Teen Pregnancy in California: A Real Big Problem!
California Collaborative Partners California Hispanic Commission Clean Slate Youth Program Educational Evaluators, Inc. Imperial Valley Pacific Camps Family Resource Inc. Wealth of Nations Foundation (lead) 14% of all national incidents of teen pregnancies occur in California. California has the highest teen birthrate in the United States. In fact, California’s teen birthrate is higher than many countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and Japan.
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That’s right! California’s teens are extremely vulnerable to teen pregnancy. California has the highest number of pregnant teens in the nation. 14% of all teen pregnancies, that is 51,704 teen pregnancies per year, occur in California. Neck and neck with Texas, California has the highest teen birth rate in Nation. In fact, when comparing teen birth rates (teen girls 15-19), California has a higher teen birth rate than many nations including the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and Japan.
Is this because California has the greatest number of teens in the United States? 2,721,081 teens, that’s 13% of all teens in the U.S., live in California. That’s significantly more than any other state in the nation. Is it because planted smack dab in the middle of California is Hollywood – not only the center of some of the most creative entertainment in the world but also the epicenter of some of the most earthshaking pornographic film making in the world which “creeps” into our day to day life and media? OR, is it because Hispanic teens for some reason are more vulnerable to teen pregnancy and California has the highest population of Hispanic teens? 72.6% of California’s teen births are to Hispanic teens. No other race/ethnicity even comes close to this tragedy. Are we failing our Hispanic youth? No matter what the reason, collectively, all these causes contribute to California’s teens selling out the greatness of their future for the immediate “feel-good” gratification of sexual activity, complicating their years with unnecessary pregnancies, STDs, and emotional heartache. So, as the California Collaborative to Prevent Teen pregnancy forges ahead to reach our teens with evidence-based prevention education, adults have the power to urge teens to abstain from sexual activity and press on toward a brighter future. |
COST TO TAXPAYERS
A new analysis from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy shows that teen childbearing (teens 19 and younger) in California cost taxpayers (federal, state, and local) at least $896 million in 2004. Of the total 2004 teen childbearing costs in California, 47% were federal costs and 53% were state and local costs. |
PUBLIC COSTS OF TEEN BIRTHMost of the costs of teen childbearing are associated with negative consequences for the children of teen mothers. In California, in 2004, annual taxpayer costs associated with children born to teen mothers included:
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A Big Solution to a Big Problem: California Collaborative to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
It has finally arrived. The time is ripe and all the parties are forming an alliance that could potentially change the face of California for thousands of teens. The Wealth of Nations Foundation (WON) is in the process of creating the California Collaborative to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The Collaborative is a state-wide alliance of organizations that serve with a common purpose of strengthening teens to delay sexual activity and resist sexual pressure from partners, peers and the media. For the past 4+ years, the participating organizations have been individually reaching several thousand teens each. Now, they are uniting with a common purpose, and a common plan; together, they will serve over 24,000 teens across California every year. This could be a very powerful solution for a serious problem that California has been struggling with for decades. California has the highest number of pregnant teens in the United States, and this type of collaborative work could save the taxpayers a lot of money.
This is a real miracle because these programs are effective in reaching teens already. Now, linked together, they are creating a powerhouse that lights up all of California. This gives California real hope to snatch its teens from a life of poverty and single-parenting.
The California Collaborative, headed by Jhayne Eddy, Esq. and Michael Wessel founders of the Wealth of Nations, has already forged ahead gaining major territory across California. Several organizations have already signed on, including organizations in Imperial Valley, Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura County representing over 24,000 teens.
The California Collaborative will be educating 24, 000 teens a year state-wide with 10 hours of teen pregnancy & STD prevention curriculum that has been rigorously tested and proven to be effective in protecting kids from the negative consequences of premature sexual activity. “Aristotle said, ‘the whole is more than the sum of its parts’ and I believe that our unity creates a synergy that is greater than our individual capacity. Our collaboration removes petty competition and exponentially multiplies our capacity to reach youth across California – and it’s cost effective,” says Jhayne. Looks like standing together, the California Collaborative may be a real strong force to be reckoned with.
The California Collaborative to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is uniting with a common purpose, and a common plan. Together, they will be serving over 24,000 teens across California every year. This could be a very powerful solution for a very serious problem that California has been struggling with for decades.
