The Epidemic Of Teen Pregnancy An American Tragedy PDF Download

The Subcommittee on Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations of the House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform and Oversight met to consider the causes of and solutions to teen pregnancy and the role of community organizations in prevention efforts. Opening remarks by Representative Christopher Shays were followed by statements by a number of people with expertise in teen pregnancy prevention, beginning with the statement of Representative Edolphus Towns, which emphasizes that in many cases the fathers of the babies of teenage girls are much older than the mothers. Statements of Representatives Nancy Johnson and Eva M. Clayton further defined the problem and emphasized that solutions must be community based. Remarks and a panel discussion were presented by: (1) Henry W. Foster, Jr., Senior Advisor to the President; (2) Kristin A. Moore, from the National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy; (3) Pat Funderburk Ware, former director of the Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs; and (4) Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. The panel discussion of these representatives of national initiatives was followed by a panel discussion of representatives from Best Friends, a program for girls and young women, and the Institute for Responsible Fatherhood and Family Revitalization. The transcribed comments and prepared statements of members of both panels are supplemented by letters, statements, and other documents submitted for the record. Panelists and Congress members were in general agreement that community-based approaches are needed to address the problems of teen pregnancy and that the role of fathers must be strengthened. (SLD)