PROM PAMPERS
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though, according to the National Institutes of Health, teen pregnancy rates in the United States have seen a slow and steady decline in recent years, teen pregnancy is still a nationwide concern. More than 85 percent of teen pregnancies are unplanned, and with that, negligent or nonexistent prenatal care is more likely to occur. Teens who are pregnant are also more likely to
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drink alcohol or use drugs than older pregnant women and are more susceptible to issues like pregnancy-induced hypertension, which can lead to premature birth. Despite the scary what-ifs of teen pregnancy, a new government report states that the teen pregnancy rate in the United States “dipped to its lowest recorded level since 1976,” falling 40 percent from 1990 to 2008, the last year complete data is available. Even so, using that data, three
Sitting on the edge of the high school bathroom sink is a thin white stick. Upon closer inspection, the stick reveals two very visible pink lines. A positive pregnancy test. A quick look around yields an empty bathroom. The teacher that found the test contemplates her next step. Somewhere in that school a young girl just found out she’s pregnant. And she probably feels alone and scared. No, this isn’t a scene from a cheesy afterschool special, it’s a scene that recently played out in one of Marion County’s own local high schools. BY KARIN FABRY-CUSHENBERY TEEN MOTHER & HOME PHOTOS BY JOHN JERNIGAN
out of 10 girls will experience an unintended pregnancy before their 20th birthday. And according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, there are about 733,000 teen pregnancies and more than 400,000 teen births annually. These statistics include girls from all walks of life, all ethnicities and all socioeconomic standings. And while some may be fortunate enough to have a built-in support system to turn to for help and
guidance, others do not. For girls who may already be in the DCF system, whether through foster care or a similar program, there is a place they can turn to for help. HOME. Hands of Mercy Everywhere is one of only five licensed teen maternity homes in the state of Florida. The facility opened under the guidance of CEO Diane Schofield in 2004. HOME is a not-for-profit facility and is run through church, private and business donations, grants and state funding.