Parent-Infant Interaction Program (PIIP)
PIIP: PARENT-INFANT INTERACTIONS PROGRAM
Training: September 24 - November 26, 2008; Vashon High School; Lois Ingrum, Instructor
Exhibition SITE #1: PPRC Photography Project Gallery
April 7 - May 24, 2009
Exhibition SITE #2: St. Louis Public Library, Schlafly Branch
March 31 - May 11, 2009
The Parent-Infant Interaction Program (PIIP) "strives to break the intergenerational cycle of under-education and poverty by providing support for prenatal and parenting . . . teens." Located at Vashon High School in St. Louis' JeffVanderLou neighborhood, this program keeps parenting teens in school while offering early childhood education to their children and parenting and early childhood development classes to parents. While in school, parents can visit if there is a problem and are required to spend lunch with their child. PIIP accepts any parenting teen attending Vashon High School. In addition to programs at the Center, PIIP actively connect teen parents and their families with community service agencies, track all incidences of pregnancy in the St. Louis Public Schools, and organize planned activities for families, young mothers, and their children. While the program consists mainly of teen mothers, teen fathers are encouraged tO play a major role in their child's upbringing through PIIP's Male Involvement Component. PIIP strives toward "cooperative learning" (a parent and child learning together) and encourages both parents to "become full partners in the education of their child." PIIP is the only center of its kind in St. Louis and, after 20 years of service, it continues to successfully draw students to its parenting programs.
For this Photography Project, nine PIIP teens documented their interaction with their children at the PIIP center and at home. Since PIIP helps teens with the adjustment to parenthood and encourages them to pursue fulfilling careers, Instructor Lois Ingrum developed an overarching theme for the participants: "Where will I be 10 years from now?" Initially this question puzzled participants. Many were still struggling with the stereotype that, because of pregnancy, their lives were "over." Ingrum had them address this question in stages through journaling. Their first journal question was, "Who am I today?" That question was followed by, "What are my dreams?" and then, "What are my goals and how will I achieve them?" Participants photographed "things" that represented those goals. For example, one mother, Jazmine Eason, photographed her daughter glorying in a pile of glossy university applications. Another mother, Tynesha Steed, created a photograph illustrating her dream of attending the St. Louis College of Health Careers.
As every parent knows, raising a child is the best job you will ever have and perhaps the hardest one. Ingrum helped the parenting teens capture this dichotomy on camera. Participants captured their child's runny noses and screaming fits, but they also took a series of beautiful 'mother and child' photographs that their families will cherish forever. Pregnancy is a tough road for any teen. Parenting teens have to grow up fast and learn to pursue their lives, mostly, as single moms. PIIP teaches them to finish school, and to have career goals and personal dreams. PIIP also teaches them how.
--Mel Watkin, Instructor and Director
PPRC Photography Project
Note: PIIP's mission statement was taken from their introductory brochure, Saint Louis Public Schools, St. Louis, Missouri
Texts by Participants:
Hi, my name is Kiana LaShay Woolfolk. I am 18 years old. My birthday is December 15, 1989. I attend Vashon High School and I am a senior. I have an 11-month-old daughter who also attends Vashon, but in the PIIP day care. Her birthday is October 17, 2007. I plan on attending college after high school. I am a very outgoing person. I love to have fun and learn new things. I love my life!
--Kiana Woolfolk
Hi, My name is Jazmine M. Eason. I'm 17 1/2. I'm in the 12th Grade. My b-day is October 12th. I have a daughter. She is 17 months old. Her name is Jamaya M. Brown. After finishing high school I'm going to go on to college to be a pediatrician. I love to take photos. I buy my daughter a camera every month for her.
--Jazmine Eason
What would I be in 10 years from now? In 10 years I would be 26 yrs old, so at this age, I would still be in college for different types of careers. Now I am 15 and I am gone be 18 yrs old when I finish high school, so at 18 yrs old I will start college for 4 yrs. So I'll be 22 then probably with two kids by then after majoring in criminal justice/officer and get my degree. Be a stay at home mother for 10 or 12 months on my way to 23 and go back to college 2 1/2 yrs for doctor/nurse. And that's me in 10 years.
--Laniecha Times
PARTICIPANTS:
Charlotte Dooley
Jazmine Eason
Miesha Grady
Deonshay Perkins
Kierra Perkins
Victoria Riggins
Tynesha Steed
Laniecha Times
Kiana Woolfolk
COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
Parent-Infant Interaction Program at Vashon High School
Vashon High School
St. Louis Public Library, Schlafly Branch