- May 1, 2013
- Jennifer Salerno
Today we are celebrating the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Our goal is to focus on teens and the importance of avoiding too-early pregnancy and parenthood through sharing a variety of resources and data.
What does the data tell us? Our teen pregnancy rate has declined by over 42% and the teen birth rates have been cut nearly in half. Although great news, we must do more. The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate among comparable countries. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, nearly 3 in 10 girls in the U.S. will get pregnant by the age 20. More than 2,000 teen girls in the United States get pregnant every day. Our participation in the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy hopes to offer teens the opportunity to think carefully about risky behaviors, sex, contraception and the possibility of pregnancy.
Resources for teens, parents and those working with youth:
- Teens nationwide can participate in the online quiz, which challenges them to think carefully about what they might do “in the moment” though a series of interactive scenarios. Teens can insert themselves and their friends directly into the quiz by creating personalized avatars (a graphical representation of the user).
- Adults agree that teen pregnancy is a problem. View this informative infographic to learn more.
- Want to talk about teen pregnancy with teens, but don’t know where to start? Use the National Day discussion guide to start a conversation about sex, love, relationships, and teen pregnancy!
- Screen for all risky behaviors! Learn more about the RAAPS tool by viewing our website or contacting us today!