Virginia Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
2012 Annual Meeting, March 28-29, 2012
Possibilities in Family and Consumer Sciences
“Get Your Heads Out of the
Sand—Yes, Our Children Have
Had Sex But You Can Help
Make a Positive Difference”
Presentation Objectives:
1. Participants will receive statistics on the prevalence of
adolescent pregnancy in Virginia and a brief history of
initiatives to address this issue.
2. Participants will hear how one community has
proactively tackled adolescent pregnancy and see the
significant improvements that have been made.
3. Participants will identify possibilities for how Family and
Consumer Sciences professionals can use their skills to
address adolescent pregnancy and educate fragile
families where they live and/or work.
Adolescent Pregnancy Pop Quiz
1.
Approximately how many teenage girls in Virginia become pregnant each
year?
2.
Approximately how many of these girls who become pregnant each year in
Virginia, carry the pregnancy to term or have a baby?
3.
List at least four characteristics that are frequently found in pregnant
teenagers.
4.
What is the percentage of teenage mothers, nationwide, who choose
adoption for their baby?
5.
Nationwide, approximately what percentage of teenage mothers graduate
from high school?
6.
Please explain the relationship between the age of a woman’s mother when
the mother gave birth to her first child and the woman’s age when she bears
her own first child?
7.
What is the relationship between the level of education a woman receives
and the number of children she bears?
Adolescent Pregnancy Crisis
• One in every eight births in the U.S. is to a teenager.
• Every hour in the U.S. about 40 children are born to teenage
mothers.
• Annually more than one million young women under 20 become
pregnant.
• Approximately 30% of our adolescent females—3 of every 10 girls—
will become pregnant before they reach their 20th birthday.
• Approximately 59% of these pregnancies results in a birth.
• More than 50% of children born to adolescent mothers never live
with their biological fathers.
• Most programs & services focus on the mothers and their children.
• Accurate data on the age of the fathers of babies born to adolescent
mothers is not always available—often left blank on birth certificates
• Today more than 80% of births to teenage mothers are non-marital.
Characteristics Frequently Found in
Pregnant Teenagers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Repeated a grade in school. Poor school attendance
or school dropout prior to pregnancy.
A mother who was also pregnant as a teen and often a
grandmother who was also pregnant as a teen.
Biological father absent from home.
Adult male figure in the teen’s home is a substance
abuser.
Teen chose a boyfriend who was also a substance
abuser.
Emotional and physical and sexual abuse toward the
teen during the childhood years.
Teen experienced family violence as a child.
Teen has depression.
Initiatives & Funding Addressing
Adolescent Pregnancy in Virginia
Better Beginnings
1985 - 2008
Resource Mothers
1989 - Present
Girls Empowered To Make
Success (GEMS)
Family Life Education
2003 - 2009
1989 - Present
Gender Equity (EFI)
1989 - 2003
Graduation Reality And Dual-role
Skills (GRADS)
1991 - 1994
Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Initiative (TPPI)
1994 - 2012
Partners in Prevention
1999 - 2004
Abstinence Grants
2000 - 2010
Support for Pregnant & Parenting
Teens & Women Federal Grant
2011 - 2013
Initiatives in Arlington, Virginia
to Address Adolescent Pregnancy
Homebound Instruction
Family Education Center
Competency-Based
Curriculum
Better Beginnings Coalition
A.F.T.E.R.
Outreach for Parenting
Teens
Resource Mothers
Family Life Education
M.A.M.A.
Empathy Belly
FIT for Teens
GRADS
Alternatives for Parenting
Teens (+Infant Care)
Shared Beginnings RIF
Gender Equity (EFI)
Initiatives in Arlington, Virginia to
Address Adolescent Pregnancy
BBC Community Forums
Teen Mom Speak Out
S.N.E.A.K.E.R.S.
Baby Think It Over/Real
Care Babies
Taking Charge (for Girls)
Home Visitation Program
Young Fathers Program
Partners in Prevention
Jobs for Virginia Graduates
Caring Equation Federal
Grant
“Let’s Talk” for Hispanic
Parents
Taking Charge for Boys
2nd Infant Care Center
GEMS
New Reed School building
Questions?
Marilyn Faris Scholl
Supervisor
Family and Consumer Sciences
Teenage Parenting Programs
Arlington Public Schools
marilyn.scholl@apsva.us