Teenage pregnancy, although on a decline, is still a major concern in the United States. Not only does teenage pregnancy affect the livelihood of both mother and child, the costs to society, in terms of heathcare, public aid, and resources is very high. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy estimates that the cost to taxpayers reached its peak in 2004 at close to $9 billion. Yes, billion. Teenage mothers and their children are very likely to rely on public aid for survival, and oftentimes spend many, many years dependent on welfare to make ends meet.More important than any dollar amount are the negative outcomes that these girls and their children are facing. Children born to teenage mothers are at increased risk for developmental difficulties, behavior problems and are more likely to drop out of school and be involved with the criminal justice system. One of the most grim statistics is that girls born to teenage mothers are three times as likely to become teenage mothers themselves, perpetuating the cycle of welfare dependence, low aspiration and hoplessness.The reason why it's crucial to work with teenage mothers (and teenage girls considered to be "at-risk") is because these girls represent our future...not just themselves, but their children as well. There are cases of girls having babies at 10 and 11 years old...Imagine being raised by an 11 year old. How well do you think you would fare? Not to mention the fact that oftentimes these girls have long histories of sexual, psychological and emotional trauma that scars them for life. They then become responsible for another human being, and can only raise them the way that they have been raised. It's obvious that this is an important issue. Did you hear the statistic that came out last month that 1 in 4 teenage girls has an STD? 1 in 4. That's mind blowing. The question is what can we do about it.The key to reaching today's teenage girl is empowerment, working with them to help them change their way of thinking and the way that they view the world and themselves. Due to their backgrounds, many girls feel hopeless, as if they have no chance at a bright future. These feelings lead to destructive lifestyles and negative choices. With help from a caring, approachable adult, these thought patterns can be redirected so that she begins to see herself in a new light, and finally realize that her past does not define her future. The approach must be 100% real, without sugar coating anything, and get to the heart of the matter right away. The empowerer must be available and equipped to play many roles, and know that the job doesn't end at 5. In order to truly be effective in working with teenage girls, you must be able to reach them on their level.It is crucial to empower today's teenage girl. Negative influences are abundant. Take the time to be a positive one.
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