South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
1331 Elmwood Avenue
Suite 140
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 771-7700
(803) 771-6916 FAX
Summerville Office
(843) 879-0874
Posted 06/25/08
WLTX - While the teen pregnancy rate has decreased nationally and state-wide, experts say there are still too many young women getting pregnant in South Carolina.
Seventeen-year-old Samantha Arnold became a mother when most of her peers were thinking about prom.
Samantha said, "I thought I was in love. I really didn't think about getting pregnant. I only thought about what made him happy." One decision led to a lifetime of change. "It's a 24 hour job. You don't get a break. You're constantly wondering if they're okay and what they're thinking."
According to Forrest Alton, Executive Director of the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, the numbers have decreased over the last 14 years, but there's still a problem.
To read the complete story or watch streaming video, click here.
Posted 06/23/08
With more than 400 conference participants, the SC Campaign's 9th Annual Summer Institute was a huge success. Those who attended the conference enjoyed keynote presentations by Coach Ken Carter, Inspiration for the Film Coach Carter; Leonard Pitts, Journalist for the Miami Herald; Victoria Rowell, Actress; and Laura Sessions Stepp, Journalist for the Washington Post.
WYFF - News 4 interviewed Victoria Rowell and Forrest Alton, Executive Director for the SC Campaign, after news hit of Jamie Lynn Spears' baby. Click here for the complete story.
Posted 06/10/08
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released findings from the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which shows that positive changes in high school teens' sexual behavior and contraceptive use have stalled, and in fact might be moving backward. At present, nearly half of all teens have had sex and more than one-third are sexually active (that is, they have had sex in the past three months). Less than two-thirds of sexually active teens report using a condom the last time they had sex.
» More...
Posted 04/15/08
Pregnancy rates for females under age 25, including teenagers, in the United States declined in 2004 compared to 1990, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The report says nearly 38 percent of pregnancies in 2004 were to women under age 25, down from nearly 43 percent in 1990. The proportion of pregnancies among teens under age 20 dropped from 15 percent in 1990 to 12 percent in 2004.
In response to this report, the SC Campaign's Executive Director, Forrest Alton, has released the following statement:
“Any time there is news of a decrease in teen pregnancy brings reason to celebrate. However, the news of a few months ago indicating a rise in the teen birth rate for the first time in 15 years provides a sense of cautious optimism. There is certainly no time for us to become complacent in our investment in young people and investment in research proven teen pregnancy prevention strategies.
Teen pregnancy rates in our state have decreased 39.2% since 1990. This report is an indication that our efforts to reach young people in South Carolina have been effective, and provides a nice opportunity to thank all of those working at the local level to meet the reproductive health needs of young people. Nonetheless, each of us – policy makers, educators, providers, community members, and caring adults – must be encouraged to refocus and intensify our efforts to prevent teen pregnancy in South Carolina.”
» Download available: SC Teen Pregnancy Rates Decline_1990_2004.pdf
» Download available: CDC Press Release_Teen Pregnancy Rates Decline.pdf
