May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month


Across the state of California and throughout the nation, May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month.

Prevention of teen pregnancy is a complex issue. There are many different perspectives and approaches to the problem. In Kern County, 2,010 babies were born to mothers (ages 15-19) in 2010, an average of five babies each day that year. It’s true that rates of teen pregnancy have been falling over time in California, however, Kern County continues to have the highest rate of teen birth rate in the state with 62.7 births per 1,000 females.

Teen pregnancy prevention is of paramount importance to the health and quality of life of young people and communities throughout Kern County. It’s true that rates of teen pregnancy have been falling over time in Kern County, but that doesn’t change the fact that the social and economic costs of teen pregnancy and childbearing are often high, and these costs can be both immediate and long-term for teen parents and their children. For example, teen pregnancy and childbirth contribute significantly to drop-out rates among high school girls. Only about 50% of teen mothers receive a high school diploma by age 22, compared with nearly 90% of women who did not give birth during adolescence.

During the month of May, Kern Cares encourages the community to commit to preventing teenage pregnancy. Follow Kern Cares on Facebook as we highlight parent/child communication, youth development, local programs/initiatives directed at reducing teen pregnancy, information on teen health services and resources to improve outcomes for teen parents.

Resources:

Learn More About Local Efforts To Build Strong Families & Protect Children

Contact Kern County Network for Children for more information!
Mail: 1300 17th St.
Physical: 1212 18th St.
Bakersfield, CA 93301

Phone: 661-636-4488
Fax: 661-636-4501