Memphis Officials Take Action After Spike in Teen Pregnancy
Filed under: In The News, Teen Culture, Education: Tweens, Education: Teens
Prompted by news reports last week that 90 girls at one Memphis high school are pregnant or have had a baby this school year, local officials are launching initiatives to stem the tide of teen pregnancy.
Officials question the number, noting that more than three dozen girls transferred to Frayser High School to take part in a program designed specifically for teen moms. Nonetheless, they admit teen pregnancy is a serious problem.
"Do we have a community-wide issue of babies having babies? The answer is yes. Unequivocally, yes," Dr. Kriner Cash, superintendent of Memphis City Schools, tells NBC's "Today."
Despite the increase in baby bumps, though, Cash insists the students are not involved in a pregnancy pact.
One teen mom at the school has a different take on why the number is so high. Some girls, she tells the "Today" show, got pregnant by accident and others because they "think it's cute."
Tennessee ranks in the top 10 for the highest teen-pregnancy rates in the country. Also, according to 2008 numbers, Frayser is in one of four ZIP codes in Memphis where at least 25 percent of babies are born to mothers age 19 and younger, WREG.com reports.
"The key is not how bad is it. The key is how many people are working on it, and by that measure I think we're off to a good start," Memphis Mayor AC Wharton says.
One new pregnancy prevention initiative is the "No Baby" awareness program, which will consist of after-school centers run by Girls, Inc. Memphis.
"The whole point of that is to teach them to say no. That's the reason this is 'No Baby.' No, we're not going to have babies. No, we're not going to have sex. Or at least we're going to be protected if we're going to do something. So, that's really our purpose, to teach these girls how to say no. They don't know how," Deborah Hester Harrison, president and chief executive officer of Girls Inc., tells WREG.com.
Psychologist Dale Atkins tells "Today" that both sexes need to be involved in raising awareness.
"We also have to educate the boys, too," she says. "It's not just about educating the girls."
To that end, Memphis has also announced a new program for teen boys with Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, WREG.com reports. The program includes five mentoring sessions and a three-month follow up with counselors, says Meri Armour, president and chief executive officer of Le Bonheur.
The program, called "Be Proud! Be Responsible!" is funded with a $4 million, five-year federal grant that the medical center won in September, Sara Burnett, communications manager with Le Bonheur tells ParentDish. The evidence-based program for kids ages 13 to 18 has proven effective with teen boys, though the new version will also include girls, Burnett says. In addition to sex education, it will focus on developing self-esteem and healthy behaviors.
Psychiatrist Janet Taylor tells "Today" that parents should start discussing sex with their kids early on.
"This is not just about sexual activity," Taylor says. "This is about how our young girls feel about themselves."
Officials question the number, noting that more than three dozen girls transferred to Frayser High School to take part in a program designed specifically for teen moms. Nonetheless, they admit teen pregnancy is a serious problem.
"Do we have a community-wide issue of babies having babies? The answer is yes. Unequivocally, yes," Dr. Kriner Cash, superintendent of Memphis City Schools, tells NBC's "Today."
Despite the increase in baby bumps, though, Cash insists the students are not involved in a pregnancy pact.
One teen mom at the school has a different take on why the number is so high. Some girls, she tells the "Today" show, got pregnant by accident and others because they "think it's cute."
Tennessee ranks in the top 10 for the highest teen-pregnancy rates in the country. Also, according to 2008 numbers, Frayser is in one of four ZIP codes in Memphis where at least 25 percent of babies are born to mothers age 19 and younger, WREG.com reports.
"The key is not how bad is it. The key is how many people are working on it, and by that measure I think we're off to a good start," Memphis Mayor AC Wharton says.
One new pregnancy prevention initiative is the "No Baby" awareness program, which will consist of after-school centers run by Girls, Inc. Memphis.
"The whole point of that is to teach them to say no. That's the reason this is 'No Baby.' No, we're not going to have babies. No, we're not going to have sex. Or at least we're going to be protected if we're going to do something. So, that's really our purpose, to teach these girls how to say no. They don't know how," Deborah Hester Harrison, president and chief executive officer of Girls Inc., tells WREG.com.
Psychologist Dale Atkins tells "Today" that both sexes need to be involved in raising awareness.
"We also have to educate the boys, too," she says. "It's not just about educating the girls."
To that end, Memphis has also announced a new program for teen boys with Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, WREG.com reports. The program includes five mentoring sessions and a three-month follow up with counselors, says Meri Armour, president and chief executive officer of Le Bonheur.
The program, called "Be Proud! Be Responsible!" is funded with a $4 million, five-year federal grant that the medical center won in September, Sara Burnett, communications manager with Le Bonheur tells ParentDish. The evidence-based program for kids ages 13 to 18 has proven effective with teen boys, though the new version will also include girls, Burnett says. In addition to sex education, it will focus on developing self-esteem and healthy behaviors.
Psychiatrist Janet Taylor tells "Today" that parents should start discussing sex with their kids early on.
"This is not just about sexual activity," Taylor says. "This is about how our young girls feel about themselves."
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ReaderComments (Page 4 of 11)
1-19-2011 @ 3:26PM
mike said...oh they are smart enough to know that they are going to get knocked up, they are getting pregnant on purpose, it's the culture that accepts these bastard babies, oh thats a hard word isnt it,?yea bastard babies, seems it's accepted by way to many people and accepted as the norm for these girls to have them, fine pop all you want but dont make the taxpayer support them, you had them i dont care a damm about them you support them and your self
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 3:28PM
Gadfly said...When media ooh's and aah's with speculation about every 15-second of fame, teenybopper performer's "baby bump" it's no wonder their mush-minded fan peers pick up on it as an approved model for their behavior. Like so much thrown at these youngsters, there are no consequences or responsibility attached. That comes after the fact when the baby is born. What are parents modeling? What direction, morals and information are parents providing?
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 3:31PM
Sue said...It's all about welfare the Grand-Parents did it the Parents did it and now the kids. They won't get off there lazy FAT ASS and go to work. Their ignorant They don't realize that living in that section 8 housing makes them somebody, it doesn't their just lazy low class welfare people
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 3:34PM
Rachel said...Better sex education is a no brainer. I was glad to see that at least the writer even MENTIONED the fact that boys need to be educated as well. Then again, this is why I am pro-choice.
Reply
1-20-2011 @ 1:05AM
Alicia said...Agreed, but how man of these girls could afford an abortion in a timely manner? Because I guarantee that TN does not offer aid to girls seeking abortions, even if it would be beneficial in the long run to do so because we'd have fewer unwed mothers living below the poverty line (yes, welfare does keep you below the poverty line, no matter how many kids you have) and we'd have more women from disadvantaged neighborhoods finishing high school, perhaps entering college and bringing unique experiences and skills sets to the work force.
1-19-2011 @ 3:42PM
Dave Johnson said...Here's a statistic:
In 1945 75% of all black children were born to married parents
in 2011 75% of all black children were born to unwed mothers
in 1945 75% of all men in prison were white
in 2011 75% of all men in prison are black
What the heck has happened?
Reply
1-20-2011 @ 12:12PM
Rich said...Affirative action
1-19-2011 @ 7:18PM
Tonij said...WOW!!!! that's really CRAZY!!!!
1-19-2011 @ 9:28PM
paul taulbee said...what do you expect in a society that has tossed out any sense of individual resposibility and personal morality. If you can live in public housing, recive food stamps, and have free medical care why would you consider Wal-Mart at the minium wage?
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 3:50PM
jsmith said...They are just adding another government checks to the household. STOP PAYING THEM TO HAVE BABIES!!!!! They will be on the toll for life. Undereducated and under employed, if employed at all. Reagan put a hold on it, but LIBERALS brought it back.
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 4:43PM
New York said...Damn Libs. Reagan had it right. Stop paying kids to have kids. Period. If they do their parents are responsible to support them not the state gov.
1-19-2011 @ 3:52PM
Pam said...I am currently 38. I had my first child when I was 19. I think it has a lot to do with parenting. Some parents allow their 13, 14, 15 kids to have boyfriends. Parents should not allow any dating until an appropriate age, and encourage their kids to stay active in school, know who their friends are and set a good example for their kids. My daughter is going to be 20 she is going to college and making something of herself because I never just let her do whatever she wanted. Parents need to be involved totally and encourage goals for their children!
Reply
1-20-2011 @ 1:09AM
Alicia said...The age you have your first boyfriend is irrelevant as long as there are boundaries. I had my first boyfriend at 13; I'm 20, in college and will be the first in my biological family to earn a degree. Not only that, but I'm currently applying to other schools so I can get a second degree in a field my school doesn't offer courses in.
1-19-2011 @ 4:03PM
mike said...This is also about proper upbringing and teaching. I have a son and two daughters. My wife taught my daughters about proper birth control and explained what is right and what is wrong from an early age and throughout their teens and further. Plain and simple. Never let someone tell you they love you and they dont need protection. My son was taught never try to take advantage and when there is consent he has to make sure there is birth control. We told them their lives will be very different if they make that mistake and it just is not worth it, a moment of pleasure for a lifetime of regret (don't say you wouldn't trade your child for anything). They are now in their mid twenties and I am proud how they turned out.
It is either stupidity, lack of sex education or lack of control or lack of upbringing that leads to teen pregnancy. We should not think it is cute or cool. A child is not a pet or stuffed animal you play with and give up on it. If you are a teenager and get pregnant things as you knew will be quite different.
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 4:01PM
charles said...90 more friggin mouths to feed. sterilize the bimbos and vasectomize their johns. our country has too many welfarers i.e. unemployed mamas with 5-7 youngins; we don't need any more. let's stop the handout system.
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 4:03PM
Catherine said...Yes it is disturbing that so many young girls with bright futures are getting pregnant. However, it is NOT caused by "bad parenting" from the girl's mother. Teenagers are raging with hormones and they WANT to have sex. Yes, some want to do it to be "cool" or to fit in, but so many girls do it because they want to. So regardless of how their parents are they WILL do it. Teenagers are going to have sex no matter what. All parents can do is sit down with their child, talk about how they feel on the matter, talk about protection, offer protection and make sure your kid is safe.
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 4:51PM
MESV said...The parents should have been fixed due to the DDD dna
1-19-2011 @ 4:08PM
MESV said...If we are paying for these mistake babies, I would suggest they get fixed so it doesn't happen again.
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 4:11PM
LARRY said...LET'S NOT RACIAL PROFILE OR STEREO TYPE BUT ARE ALL I SAW WAS AFRICAN AMERICANS READY TO GET ON THE WELFARE ROLL. CUT THE MONEY AND CUT THE PREGENCY RATE
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 4:43PM
New York said...I think that the checks taht these young girls bring in helps the entire household, that is why it is not discouraged. More babies, more checks. More money for the household. I think the boys should be responsible to support their children & their parents can pick up the slack. Garnish paychecks, tax returns etc if they do not pay up. To provide havens where pregnant girls can come is ridiculous. Of course they will transfer from all four corners of the state. NO. Boys & parens pay up for your underage children & your grandchildrent. Nothing from the state. All underage children are the responsibility of their parents, not me.