1. www.teenpregnancy.org By The Numbers: The Public Costs of Teen Childbearing

2. www.teenpregnancy.org 2 The Numbers One in three teens becomes pregnant by age 20. That is 750,000 pregnancies/year 50% or adolescents who have a baby become pregnant again within two years of the baby’s birth. Higher teen pregnancy and birth rates than comparable countries. Recent data show declines in teen birth rates are slowing.

3. www.teenpregnancy.org 3 Teen Pregnancy’s Link to Poverty and Other Social Issues What are the chances of a child growing up in poverty if his/her mother: (1) gave birth as a teen, (2) was unmarried when the child was born, and (3) did not receive a high school diploma or GED? 27% if one of these things happen. 42% if two of these things happen. 64% if three of these things happen. If none of these things happen, a child’s chance of growing up in poverty is 7%. A child born to a teen mother who has not finished high school and is not married is nine times more likely to be poor than a child born to an adult who has finished high school and is married. Source: Why It Matters, National Campaign

4. www.teenpregnancy.org 4 Teen Pregnancy is linked to school failure. Half of all single mothers on welfare were teenagers when they had there first child. Nearly 80% of the fathers of babies born to teen moms do not marry their babies’ mothers. On average these absent fathers pay less than $800 annually for child support. Girls born to teen mothers are 22% more likely to to become mothers as teens themselves and sons of teen mothers are more likely to end up in jail.

5. www.teenpregnancy.org 5 Consequences of Teen Pregnancy Only 40% of young teen mothers graduate from high school. Teen fathers earn less than older fathers (20-21). Compared to children born to older mothers (20-21 years old), children born to teen moms are more likely to: to drop out of high school. to use Medicaid to experience abuse/neglect. to enter the foster care system. to end up in prison (sons).

6. www.teenpregnancy.org The Costs of Teen Childbearing

7. www.teenpregnancy.org 7 There were approximately 6.8 million teen births in the United States between 1991 and 2004. The estimated cumulative public costs of teen childbearing during this time period are $161 billion. National Findings: Cumulative Costs and Savings

8. www.teenpregnancy.org 8 Costs for the Children of Teen Mothers Children of teen mothers are more likely to: Have decreased educational attainment Earn less money Suffer high rates of child abuse and neglect Grow up poor Live in single-parent households Enter the child-welfare system Become teen mothers themselves

9. www.teenpregnancy.org 9 Cumulative Costs and Savings For more information: www.teenpregnancy.org/costswww.teenpregnancy.org/costs

10. www.teenpregnancy.org 10 Thank You! Please visit our website at www.teenpregnancy.org