Their stories put faces and emotions on the statistics that we hear about teen pregnancy and parenting.  They shared glimpses into their lives as teens, the wish for strong relationships with their parents, the absence of comprehensive sexuality education, the lack of self-esteem, the need to fit in – all of the factors that we know impact prevention.  They also talked about their lives now, as they juggle trying to complete their college education with their young children and their jobs.  They identified the systems problems that make a challenging situation even more difficult to manage.

These stories are familiar to those that work with young people around pregnancy prevention, yet they also serve as a call to action.  We can do better by our youth.  We can help empower young people to be leaders of themselves and their peers.  We can connect families with resources to make them stronger.  And we can do more to ensure that all youth have access to comprehensive sex education. 

May is teen Pregnancy Prevention Month.  As we reflect on what we are doing personally or professionally to contribute to teen pregnancy prevention, I hope we can all committ to looking for ways to do better.  Our community is rich with passionate people, dedicated organizations, and the spirit of collaboration.  GCAPP looks forward to working together with you as we seek the most effective and efficient ways to improve our community’s health.

To get more involved now, join us for Adolescent Health Advocacy Day (May 14th), Family Fun Day (May 19th), and the Miss Representation Film Screening (May 22nd).  There are opportunities for everyone to learn more and find your niche in the teen pregnancy prevention puzzle.  We want you, we need you, and we are excited to collaborate with you!

We have been fortunate to see the teen pregnancy rates steadily declining for the past 20 years, after reaching a peak in the early 1990′s.  Guilford County’s teen pregnancy rate fell last year to the lowest level in recent history, according to new data released in December. The 17% decline represents this single greatest change in one year.

The 2010 pregnancy rate for Guilford County girls ages 15-19 was 41.7 out of every 1,000 15-19 year old girls. The rate for girls ages 10-14 was 1.0 out of every 1,000.  Guilford County’s improvement mirrors the positive changes seen in teen pregnancy rates across North Carolina and the nation.

This great news comes on the heels of an October report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that shows dramatic increases in contraceptive use among teens. The report, a part of the National Survey for Family Growth, also shows that U.S. teens who have never had sex are now in the majority for the first time in the survey’s nearly 30 year history.

So, the question we must ask ourselves today is:  “Is it even possible to reduce the teen pregnancy rate by 30% in just a few short years?”  The answer is yes, it is possible.  The work is hard and the road will be steep.  It will take all of us working together to get there.  Keep advocating, teaching, preaching and paving the way for teens to continue to make responsible choices. 

Here’s to big goals! We’re looking forward to making this journey with you.

 http://www.digtriad.com/news/health/article/196450/8/The-Cost-Of-Teen-Pregnancy

To our friends at APPCNC – we also got to mention the BrdsNBz warmline!  Thanks WFMY for noticing the need to prevent teen pregnancy!!

Where does that leave us?  How can we talk prevention when biology is working against it ?

Another piece of the research talks about what moderates risky behavior.  It turns out that the presence of peers increases risk-taking (and activates the reward centers in the brain).   Teens are more able to negotiate risk when they have time to think it through without the presence of peers.  In addition, adolescents tend to take fewer risks when they have a parent or mentor to guide them through challenging situations and offer guidance and support.  Those caring adults might also encourage more appropriate risk-taking – planned “low-risk” risks, like participating in physical activities or new hobbies or new social groups.  Any risk (big or small) can help feed the adolescent brain’s need to try new and different things. 

There’s more to the story!  To listen to the podcast, visit:  http://www.npr.org/2011/09/20/140637115/understanding-the-mysterious-teenage-brain

You can also read a related article from National Geographic:  http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/10/teenage-brains/dobbs-text/2

45% reported they’ve been pressured to do more sexually than they wanted to.

Almost half of black teens in the study reported using birth control inconsistently.

72% of black youth said that media sends the message that black girls’most important quality is sex appeal.

Sounds like a great recipe for teen pregnancy…  What can we do to make a difference?

* Teach teens refusal skills and support programs that empower youth to make confident decisions.

* Ensure that all kids have access to comprehensive sexuality education, as well as access to effective contraception.

* Take a hard look at media messages.  Talk to the kids in your life about what they are seeing on television, magazines, movies and other media outlets.  Take a stand against using sex to sell products and brands to youth.

Want to learn more?  Visit the Learn section of the GCAPP website.  You can also read the full report on the National Campaign’s study at: http://www.TheNationalCampaign.org/UnderPressure

Click here to view the embedded video.

It  is estimated that there are about 27-200 million slaves in the world today.  About 15,000 new people are trafficked into the US every year.  Russia, Africa and Nepal are the largest suppliers.  In addition, about 200,000 American children are trafficked each year.  Human trafficking is the #2 crime in the US, right behind drug crimes.

A person can be purchased for as little as $90 and four females can be purchased for $400.  Why?  In one year, an enslaved prostitute can net $632,000. 

What can you do?  Every victim comes into contact with 7 people that could have helped them, but didn’t because the victim is afraid to ask for help.  Be alert.  If you meet someone that you suspect may be a victim, find out if they need help.  There are laws to protect victims of human trafficking and many community agencies to help victims get a new start in life.  Be courageous.  You may just save someone’s life.

For more information, contact World Relief NC at:  http://worldrelief.org/northcarolina

If you haven’t yet, take this opportunity to promote the BrdsNBz service to the youth in your life.  It’s a great way to care for kids!

In these tight budgetary times, we need to start thinking (and paying for) prevention.  For every public dollar spent on access to prevention services, four dollars are saved.  The Centers for Disease Control has called teen pregnancy a “winnable battle” and is highlighting the importance of prevention to the health and quality of life of youth.  The evidence is clear.  The math is easy.  We can work together to support evidence-based programs and improve health outcomes for the youth of Guilford County.

For more information on the costs of teen pregnancy, visit http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/costs/#NC.