WE CAN CHANGE THIS
Development Center For Pregnant Teenagers
Simply put, many teen parents do not have the intellectual or emotional maturity that is needed to provide for another life. Pregnancies are hidden for months resulting in a lack of adequate prenatal care and dangerous outcomes for the
babies.
Teenage pregnancies are associated with many social issues, including lower educational levels, higher rates of poverty, and other poorer life outcomes in children of teenage mothers. The worldwide incidence of premature birth and low birth weight is higher among adolescent mothers. Teenage pregnancy carries a social stigma in many communities and cultures.
Young girls without family support are often introduced into prostitution and criminal activity as a means to support themselves. Often young girls with nowhere to go are susceptible to sex-traffickers. Young mothers and their babies are also at greater risk of contracting HIV.
Studies have indicated that adolescent girls are often in abusive relationships at the time of their conceiving. Reporting the knowledge of their pregnancy has often intensified violent and controlling behaviors on the part of their boyfriends. Women under age 18 are TWICE as likely to be beaten by their child's father as women over age 18.
Our Mission: We are a developing families center meeting primary heath care, social service and child development needs of under; served individuals and childbearing and child rearing families through a collaborative that builds on their strengths and promotes their empowerment.
Teenage pregnancy is defined as pregnancy in human females under the age of 20 when the pregnancy ends. In the United States 82% of pregnancies in those between 15 and 19 are unplanned. Pregnancy and giving birth significantly increases the chance that the mothers will become high school dropouts and as many as half have to go on welfare. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, nearly 1 in every 4 teen mothers will experience another pregnancy within two years of having their first. Teen pregnancies cost the United States over $9.1 billion in 2004, including $1.9 billion for health care, $2.3 billion for child welfare, $2.1 billion for incarceration, and $2.9 billion in lower tax revenue. Teenage parents who can rely on family and community support, social services, and childcare support are more likely to continue their education and get higher paying jobs as they progress with their education... but what happens when they have nobody? This occurs more often than you think.