Teen Pregnancy

Priority Initiative: Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention

The Problem:
  • Last year, there were over 950 adolescent pregnancies in Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union Counties last year.
  • Every 9 hours, an adolescent in our community becomes pregnant.
  • The children born to adolescent mothers in 2003 are filling 25 kindergarten classrooms this year in Spartanburg County public schools.
  • Only 1 in 4 adolescent mothers will ever graduate from high school or attain their GED.
  • Children born to adolescent mothers are 9 times more likely to live in poverty.
The effects of adolescent pregnancy are far reaching. Not only are children born to teen mothers more likely to live in poverty, but they are also more likely to drop out of school, be involved in juvenile crime, or become teen parents in the future -- continuing the cycle of poverty.

United Way is part of the Joint Funders, which includes The Spartanburg County Foundation, Mary Black Foundation and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare Foundation. The Joint Funders have partnered with the SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy to implement a broad-based approach in preventing adolescent pregnancy, using research proven strategies. In addition to supporting the prevention work of several local nonprofit organizations, an adolescent pregnancy prevention officer has been hired to coordinate efforts in our community, support program development and encourage policy change.

Healthy Teen Spartanburg is an initiative created by the Joint Funders group to develope a comprehensive appraoch to combat adolescent pregnancies so kids stay in school and help build a stronger community.

 
Spartanburg County is the recipient of a $3.5 million grant from Duke Endowment focusing on adolescent pregnancy.  Read more...