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Politics vs. Prevention
When it comes to effective prevention of teen and unplanned pregnancy, leaders in Texas and at the national level are proposing to roll back effective programs.
In her humorous way, Gail Collins lays out Texas' dire fiscal situation and our Legislature's hard-to-understand proposals to slash funding for family planning. Family planning (which provides checkups, screenings, and contraception--not abortion) seems caught in the abortion-debate crossfire. At both the national and state levels, some lawmakers are pushing for reducing -- or even ending -- these preventive care programs for low-income women.
As members of the Healthy Futures Alliance (HFA) know, this direction would be harmful for our community's families. Texas has the nation's 3rd highest teen birth rate. More than 7 in 10 pregnancies among single young adults are unplanned. Texas needs more prevention, not less. Family Planning programs currently reach fewer thn 20% of women in need. Preventive care and contraception save the state Medicaid dollars; help assure healthier pregnancies and babies; and prevent abortions.
There are also threats of funding cuts to the new federal Office of Adolescent Health teen pregnancy prevention programs, which, for the first time, provide substantial funding for proven effective programs.
As outlined in an Austin American-Statesman column by Adam Thomas of the Brookings Institution, Texas still refuses to apply for the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) funding. PREP would provide Texas $4.4 million this year for effective teen pregnancy prevention programs, which we sorely need. Pointing to Texas' refusal of PREP funds and to the Texas House Budget's devastating cuts to family planning funding, Thomas says it so well:
On an average day in Texas, more than 200 teenaged girls become pregnant and nearly 400 children are born to unwed mothers. Officials must now decide whether to lend their support to two different programs that would prevent thousands of teen pregnancies and out-of-wedlock births each year, even as they reduce the number of abortions and generate sizeable taxpayer savings. These programs are, in a nutshell, smart public investments. Texas's elected leaders would be wise to support them. |
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Fake Pregnancy examines Stereotypes
For 6 months, 17-year-old Gaby Rodriguez, an honor student in Toppenish, Washington, pretended to be pregnant. As detailed in a video from Good Morning America, Gaby's research project was a secret to all except her mother, her boyfriend, and school administrators. In a dramatic moment in front of a school assembly, Gaby revealed the truth by removing the padding from under her shirt. Students and faculty were stunned.
During her "pregnancy", Gaby made notes about how she was treated. She often felt alone and unsupported. In interviews, she described being called irresponsible and being told that she would not be able to continue her schooling. As a Hispanic teen, Gaby was told that it was "bound to happen".
This dramatic experiment focuses attention on how our society treats teen parents--and on who gets the "blame" when a teen gets pregnant. This courageous student also raises questions about the expectations and stereotypes that some Hispanic teens may face. |
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Join Us for the National Day: May 4!
Wednesday, May 4 is the 10th Annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy! Join Project WORTH, Healthy Futures of Texas, local elected leaders, and the ME NOW...baby later Teen Ambassadors to hear about new statistics on teen pregnancy in San Antonio. The Press Conference will be held at 10 AM at the Downtown Public Library, 600 Soledad St., in the first floor auditorium.
This year, the online National Day Quiz (available in English and Spanish) has a new feature. Each of the quiz scenarios will be illustrated using quirky stop-motion animation. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy tells us that the Quiz has never looked better!
The National Campaign has another fun feature for the National Day: a new online Night of the Living Blockheads Game. Last year's Stay Teen Block Party game was a great success, and this year's game should be even better. It aims to dispel some popular myths about pregnancy, sex, birth control, relationships, and more. Plus there are zombies!
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More than Sex Education
Healthy Futures of Texas is proud to offer Abstinence-Plus sex education to teens. Although we recognize the importance of providing accurate information for youth, we understand that connection is essential for programs to be effective. Healthy Futures' programs educate teens about healthy sexuality, but also do so much more. We examine healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, and we look at what influences teens' decisions about sex. We help them build goals and dreams.
Project Coordinator Margo DelaGarza describes her experience with one young woman:
The Goals and Dreams lesson is one of my favorites. I was recently working with a group of young ladies who had been incarcerated. One girl, who was 7 months pregnant, seemed unable to think of goals and dreams. She said she never thinks about that stuff and was very resistant to try. I realized it would take more than just one session for her to be able to generate real possibiities for herself. She told me that she saw nothing for herself. She did not want the baby, and she knew she would get locked up again. I asked her why. She said she'd been locked up sice she was 10 years old. Both of her parents are incarcerated. She could see nothing else for herself.
We talked about education being the way out of the vicious cycle. She described feeling low when she was around college kids and felt that she didn't fit in with that crowd. We discussed the future of her baby, and what she wants for her child. She began to open up. I began to see a determination in her that her baby would have a different life than she's had. She started to see possibilities. She said her daughter would stay in school, and that she would make sure her daughter would be involved in sports. We discussed how she would be the most important role model for her baby. She began to talk about careeers she would be interested in exploring. We talked about the cycle ending with her.
On the day of the final lesson, she wrote that she now knew more about how to be successful, and she pledged she would continue to be successful. I saw a different girl on that day. Although her circumstances hadn't changed much, the way she saw herself had changed. The fact that she saw herself as successful and could see something more for her future was amazing. This is the magic of what Healthy Futures is doing.
What does it take to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy in San Antonio? What do teens need in order to choose to stay in school and make healthy choices? They need to believe in a possibility. Through our programs, we are helping teens create possibilities for themselves. For some teens, it is clear that they've never had discussions like these before. It is wonderful to see their eyes light up as they talk about their futures. What can be? What is possible? We're giving them the information they need to protect themselves. We are helping them create a vision for their futures.
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Westside Economic Development Meeting April 30
All who are interested in the future of San Antonio's West Side are invited to join Mayor Julián Castro and City Council members Mary Alice Cisneros, David Medina, Ray Lopez, and Justin Rodriguez for the first in a series of meetings about economic issues, potential projects, and revitalization needs. The meeting will be held at Lanier High School, 1514 W. Durango St., on Saturday, April 30, 8 to 11 AM. Please RSVP to 210-207-9372.
Click here to view the informational flyer. Hope to see you there!
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Check Out our New Website
Healthy Futures of Texas is delighted to invite all to visit our new website. We have added videos and lots of information about our programs and our organization. Featured is a video of youth volunteer Emily Carmona telling why she joined other HFA members and friends for HFA's Lobby Day at the State Capitol in Austin.
Visitors can also see videos from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy; find out about parent and teen education programs; and learn about the staff and board of Healthy Futures. Of course, donating on our website is easy, and every donation helps us reach more teens and parents.
Many thanks to the creative people at Blonde Creative, for their wonderful designs!
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Thank You, CREF!
Healthy Futures of Texas thanks the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio's Community Responsibility Endowment Fund (CREF) for its generous grant to support our education programs. This gift will help assure that more parents are empowered to talk effectively with their teens about relationships and sex. It will mean that Healthy Futures can reach more youth with Abstinence-Plus education programs. The goal is to empower more teens to make healthy decisions and delay parenthood until they are adults ready for the challenge. THANKS!
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Contact Information: Healthy Futures of Texas
address: 2300 W. Commerce, Ste. 203
San Antonio, Texas, 78207
phone: 210.223.4589
email: info@healthyfuturestx.org
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