Teen Pregnancy:

Organizations & Resources

By: Shay Mavis

Created for: FCS 215, Spring 2006

Shay's Homepage

**This webpage is directed to teenagers (ages 13-19) who are contemplating pregnancy or have/had an unplanned pregnancy**

Organizations Providing Information and Resources:

**Note:These organizations do not promote teen preganancy and sexual behavior, they just provide services to those who are in need of such information & resources**

Planned Parenthood: Services Provided

**Note: Prices and services vary by location and situation of the individual, however all services are affordable**

 

My Opinion:

Now that you have the facts and statistics regarding teenage pregnancy and a few organizational resources, here is my view on the subject. I do not encourage teenage pregnancy unless the parent(s) are emotionally, financially, and mentally ready to accept the responsibility of having a child. The effects of unplanned pregnancy and unfit teenage parents have more longterm effects on the child(ren), and the child(ren) should not have to suffer as a result of their parents' "mistake" (not saying that the chid was a mistake or that they will suffer, but their is a possibility).

My junior and senior years of high school (West Ottawa High School in Holland, MI) I worked in the daycare for teenage parents that was provided in our high school. The daycare did not promote teenage pregnancy, it provided a place for teenage parent(s) to take their kids so they would be able to still attend school as well as have their child taken care of without incurring the extra financial burden. The parents were not allowed to have their children in the daycare unless they were attending school, and could not leave the school (for lunch, co-op, internship, class) unless their children left with them. This center provided a caring and supportive environment not only for the children but also for the parent(s). After I graduated, West Ottawa Public Schools built a new high school and left the daycare program out of the plan because they said that the controversy that they were receiving from the community was not worth putting the daycare in the new school. People in the community believed that the program was promoting teenage pregnancies within our school system and that it was not beneficial to the growth of West Ottawa Public Schools and the moral growth of the children in the community (because Holland, MI is a very religious community). What the community failed to realize is that unplanned/planned teenage pregnancies are going to happen with or without the daycare in the high school, but the unplanned pregnancies that do occur (if the parent(s) have no help and since their is no daycare) the parent(s) will be forced to drop out of school in order to provide a life for their child(ren). This will result in less growth in the school system as well. I believe that programs like the daycare (West Ottawa Little Paws) would be very good resources in order to help teen parents to gain the education they need in order to provide a good life for their child(ren).

After I graduate from WMU I will have a degree in social work and I would very much like to start my own business such as a Youth Development Center or a daycare specifically (but not exclusively) meant for teen parents.

 

Teen Pregnancy FAQ's and Quizzes

 

For More Information on Teen Pregnancy:

Teen Pregnancy: Facts & Statistics

Miranda Marshall's Homepage

Teresa Valdez's Homepage

 

 

This page was updated by Shay Mavis on April 11, 2006