Protect programs that help pregnant teens

Head Start and Early Head Start have proven to be successful programs in assisting low income families and children to ensure healthy development, and the additional funding provided for these programs highlights its success and necessity for our young children.

But what about our other children, our older children?

Teenage pregnancy is a critical issue in the United States. Teenage mothers face increased risk to their health and their opportunities to build a future become severely diminished.

It is the children of teen mothers, however, who bear the greatest burden of teen pregnancy and are at increased risk for a number of economic, social and health problems. Teenagers are the least likely of all age groups to get regular prenatal care and, at the same time, often have poor nutrition and engage in unhealthy behaviors, all of which threaten healthy development of the child.

Lack of assistance for teenage mothers during and following their pregnancy is causing negative implications for the child's development and future outcomes.

Here is the bottom line: We need to support currently pregnant and parenting teens. This includes prenatal care among pregnant teenagers to facilitate improved health of the baby, and providing services that will bring about improved physical, cognitive, and emotional development for the child.

Early Head Start programs have succeeded in accomplishing these goals for millions of low income families, and we must continue to assist those parents and children who need it most. We need to make a conscious effort to provide Early Head Start services to teenage-parent families. Not only will it improve the lives of our children, but it will help break the teen pregnancy cycle.

Andrea Nardini

Deerfield