The teen pregnancy rate declined 5 percent between 2002 and 2004 according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Overall, the teen pregnancy rate has declined 38 percent between 1990 and 2004.
Research is pointing to teenage pregnancy prevention programs, contraception availability and just overall more education on the problems associated with teenage pregnancy and unsafe sex to the drop in numbers.
“The continued decline in the nation's rate of teen pregnancy is good news, but not unqualified good news," said Sarah Brown, chief executive officer of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
Data released in December 2007 show a 3-percent increase in the teen birth rate between 2005 and 2006, the first increase in the teen birth rate in 15 years, said Brown.
Lake Family Resource Center understands the importance of informing teens about pregnancy prevention and through the Challenge Program is presenting information to Lake County youth in 11 schools and other locations throughout the county. Topics such as abstinence, healthy relationships and the consequences of being sexually active are just a few of the subjects discussed in these groups.
Teen pregnancy is closely linked to a host of critical social issues – poverty and income, overall child well-being, health issues, education, child welfare and other risky behavior. Teen pregnancy prevention should be viewed as an issue that works to improve all of these measures.
Lake Family Resource Center offers teenaged parents support through the Adolescent Family Life and Cal-Learn Programs. On average the center serves 88 teen parents a month. Last school year 25 participants in the center's teen parenting programs graduated from high school and another 20 participants are anticipated this year.
As a teen, finding out that you are pregnant is a life-altering and scary event. As a parent, finding out your teen is pregnant can both shock you and cause despair as you wonder, now what? Before this ever happens, you can help your teen learn important lessons on how to prevent teen pregnancy.
Teaching teenagers about safe sex and the problems associated with pregnancy can go a long way in helping the teenage pregnancy rate to continue to drop. Most teens say their parents are their No. 1 influencer when it comes to making the decision to wait to have sex.
For more information on the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and for more tips on how to talk to your teen visit http://www.thenationalcampaign.org.
For more information on the programs provided by Lake Family Resource Center please visit www.Lakefrc.org or call 707 262-1611
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