tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46189377214728179842011-05-03T02:59:44.288-07:00Briargate Mediahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17710876398733766698noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4618937721472817984.post-17670146888962513872011-04-07T10:24:00.000-07:002011-04-07T10:39:26.088-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HdSXkECWtFc/TZ32xefK46I/AAAAAAAAAIE/ckqEvi2GQhk/s1600/teens.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 146px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HdSXkECWtFc/TZ32xefK46I/AAAAAAAAAIE/ckqEvi2GQhk/s200/teens.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592897642121847714" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Good News: <a href="http://www.citizenlink.com/2011/04/06/good-news-teen-birth-rate-drops-to-record-low/">Teen Birth Rate Drops to Record Low</a></span><br /><br />The teen birth rate in the U.S. dropped 37 percent over the last two decades to a record low, with the most substantial decrease — 50 percent — coming among African-American girls. Overall, approximately 4 percent of girls ages 15 to19 gave birth in 2009.<br /><br />The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the best way to drive the numbers even lower is to expand the reach of contraception-based sex education.<br /><br />Family advocates have a different point of view.<br /><br />“More teens are choosing not to have sex,” said Chad Hills, analyst for sexual health at CitizenLink.<br /><br />“Our teens are moving in the right direction. I only wish our media, schools and government would get behind this movement toward healthy choices — including abstinence — and capitalize on the momentum.”<br /><br />Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association, said public policy definitely needs to change.<br /><br />“One-hundred sixty-nine abstinence-education programs (recently) lost (federal) funding, and over 1 million students lost access to the very programs that can support and encourage the positive trends.<br /><br />“What young people need are the skills and the information to resist the pressures to become sexually active. We have a growing body of research that shows that abstinence education is effective."<br /><br />More info: Read Chad Hill's OpEd - "<a href="http://www.citizenlink.com/2011/04/06/moving-in-the-right-direction-cdc-teen-pregnancy-trends/">How About We Start Believing in Our Kids</a>".<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4618937721472817984-1767014688896251387?l=briargatemedianews.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Briargate Mediahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17710876398733766698noreply@blogger.com0