Teen pregnancy is a critical issue across the state of Minnesota as well as locally. The teen birth rate in Nobles and Rock County (1999-2001) is higher than the state teen birth rate.Four in 10 girls will get pregnant at least once before the age of 20. More than 70 percent of all teens who become parents drop out of high school. As a community, we can support Teen Pregnancy Prevention efforts by working together. Research shows that teens avoid pregnancy when families and communities assure that:* Teens feel connected to and cared about by their parents.* Teens have safe and fun places for socializing and recreation.* Teens are provided with sexuality education that includes abstinence education and information about protection.If more children were born to parents who are ready and able to care for them, we would see a significant reduction in a host of social problems affecting children in the U.S. — from school failure and crime to child abuse and neglect. Not only does teen childbearing have social consequences for teen parents, their children, and society; it also has important economic consequences. Strides have been made in national teen pregnancy rates, but locally we must continue to invest in teen pregnancy prevention early and often.As parents and caring adults, we can support our youth to make decisions that will ultimately allow them to avoid early pregnancy, finish high school, and enjoy happy, fulfilling lives. Talk to your kids. Let them know exactly where you stand on early onset of sexual activity. Let them know that you care about what’s going on in their lives. Teens are actually less likely to have sex if we talk about it more!Paula Anderson, MS Teen Pregnancy Prevention Team Nobles-Rock Public Health
