informed exploration phase of a Design-Based Research approach, the study aimed to understand the unique learning experiences of…

Despite women outnumbering men as doctoral degree recipients, women remain underrepresented in higher education leadership roles. Specifically, women at the childbearing age serving as faculty often face challenges such as inadequate maternity leave and family policies that impede pathways for tenure, promotion, and elevation to senior…

Pregnant college students have been increasingly successful in proving sex-based discrimination prohibited by Title IX, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act. Higher education administrators are responsible for Title IX compliance through policy development and adherence but must rely on faculty…

The purpose of this study is to examine the lived experiences of graduate student women who experienced pregnancy, childbirth, and mothering while enrolled in graduate school using Berlant's (2011) "cruel optimism." The primary goal of this study is to understand the subjective experiences of pregnant graduate students and how…

Background: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is on the rise in the United States. Opioid-use disorder has increased among the population of women of childbearing age. Over the past two decades, the increased rate of opioid-use disorder has caused a five-fold increase in NAS. NAS affects three out of four babies who are exposed to chronic use of…

Purpose: The purpose of this heuristic phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of former Hispanic or Latin teen mothers that achieved a master's degree or higher. Another purpose of the study was to describe the recommendations of the former teen mothers with regard to helping both present and future teen mothers accomplish…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the factors that contributed to Latina teenagers' decisions to remain sexually abstinent or to become sexually active. The participants in this study included four Latina women between the ages of 20-30 years from a major southwestern metropolitan area. Specifically, two of the participants who…

In 2015, there were 229,715 babies born to teens between the ages of 15-19 years of age. Over the past few years, teen births have decreased, however the United States still has the highest rate of teen pregnancies.There have been successful teen mothers who have completed high school and have proceeded to attend college and graduate with either a…

Ample evidence exists establishing the relationship between pregnancy during high school and subsequent educational difficulties, yet little research has investigated the relationship between pregnancy during college and subsequent educational difficulties. The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between pregnancy in…

Untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders have short- and long-term consequences for mental, physical, developmental, social, and economic outcomes affecting the mother, infant, family, and community. Online Health interventions are known to be effective in treating mental health disorders and increasing access to care. Successful perinatal…