Research Paper on Supporting Young Mothers

Introduction

The reduction of teenage pregnancy in the US has been facilitated by public health efforts. The public policy has also contributed to the reduction of a similar problem. However, more interventions are still required to develop an effective adjustment to address the risks faced by teenagers. The US continues to have the highest cases of teen pregnancies in the western world. Therefore, it has adopted interventions to address the issue. However, the responses have had minimal impact in reducing teenage pregnancies thus calling for more efforts strategies from public policies.

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Existing Issues

Most teenagers are less likely to complete educations thus limiting them from competing for training and accessing various labor markets. Early teenage pregnant has had a significant impact on different countries. The US has been one of the countries affected by increasing cases of early teenage pregnancy (Goesling et al., 2014). Pregnancy has not only impacted on economic outcomes of the states but also contributed to issues linked to health outcomes. For instance, matters tied teenage pregnancy and complications have affected progress in education. Some of the approaches put in place to reduce adolescent pregnancies include sex education and the provision of sexual health services. On the contrary, these services have had minor effects. However, the public health policy targets to diversify its methods by adopting interventions that educate vulnerable teenagers and the groups majorly impacted by teenage pregnancies and early parenthood.

Difficulties associated with reduced teenage pregnancies include increased rates of poor sexual behaviors and engagement of teenagers into prostitution, and others risk behaviors that expose them to early pregnancies. Besides, the unemployment rates among young people have intensified poverty levels and increased the prices of problems linked to teenagers. Education policies have also focused on the need to have sex education across different learning institutions. Most of the teenage pregnancies are unplanned thus negatively affecting the economy. Teenage pregnancies hinder them from completing school which further limits them from advancing their career. Furthermore, teenage pregnancies have been shown to have a negative impact on Taxpayers. Creating awareness among the youths could encourage teens to seek sexual health services and advice.

The school administrators have raised concerns on the impact that early pregnancies has on the school system. This can be attributed to gap existing in public policies which have failed to define specific interventions toward handling teenage pregnancy and education. The enactment of Title IX in 1972 protects students against discrimination (Chigona & Chetty, 2008). Evidenced-based policymaking has been shown to have a positive outcome in addressing social issues. Applying similar policies to teenage pregnancy would reduce early pregnancy among students. It has far-reaching implications to both state and families of the teenagers. For example, the medical cost linked to teen births affects the government's healthcare expenditure. Moreover, proper health care and nutrition has contributed increased childbearing rates.

Policies

Innovative policies could reduce the case of teenage pregnancy. For instance, sex education could further focus on providing teens with more alternatives and choices for preventing teen pregnancy. Both high schools and elementary should introduce programs that target to address the issue of teenage pregnancy without discriminating on different factors that could hinder the youths from accessing reliable preventive methods (Chigona & Chetty, 2008). For instance, safety and use of contraceptives could have detrimental effects on teenagers. However, public health should focus on providing safe alternatives that would allow them to prevent such cases at an early age.

Most of the problems associated with teenage pregnancies are school dropout. As a result, the educational system and public policies could introduce alternatives for equal education opportunities for pregnant and parenting teens. By providing equal access to education, the government would ensure that the teen's progress with their training, get jobs and make a living thus reducing a burden on the taxpayer's contribution (Blackman, 2016). The parents have a role in educating their children on risky sexual behaviors. Besides, introducing the children to the mentorship program at a young age could help them find direction and understand the implications of sexual misconducts. For those who would have the children, the parents further have a duty of encouraging them to progress with education.

Supporting prevention measures is critical for society and public health programs. It ensures that pregnancy cases are avoided. To achieve this, early childhood interventions should focus on development programs for reducing unintended pregnancies. Engaging different schools into such programs can be achieved through learning support programs, guidance, and social support to children. Adopting such programs would allow the school administration to reinforce education policies that inspire the students toward career development. However, the families, communities, and social institutions have a major role in shaping behaviors of young people in different ways (Chigona & Chetty, 2008). On the contrary, social and family problems have majorly contributed to increased teenage pregnancies. Families faced with increased poverty levels have a challenge of meeting the basic needs for their, livelihoods. As a result, early some teens opt for prostitution to earn a living.

Misunderstanding and pressure from the teacher's and other learners reduce the support that the teen mothers access from the surrounding communities. Lack of support from school frustrates young mothers from consideration the completion of their high school education (Blackman, 2016). For instance, most of the teachers' are unwilling to go through the lessons that teenagers missed when teenagers went to have babies in the hospital. When they return to access the lessons taught, the teachers are often unwilling to take them through. As a result, public policies should further focus on these areas. It should strategize and create awareness on the school administration. Public policy should introduce special programs for such students to ensure that their performance is improved and supported to help them complete their studies. Educational reforms could impact significantly on the issue.

The issue of the stigma attached to teen age pregnancy can be addressed by revisiting on the Title IX regarding protection of teenagers from discrimination. Mothers going back to school face a lot of stigmas. As a result, education policy should introduce awareness to the school communities and provide a guideline that would allow other students to help them to cope with the school environment. Marginalization of teen mothers requires the school administration to focus more on counseling programs and conduct education to the school community. Professional counseling would reduce instances of stigmatization and motivate teen mothers as they go back to school. The federal government has also adopted policies that enhance pregnancy prevention (Chigona & Chetty, 2008). The evidence-based policymaking has increased the ability of the government to address social, challenging issues. The support of the lawmakers has improved the success of evidence-based strategies.

The teen mothers often consider continuing with school education since it is the only opportunity that would earn the chance in the labor market. Therefore, the education system should further adopt policies that provide reliable programs to enhance career development for the teen dropouts to access equal opportunities to develop income related activities. The educational deficit has much to do with the implementation of new policies that aim at establishing strategies with the aim of supporting teenage mothers.

People Interested in Making Change

Policy-makers and women leaders are most interested in supporting young mothers. Besides, the government also has much concern for young mothers. Through Title IX, the government has been supportive in .providing equal learning opportunities (Blackman, 2016). Educational leaders and parents can further support teenage mothers. Besides, the policy makers play a crucial role in drafting policies that would enhance quality access to education and career development for young mothers. For those who fail to continue with school, alternative programs have been created which include special education programs parenting classes and providing daycares for their children. Social support agencies have been at the forefront of supporting teenage mothers and facilitating support programs such as counseling to enhance positive outcomes in their studies. The government has been at the forefront in helping and working along with nongovernmental organizations in supporting the teenagers through the creation of awareness and providing adequate support regarding preparing them as both teenage mothers and students

Some of the other policies that could work effectively involve helping teenagers access local programs that would help them understand the significant effects of adolescent motherhood and various ways of preventing pregnancy. The policies should address and identifying gaps existing in the public policies regarding teenage pregnancies. Moreover, the plans would target different prevention strategies aimed at maximizing assets in educating young people on the need to abstain and focus on academic studies. Therefore, it is essential for the local government to focus on a creative framework that would provide an evidence-based structure to address teenage pregnancies and support adolescent parents.

References

Blackman, K. (2016). Evidence-Based Policies to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. NCSL legisbrief, 24(16), 1.Chigona, Agnes, & Chetty, Rajendra. (2008). Teen mothers and schooling: lacunae and challenges. South African Journal of Education, 28(2), 261-281.

Goesling, B., Colman, S., Trenholm, C., Terzian, M., & Moore, K. (2014). Programs to reduce teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and associated sexual risk behaviors: a systematic review. Journal of Adolescent Health, 54(5), 499-507.