KU School of Medicine-Wichita

17 LYFTE began ramping up in fall 2018 and started seeking referrals in 2019, receiving about 60 in its first month, and then started pairing participants and case managers. Participants can self-refer or be referred by community partners, so LYFTE sta members have been out in the community letting people know about the program while also learning in greater detail about the programs to which they would make referrals. They've met with safety-net clinics such as HealthCore and Hunter Health, and other organizations like Wesley Family Medicine, Ascension Via Christi clinics, colleges, Wichita public schools, the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, Youth for Christ, Dress for Success, Embrace and many others. They've also reached out to programs like the NexStep Alliance, which provides economical GED classes and access to job training at WSU Tech. Flexibility and adaptability are part of the plan, said Cari Schmidt, Ph.D., who is managing LYFTE for KU School of Medicine-Wichita. Schmidt directs CRIBS and is research division director for the Department of Pediatrics. "I fully expect the program to change from right now to a year from now, once we engage with a cohort of participants. We will have better ideas for how we can meet their needs in ways that are meaningful to these teens," Schmidt said. "We are ready to experiment to find out what works and what doesn't so we can modify what needs to be done to help these young families thrive." Cousens remembers well the challenges faced by a teen mom she foster-parented 16 years ago. "Had there been a program like this, I could see how this would have been so beneficial to her finishing school and keeping on track," Cousens said. "I saw how she struggled as a teen mom. As it turns out, the father was heavily involved. Even though they did not stay together, the high involvement of the father made an impact on the child and I see it to this day. "We will be that link, that missing puzzle piece, for programs and resources that are already in place. With LYFTE's wrap-around approach, we will not only be a liaison but also a cheerleader to help young parents see what is truly possible." "I think one of the first benefits that comes to mind is it will give KU more visibility. Some people still don't know KU has a med school here. Having this program gets our name out there. Our sta always want to do more for their patients, and having programs that can extend that reach beyond traditional clinic services is a great benefit," Schmidt said. "One thing I often say to my own sta is we don't do the direct work here," said Chapman, from the KU center in Lawrence. "It's the people who are in the communities doing the work who are really the heroes, and we get to support them. Cari's team and their partners at the health department are amazing to work with. They come to the table ready to put boots on the ground and ready to do the work. They are really focused on improving the community's health." Young parents can earn points towards a badge and "LYFTE bucks" as a reward for participation. In addition to serving young residents, LYFTE provides KU School of Medicine-Wichita and its sta the chance to work in the community and let others know what a resource the school can be. Marcela Cousens, coordinator, LYFTE, with young mother

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