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Advocacy eLetter
G-CAPP Policy and
Advocacy News
Teens Across the State Participate in the National Day
In conjunction with the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 2, G-CAPP partnered with community organizations and the State Division of Public Health’s teen centers and youth development coordinators in a dozen communities across the state. Partners worked in local schools, libraries, health clinics, teen centers and juvenile detention centers to encourage over 2,000 teens to take the National Day Quiz throughout the month of May. The Quiz challenged teens to think about what they would do in certain tough situations and to recognize the importance of avoiding teen pregnancy.
G-CAPP also sponsored an essay contest for teen mothers in our Second Chance Homes program, and Atlanta City Councilmember Natalyn Archibong, who represents the G-CAPP-Carrera program area, issued a proclamation in honor of the day. PSAs were broadcast throughout the month on Univision and articles and ads for the Day ran in publications across the state. Thank you to all our partners for your support of the National Day!
Attacking Poverty by Preventing Teen Pregnancy
The Brookings Institution, a national nonprofit policy and research organization, has launched Opportunity 08, a project that aims to focus attention on critical issues facing the nation leading up to the next Presidential election. In a recent report, the project identified providing funding for teen pregnancy prevention efforts as one of seven key federal policies that would be most effective in reducing poverty in the US.
Reducing teen childbearing would reduce the prevalence of single-parent families and subsequently have a significant impact on the poverty rate. The report suggests that the federal government should disseminate public messages about teen pregnancy prevention and fund effective programs that teach relationship skills and provide information about preventing unwanted pregnancies. Read more here.
Helping Teens Stay Teens
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy has launched an innovative website and public service ad campaign for teens called Stay Teen. The site, www.stayteen.org, encourages teens to avoid becoming parents too early, with tips for preventing teen pregnancy, a youth online network, and ads filmed by teens for teens.
G-CAPP Fast Fact
The pregnancy rate for 15 to 19 year olds declined from 69.5 per 1,000 girls in 2004 to 67 per 1,000 girls in 2005. The rate declined across all racial and ethnic groups.
Source: Teen pregnancy data updated to the year 2005 is now available on the Georgia Division of Public Health's Online Analytical Statistical Information System (OASIS).
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