Bexar County Teen Births: $83.4 million annual Tax Costs

The numbers are sobering: teen childbearing in Bexar County cost taxpayers at least $83.4 Million in 2008, according to a recent press release from Project WORTH, the City of San Antonio's teen pregnancy prevention program. These calculations are based on an updated analysis from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.  Nationally, the tax cost of teen childbearing is estimated at nearly $11 Billion each year.  Texas has the dubious distinction of having the highest annual cost of any state: a staggering $1.2 Billion dollars. 

This cost of teen childbearing is a conservative estimate based on the increase risks of many problems faces by teen mothers, fathers, and their children. While many young parents work hard -- and many of their children do well, their risks for health and social problems are much higher than when mothers are in their early twenties.  The tax costs include increased costs for health care (Medicaid and CHIP) and foster care.  Because sons of teen mothers are at higher risk of incarceration, these costs are included in the estimate, as well.  In addition, young parents and their children, on average, get less education and earn less in income, and this means less tax revenues.

In 2008, 3,854 Bexar County teens gave birth.  These children will fill 175 kindergarten classes.  Although teen birth rates are generally falling since the mid-1990's, our rates are still far too high.  Bexar County's school-age birth rate is 81% higher than the national rate.  (And our national rate is already far higher than any other comparable industrialized nation.) 

Clearly, we still have lots of work to do.  With so much at stake, it makes sense to focus resources on prevention.  Every teen -- and every child born in our community -- deserves to be able to reach their goals and dreams!

Healthy Futures Alliance (HFA) members have been instrumental in determining the direction of the coalition's work.  HFA is a coalition of individuals and organizations working to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy in San Antonio.  In February, HFA members and friends conducted a strategic planning session, considering what HFA should focus on in order to help San Antonio achieve its SA2020 goal of reducing teen pregnancy.  With your input, Healthy Futures of Texas has outlined a strategic plan for reducing teen pregnancy in San Antonio. 

Now it's time to put the plan into action!  At the June HFA meeting, a number of individuals and community organizations developed ideas and made commitments to action.  We will have a full report of the results of this dynamic meeting soon.  In the meantime, here are some of the things in the works to support the Parent Programs component:

·       Healthy Futures has begun providing "Parents Have the Power" workshops for parents at the Mexican American Unity Council.  Thank you to Ana Lira and Marilyn Chavez for making the commitment to provide education to parents!

·       We're collaborating with the Municipal Court and held our first parent session in which parents and teens came together for a half-day session on July 9. Thank you to Alicia Trujillo and Jacqueline Garza! 

·       The Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department has invited Healthy Futures to provide "Parents Have the Power" for parents participating in the Parent Project.  Thank you to Wynell Nealy and Jessica Lopez!    

To schedule a parent session, contact Margo DelaGarza.  

Remember to Save the Date:Sept. 7, 11:30 AM to 1 PM is the next HFA Meeting at the Mexican American Unity Council community room.  This meeting will include a chance for HFA to let the new Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy know how they can help us succeed.  

Legislative Update: Listen to The Source on Thursday

The Healthy Futures Alliance (HFA) worked hard during the legislative session to encourage lawmakers to support bills that further our mission of reducing teen and unplanned pregnancy.  While the Women's Health Program (WHP) appears to have survived, the Texas family planning budget was cut by $62 million (out of $98 million). This is sure to have devastating effects: over 280,000 Texas women will lose access to preventive medical services (checkups and birth control).  Texas' Legislative Budget Board estimates that these drastic cuts to the family planning budget will lead to over 20,500 additional unplanned Medicaid births, and additional state costs of $98 million.  More unplanned pregnancies will almost certainly lead to more abortions, too.   

For perspective on the legislative session, listen on Thursday at 12:30 PM to Texas Public Radio's The Source.  TPR's Terry Gildea interviews Healthy Futures of Texas President Dr. Janet Realini and State Senator Leticia Van de Putte about how women's health programs and family planning fared.

For more information on how HFA's Legislative Agenda fared in the 82^nd Texas Legislative, view our PowerPoint presentation.  We hope to have better news in the future!

HFA is a diverse coaltion working to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy in San Antonio.  Some of our members would identify themselves as pro-choice, and others identify as pro-life.  We are all working together on prevention.

Click here for a full job description.  

Healthy Futures of Texas is committed to reducing teen pregnancy rates in San Antonio by providing evidence-based programs to young people and by providing workshops that empower parents to communicate with their teens about sex.  We advocate for accurate and effective education and for increased access to health services, and we're working to create a healthy social norm regarding teen sexuality and parenthood. 

See our 2010 Annual Report for more information. 

Have questions or comments?  Email us at info@healthyfuturestx.org.  We want to hear from you!