State and Local Playbook: Preventing Teen Pregnancy

DLC Model Initiatives: Preventing Teen Pregnancy

Since the landmark welfare reform act of 1996, the nation has witnessed remarkable progress in promoting work and reducing dependency. While caseloads dropped by more than one-half, work rates increased to record levels and more recipients than ever found both the dignity of a job and the prospect of self-sufficiency within their reach.

While these successes deserve praise, the job of welfare reform will not be complete unless policymakers can stem the root causes of poverty and dependency. And the most significant root cause, perhaps, is unwed childbearing. Research shows that progress the nation makes on reducing teen pregnancy contributes directly to the reduction of child poverty and the number of children living with single mothers…

Youth development.Perhaps the most successful teen pregnancy prevention programs evaluated to date are those that combine sex education with a focus on youth development. The seminal program based on this model is the Children's Aid Society-Carrera Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, first begun in New York and now in a number of states across the country.

The Carrera program offers pre-teens and teens a full range of services besides basic education, including help with school, employment assistance, sports and other recreational activities, and access to mental health, medical, and dental services. Participants are enrolled at the age of 11 or 12, and stay with the program until they graduate from high school. Research has found that Carrera participants are less likely to become pregnant, more likely to delay intercourse, and more likely to use contraception than non-participating teens. Moreover, the benefits of the program extend beyond teen pregnancy prevention: Carrera participants also perform better in school.