Education for Teen Parents

Teen pregnancy is becoming increasingly common as 2018 approaches. Of a given 200,000 teen women that give birth, only 7.2% of them receive medical help. Teen mothers are often criticized for their pregnancies and pressured to make hard decisions without being thoroughly educated. Delegates Katelynn Helton, Rebecka Griffin, Jalyn Goff, and Savanna Sweet from, Rockcastle County High School, are hoping to make a change in the options for young pregnant women. Their bill aims to implement a nationwide notion that requires schools to offer programs that assist and educate young mothers.

The main goal of the program is to assist women throughout the entire duration of their pregnancy. The program will provide education that helps women feel confident going forward in their pregnancies. Some of the subjects covered will include: maintaining economic status, the process of labor, and what to do after childbirth. Additionally, the implemented program will also offer education and counseling to the young men affected by the pregnancies.

Since teen mothers are twice as likely to experience postpartum depression compared to older mothers, the bill accommodates to both the mental and physical needs of the women. Free counseling and medical assistance provided by volunteer doctors and professionals will be available after the bill takes effect in April 2018.

The delegates said they were inspired to create the bill after seeing the struggles their peers went through at their own school. “Pregnant women don’t always get the same opportunities as others, so we’re trying to give a chance to those mothers and give them opportunities too,” said delegate Katelynn Helton. If the bill passes, young mothers across the country will be able to feel more supported and secure.