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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 5 of 11)
1-19-2011 @ 4:10PM
Richard said...Just keep opening your wallets and purses, you few people who are really paying taxes...because you are supporting these kids. One of the scams is to "not be able to find the father for child support", then the teen declares she can not raise the kid, so the grand parents step in and offer to be foster parents...by becoming foster parents, the state pays them a check each month to take care of the child for the court....multiply that by 4 to 6 kids and you see why there is no reason to get a job.
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 5:03PM
New York said...What a racket!!! If they are the grandparents, then they should be resonsible for their grandbaby period. NOT THE TAXPAYERS!!! These people are degenerates. All they do is take, take, take. When will they contribute???? A bunck of lowlifes. The sad thing is these babies will grow up & do the same thing. Until the gov puts a stop to it.
1-19-2011 @ 4:13PM
kblairtrav said...I live in Memphis and this is a travesty. The truth is that we have some major problems in this country. 1) we have taken morality out of schools. It may seem harsh and maybe it didn't stop it altogether, but the ostracism of young girls who got pregnant may have worked a whole lot better than the wide spread acceptance of teenage pregnancy. 2) The media, tv, songs, etc have all glamorized having children young. We have shows on MTV titled 16 and pregnant. 3) The general acceptance of welfare. By allowing teen mothers on welfare we prepuate the cycle. We have an entire school program designed for teen mothers. At least these girls are hoping to get an education. But we, as a society, should take a close look at what has allowed for this distrubing trend in teen pregnancy.
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 4:14PM
Januali said...It is not the TV programs, it is all of society and that is us. Society treats these pregger teens as so special and tells them that it is ok, they can go on welfare, parents will support them etc. etc. These kids also think that a baby will make them oh so special and it will be the answer to all their problems. HA!! Just the start as most do not finish school, some are pregnant within 16 months with a second child, some do go on those stupid tv shows and show how little worth they have and what is worse make money off of it. Need I go into the children that suffer abuse from thes child parents, and it does happen. So don't blame TV shows, blame society or us. Blame the parents of these child parents but then they more then likely were child parents themselves. It is just a vicious circle that keeps repeating over and over.
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1-19-2011 @ 4:14PM
ConnieJ said...STOP TEEN PREGNANCY ! ! ! How? Well, one way to severely curtail teen pregnencies would be to cut off the money. Quit paying these young 'wanna-be-mama's to pop out little government-funded playthings. If (when) they understand that "Uncle Sugar Big-Bucks" will no longer fund their little playhouses and they alone are responsible for taking care of their own problems, then perhaps they will begin to understand just how great a responsibility (and how expensive) a child is. As long as we (the hardworking American taxpayer) continue to fund their irresponsible behavior they have no incentive to change their ways.
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1-19-2011 @ 5:06PM
INCREDIBLE ONE said...Most of you do not know the real story when it comes to Memphis City Schools. You woould think that the school board would be trying to address these problems but surprise surprise surprise they are not. What are they spending all their time on these days? Surrendering the Memphis City School's charater so the County will have to take over the school Memphis City Schools. Over the past 40 years the two schools systems have travelled different paths. Memphis City Schools have ignored real problems but instead worried about items like what color the skin is of the people doing business with the city school system. Spending extra to make sure that racial quotas are in place in hiring and purchasing. While the County school system focused on educating the student. AND spending less money per student doing so. On recent state report card on School systems the county schools got all "A"s while the Memphis City Schools got 3 "F"s and a "D". So instead of addressing the problems in Memphis school the school board chose to give up and thrown all their problems to the county school system. They will rather try and bring the county schools down by introducing large numbers Memphis school problem into the county system. Than try and follow the county's example and fix it's own system.
Reply
1-20-2011 @ 3:32PM
george said...This is a complete racial report. We need more African American babies born to help overtake the Mexicans that are now the big minority in the US. The whites dont wont blacks to be the largest minority in US again so they want young black princesses to abortion their babies and do birth control.
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1-19-2011 @ 4:16PM
rldd76 said...I bet 90% of them are black girls. They don't know how to use protection and/or say no ? They are also taught this way so they can get welfare and government assistance. Have kids and get free money...
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 4:17PM
EHite said...Why Not have BABIES??? They get welfare checks, food stamps . rent , heat and water Paid, Boy friend can live at house adn buy their drugs and not have to work!!! but then when He dont pay for them on time some one comes along and shoots him. Then the girl and baby is set for life cause then they draw death benifits!! good life for them allthe way!!
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1-19-2011 @ 4:17PM
Januali said...MESV Very few of them are mistake babies...they are deliberate babies. The twits get knocked up on purpose so as to be special.
LARRY Take a closer look, it happens in all races and economic levels. It happens in the rich families as well as the poor families and as I said before...in all races..
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 4:19PM
Jane said...What the hell is the matter with these girls? And their parents?
Doesn't anybody talk to their kids about responsible sex and the consequences? Total ignorance.
It's too easy to have a kid anymore for these young girls, Medicaid will pay for it, you can get free food items, they get free diapers, free formula....jeez have another one. When I was a teen, 20 years ago, it wasn't that easy to get care for a pregnancy. Girls didn't EVEN want to go there.
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1-19-2011 @ 4:19PM
Januali said...EHite...you forgot to mention that in a lot of cases the sperm donors take half the welfare money as their right as well.
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1-19-2011 @ 4:26PM
azljohnny said...by god those nimrods have a right to have all the babies they want . . . but by god we, the taxpayer, have no right not to pay for their upkeep . . . including that of their unemployed mother.
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 5:05PM
INCREDIBLE ONE said...1-19-2011 @ 2:55PM
Drake said...
hey u redneck hate to tell u i been to memphis its mostly white kids n people there so yea stfu just cuz its a pic of a black girl dont mean theyre the only ones getting knocked up keep ur ignorant comments to urself u dumb hick
..............................................................................................
You are clearly a liar or as ignorant as they come. As a former graduate of the Memphis City School system and a 52 year resident of the Metro Memphis area. I can tell you that the Memphis City School system is over 90% African American. Where in hell you got the mostly white statement is beyond me and almost 1 million others who live in the metro Memphis area.
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1-19-2011 @ 4:32PM
MESV said...Januali...I disagree. Any unplanned child born is a mistake. I admit, a weathly family can support the child, but that doesn't make it right. I am paying taxes which provides a dumbass person means to live and support thierself plus a child. Why should they be allowed to do it again in 9 months?
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1-19-2011 @ 4:32PM
jim carter said...they think its cute????????????????? B/S they more kids they have the more welfare they get, the more welfare they get the more crack they can buy, l promise you, that if obama (thats a joke) cut out welfare the teen birth rate would drop 95% the other 5% would be to stupid to know any way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JIM CARTER
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1-19-2011 @ 4:32PM
Gary said...obama and the dems will take care of 'em. sign 'em all up for welfare.
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1-19-2011 @ 4:34PM
Chaz Goodman said...I know, lets celebrate "Black History Month".
Reply
1-19-2011 @ 4:36PM
kathleen said...75 to 80% of African American females have on average four, five, six illigitimate kids, all from different fathers and totally live off of the taxpayer in the form of every conveivable welfare program there is. This isn't news; it's just the way it is.
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1-19-2011 @ 4:53PM
New York said....I could never figure out why black couples don't get married??? And why do all of the children have different last names, different fathers. Even the mom has a different last name. No wonder the children feel the way the do. There is no sense of belonging. It's crazy. Don't black women think they deserve the respect ?? They are only being used for sex. I just don't get it.