THE CHALLENGE

South Carolina has one of the highest teen birth rates in the nation. Each of these pregnancies --- some among girls as young as 10-11 years old --- creates substantial social, health-related and economic consequences for the individuals and families involved, as well as for every taxpayer in South Carolina:

Teen child-bearing costs the State of South Carolina $156 million or more each year.^[1]

Teens who become mothers have lower levels of educational attainment and are more likely to drop out of high school. They have reduced earning potential and are more likely to live in poverty.^[2]

Teen mothers have more pregnancy-related complications and have less healthy babies and babies more likely to be low birth-weight.^[3]

The sons of teen mothers are statistically more likely to be incarcerated. The daughters of teen mothers are more likely to become teen mothers themselves.^[4]

It's in everyone's best interest to invest public and private funds in more and better prevention programs in our schools and communities.

1: Center for Health Services & Policy Research, USC, 2006.
2: Ibid.
3: Ibid.
4: Ibid.