Teen Pregnancy Prevention Stats

“Life is a self-evolving circle, which, from a ring imperceptibly small, rushes on all sides outwards to new and larger circles, and that without end.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative

Goal: To significantly reduce, over time, the number of pregnancies among teens and pre-teens in Richmond through a collaborative approach.

The Initiative focuses on:

• Increasing child and adolescent access to health services and information
• Increasing community involvement and the commitment of individuals in addressing the issue of teen pregnancy prevention

Creating a sense of urgency among targeted segments of the community

History: Over the past ten years, teen pregnancy rates in the State of Virginia have steadily declined, with varying degrees of success depending upon geographic location.  In Richmond, however, teen pregnancy rates have increased by 9.6% since 1995, and are still three times the state rate.

With the correlation of teen pregnancy to so many of the social issues occurring in Richmond, there is a need to address the issue on a broader scale.  Nationally, research has shown the following:

• Teen mothers are less likely to complete high school
• Teen mothers are more likely to depend on welfare
• The children of teen mothers are more likely to perform poorly in school
• The children of teen mothers are at greater risk of abuse and neglect
• The sons of teen mothers are 13% more likely to end up in prison and are more likely to commit more violent crimes
• The daughters of teen mothers are more likely to become teen mothers themselves

The overall economic cost of teen pregnancy to the state of Virginia is also staggering.  The costs of teen pregnancy include:

• Economic Cost of Teen Childbearing to Taxpayers (nationally)
  • Public assistance expenditures
  • Lost tax revenues
  • Health care costs for children of teen moms
  • Criminal justice costs
  • Foster care costs

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy calculates the cost to the state of Virginia as $177 million.

Components of the Initiative

• Teen Pregnancy Prevention Steering Committee – A 20-member Teen Pregnancy Prevention Steering Committee has been convened. The committee is comprised of citizens agencies parents, teens, concerned citizens, and staff.  The focus of the group is to address teen pregnancy prevention concerns across departments and throughout the city, and to advise implementation of VISION 2020 strategies.  The group meets on a monthly basis.
• Public Awareness Campaign –  The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Steering Committee has been tasked to craft strategic messages to diverse individuals and members of the community to include the following elements:
  • Highlight relevant data regarding teen pregnancies and births
  • Reach intermediaries who work with target populations
  • Increase word-of-mouth dissemination of information
• Expansion of Services  – The existing teen pregnancy prevention programs have been expanded to include evidence-based models such as:
  • The “Plain Talk” model was developed in partnership with the VCU Institute for Positive Youth Development. Key components of the program include:

1. Gaining support from youth, parents, and schools
2. Developing positive interpersonal relationships among students and staff
3. Learning about the acquisition of sex and drug refusal skills, coping and problem solving skills
4. Strengthening cultural attitudes and behaviors
   
• PEIP serves middle school students enrolled in Health/Physical Education (HPE) classes.
• During the 2006-07 school year, the program reached over 1,500 students through 65 programs
  in nine middle schools. 
• The Teen Outreach Program – The Teen Outreach Program goals are to:
  
1.  Promote healthy behavior for successful achievement in school 
2. Help youth acquire valuable life skills to develop the necessary competencies and capacities to grow into healthy, self-sustaining adults
3. Give youth a sense of purpose through participating in opportunities that allow them to contribute in meaningful ways to their community
     
• During the 2006-07 school year, 105 students were enrolled in the Family and Consumer Science course at Armstrong High School, Wythe High School, and the Adult Career Development Center.

Also under way, is a partnership with Richmond Public Schools to build an inventory of services and increase the number of youth reached by current teen pregnancy prevention programs. A planning committee, has been established to develop a plan for school-based adolescent health programs and services to ensure access to care.

• Training and Professional Development – A collaborative effort with the Virginia Department of Education has been established to train all secondary Richmond Public Schools Health and Physical Education and Family Life Education staff on issues in adolescent sexual health. Parent education training and a “Train the Trainer” program to encourage parental involvement are in developmental stages. Opportunities will be identified within City agencies to infuse prevention messages and information into city-wide services (i.e. Parks and Recreation, Justice Services).




The Initiative has created strong collaborative partnerships with the following:



• Richmond  City Health District - Virginia Department of Health
• Richmond Public Schools
• Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities
• Richmond Department of Social Services
• Richmond Behavioral Health Authority
• Friends of Prevention Coalition
• Vernon J. Harris Health Center
• Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Positive Youth Development
• Virginia Department of Education