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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Teen Pregnancy Rampant in Foster Homes

Nearly half of foster-care girls get knocked up by 19

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(Newser) – Teen pregnancy is on the rise throughout the country, but in the foster-care system it’s a full-blown epidemic, Time reports. Nearly half of girls who spent time in the system become pregnant before turning 19, according to one University of Chicago study, and almost 25% had been pregnant more than once. Another report this week from an anti-teen pregnancy group found that nearly 50% of foster kids have sex before turning 16.

The foster system has not, until recently, really focused on the issue, nor have pregnancy prevention groups. That’s changing, with Planned Parenthood and others working to train foster parents on effective sex ed, but some doubt it’ll help. “For some foster youth, having a child is a way to create a family that they don’t have,” says one researcher. “Sex education is awesome. But that’s not always the issue.”

Teen pregnancies have hit epidemic levels in foster care.
Teen pregnancies have hit epidemic levels in foster care.   (Shutterstock)
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When I got pregnant, I found there was no support for me. It was like, 'We need to get you out of foster care because we won't be able to handle you and a baby.' - Miranda Sheffield, a foster child who became pregnant at 17

You don't really have an identity in foster care because you move around so much. And if you're not sure of who you are, you don't make good decisions. - Amy Dworsky, researcher at the
University of Chicago

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TerrifiedCitizen
Jul 22, 09 2:33 PM CDT
The title pretty much says it all; clean it up! Reply
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radnip
Jul 31, 09 2:38 AM CDT
Using what money? California is cutting anything to do with children, the elderly and the sick. However, Arnie stands squarely in front of taxing the rich, the oil companies, commerical properties (cheapest taxes for the value in the country), and luxury items. It wouldn't do to deprive the rich. It's always better to deprive the young, elderly and sickly.
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Toon
Jul 22, 09 5:17 PM CDT
It raises more question than answers to me. Did the pregnancies pre-date their entry into the foster care system? How many experienced incest in their original families? Did sexual assault from foster families or other foster kids play a role? Are teen parents more or less likely to be among the 43% of foster kids who end up homeless when they age out of the system? Reply
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riffran
Jul 23, 09 12:11 AM CDT
how sad really....a lot of foster kids have been through hell by the time they make it to the foster homes in the first place, it's no small wonder that some aren't even more traumatized than they are now Reply
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