 To educate teens in the Syracuse City School district about teenage pregnancy and abstinence in hopes of lowering the teenage pregnancy rate in Onondaga County.

Column Labels ValuesAlbanyBroomeErieOnondagaOswegoGrand Total Average of 2001 teen preg rate Average of 2002 teen preg rate Average of 2003 teen preg rate Average of 2004 teen preg rate Average of 2005 teen preg rate per 1,000 females

 Early Childbearing can cause both teen mothers and fathers to drop out of school.  Statistics show that for mothers and fathers the younger the parent at birth the younger the educational set-back.  This can force the parents to get low- prestige jobs causing economic troubles and job dissatisfaction.

 Most teen parents struggle economically.  This can have not just a negative impact on them, but their children too.  Studies have shown children that grow up in poverty experience greater psychological distress.  Experts say early education and pregnancy awareness can help to reduce teen pregnancy rates.

 Teenage mothers deal many emotional and financial issues.  They struggle because of their youth and they lack of preparation for motherhood.  They also have to deal with the constant negative attitude from the public, which can be psychologically draining.

Card L. Josefina and Lauress L. Wise “Teenage Mothers and Teenage Fathers: The Impact of Early Childbearing On the Parents’ Personal and Professional Lives.” American Sociological Review McLeod D. Jane and Michael J. Shanahan “Poverty, Parenting, and Children’s Mental Health.” American Sociological Review 58: Hanna, Barbara “JAN- Informing Practice and Policy Worldwide through Research and Scholarship.” Journal of Advanced Nursing 34(4)

 My program does not work.  The percent of teens who are educated on abstinence and pregnancy prevention went from 50.3% to 48.1% for those who participated in the program.  It is not statistically significant  The sig. is.587