For Immediate Release                                        Contact: Helen Robinson, Policy Director
April 25, 2007                                                         404-475-6056, helen@gcapp.org

May 2 is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP) Joins
Partner Organizations across the State to Raise Awareness about
Teen Pregnancy in Georgia on May 2.

ATLANTA – Over the past decade, the pregnancy rate for teens in Georgia has declined an impressive 30 percent.  Despite this progress, there is no time for complacency in our state.  Over 16,000 teens give birth in Georgia every year.  Our state has the 10th highest teen birth rate in the country. 

The National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 2 is an opportunity for Georgians to raise awareness about teen pregnancy prevention among teens, parents and community members.  In recognition of the day, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is hosting an online quiz that challenges teens to think carefully about what they might do in certain tough situations and to recognize that sex has consequences.  The quiz will be available online at www.teenpregnancy.org during the month of May.

The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP) and partners across the state will hold events and activities throughout the entire month of May to encourage teens to take the quiz and to participate in community-led teen pregnancy prevention efforts. 

"On May 2, G-CAPP is partnering with communities across the state to focus much-needed attention on adolescent pregnancy prevention and to support young people in adopting positive, responsible and healthy behaviors", stated Michele Ozumba, President & CEO of G-CAPP.  "Participating in the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is one way that communities can work to ensure that Georgia continues to maintain a downward trend in teen pregnancy rates."

G-CAPP is launching a new statewide teen pregnancy reduction goal - 15 by 15 - to achieve a 15% reduction in the adolescent pregnancy rate for teens ages 15 to 19 in the state of Georgia by year 2015.  The 15 by 15 goal is a call to action to ensure that Georgia does not become complacent about adolescent pregnancy.  Partner organizations and agencies, policymakers, community leaders, adolescent service providers, parents and adolescents themselves are supporting the 15 by 15 goal to help spread the word about the importance of adolescent pregnancy prevention in Georgia.  For more information, contact G-CAPP or visit www.gcapp.org.