News from the WNY Women's Fund

Each month, for the next few months, we will be highlighting one of the five profiles in Pathways to Progress. The pathways are a metaphor used to draw a compelling picture of women and girls in the region. The pathway analysis reinforces how intertwined at any time are a person's health, safety, economic status, education and civic engagement. For each pathway, the report identifies roadblocks faced and leverage points that we can invest and promote to help each women or girl overcome those roadblocks. The full report is available on our website at www.wnywomensfund.org. This month, we will be looking at Maria, one of 35,000 adolescent girls in Erie and Niagara Counties.

Maria is navigating this confusing and often difficult transition for girls. Her Pathway to Progress requires a foundation in a strong education, the information and guidance to make smart choices about sex, and a healthy body and mind:

Roadblocks to Strong Academic Foundations:

WNY girls' academic performance drops across the board between 4th and 8th grade, especially in urban districts

By 8th grade, at least 2,000 8th grade girls are not meeting standards in major subject areas

Buffalo's annual dropout rate is nearly triple the regional average, and even exceeds the dropout average for the state's five largest city school districts

Roadblocks to Smart Choices About Relationships and Sex:

Teen pregnancy in WNY is concentrated where poverty levels are high and single-parent households predominate

Roadblocks to Good Health, Confidence and Freedom from Violence:

Physical activity levels are lower for girls than boys in Upstate NY

1 in 5 Elementary Students in Upstate NY are overweight or obese

Approximately 9% of teen girls in WNY, ages 15-19, have had chlamydia or gonorrhea

The good news is that there are ways that these roadblocks can be removed, including several important leverage points:

Leverage Point #1: Provide quality afterschool and summer programs and mentoring opportunities

Leverage Point #2: Expose girls to career and technical education and academic enrichment, particularly in gender nontraditional fields

Leverage Point #3: Broaden access to comprehensive sex education, targeting at-risks districts

Leverage Point #4: Support increased physical activity levels among girls

Investing in girls is investing in the future of WNY. Supporting academic success for girls gives them a fair chance at life, preparing them for college, training and a career. It is cultivating the region's next generation of leaders, community activists, scientists, athletes and parents. Stronger, smarter, healthier and happier girls build financial security for women and families and support sustainable communities. Investing in girls makes economic sense.

What If: We Cut in Half the Number of Teen Pregnancies in a Year?

There would be 550 fewer teen moms

550 girls would stay in school, 360 will earn a bachelor's degree, with about one-quarter going on to earn a graduate degree. 190 girls will attend a two-year college or obtain career and technical training with at least a living wage.

Armed with college degrees and marketable training, they earn $7.7 million more every year, an average of $15,000 each, than if they had dropped out of school or stopped their education at a high school diploma or GED.

With greater purchasing power, these women pump millions into the regional and state economy by spending more on goods and services, from groceries to housing to education to travel.

The public sector gains $3.4 million annually as these women rely less on public services such as health care and welfare and pay more in local, state and federal taxes.

Their success passes on to the next generation. With economic security, safer neighborhoods and greater opportunity, their children will have even stronger academic foundations and a better chance at success.