In addition, the 2007 CDC report on sexually active high school students shows the national estimate at 47.8 percent while Texas comes in at 52.9 percent. A Texas A&M study shows Texas youths are less likely to use condoms, putting them at greater risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, in 2004 Texas recorded the highest percentage of teens who have experienced their second childbirth at 24 percent.
 
Lasting Effects

Teen pregnancy affects more than the teens and their families, it has a significant economic impact on tax payers and social services – teen pregnancy costs U.S. taxpayers at least $7 billion each year in direct healthcare, foster care, criminal justice, and public assistance costs.

The economic impact of teen pregnancy to tax payers:

Medicaid cost for delivery TANF monthly payment average Child care assistance Food stamps (Lone Star Card) WIC Job training Medicaid health coverage Labor and delivery cost first year Each year after

$4,225 (Texas Health and Human Resources) $211/month  or $2,532/year $120/week per child or $6,240/year $230/month or $2,760/year $120/month or $1,440/year $4,000 (6 month program with Workforce Commission) $1,200 /year per child (average estimate) $22,397 $18,172

Teen pregnancy has been directly linked to increased poverty, dependence on social services, risky behaviors, a lack of education and poor outcomes for children born to teenage mothers, such as:

Only 35 percent of teen mothers receive a high school diploma and 1.5 percent receives a college degree by age 30. Children of teen mothers are 50 percent more likely to perform poorly in school. These children are at greater risk for abuse and neglect and 65 percent more likely to end up in foster care. The sons of teen mothers are 23 percent more likely to end up in prison and more likely to commit a violent crime while the daughters are 10 times more likely to become a teen mother themselves.

Baby, Think it Over

DePelchin Children’s Center’s vision is to reduce the number of teen pregnancies in Harris County through it program Baby, Think It Over.  The program educates teens on the effects and real-life physical, emotional and legal issues associated with teen pregnancy. DePelchin developed and implemented the six-session curriculum specifically for school-aged students. It features the following educational components:

Basic reproductive health information Basic parent education Healthy relationship education A "weekend parenting experience" with the infant simulators Computer-based feedback on the weekend experience A general/overall message of abstinence being the best choice for preventing pregnancy, STD's, and healthy outcomes for teens

Media Contacts
The professionals at DePelchin Children’s Center can provide expert commentary in both English and Spanish on a wide range of topics concerning children, teens and families. To schedule an interview with a DePelchin expert, please contact DePelchin's marketing department at 713-802-7651 or info@depelchin.org.