Facts

Know the Facts

• The U.S. has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the industrialized world.
• Nationally teen childbearing cost taxpayers at least $9.1 billion annually.
• One in every three teenage girls in this country, or 30% of all teen girls, becomes pregnant by the age of 20.
• Each year more than 760,000 teens become pregnant and 420,000 give birth in the U.S.
• Every hour in this country, 87 teen girls become pregnant and 50 give birth.
• 6 out of 10 girls who become teen mothers already live in poverty when they give birth.
• Only 30% of teen mothers will graduate from high school.
• More than 1 in 5 teen births are to teens who already have had a baby.
• Ohio ranks 28th in the country in the rate of teen pregnancies with an estimated 26,000 pregnancies and 15,700 live births to teens in 2005.
• In Franklin County, approximately 1,790 girls aged 13 – 19 gave birth in 2005.

But What if we could change that reality?

What if every teen parent in Franklin County could graduate from high school; attain post-secondary education that prepared them for meaningful employment and delay a subsequent pregnancy until they are better prepared?

What if these teens had a sustained support system of coaches and personal advocates, and an individualized plan for achieving success as students, parents and citizens?

What if we could change their outlook from one of dependence and despair to one of opportunity and hope?

Surely such a vision would not just benefit young mothers and fathers; it would benefit our whole society.