Hot Topic (11/4): Cash for college . . . if you don't get pregnant

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

Offer to Teen Girls-Don't Get Pregnant, Get Cash for College

There's a controversial program in North Carolina that gives money to girls upon their enrollment in college, with the only stipulation that they not get pregnant while in the program. If that happens, the deal is off.

Called "College Bound Sisters," it began in 1997 as the health department in Guilford County worked to combat a high rate of teen pregnancy. They initially targeted girls aged 12-16 whose sisters were teenaged mothers.

"When I was doing maternity nursing," Dr. Hazel Brown of the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina–Greensboro and the program's co-founder said, "the girls would always say, 'It hasn't been such a big deal in my family, because my sister already had a baby.'"

They eventually came up with the idea to give money to the girls for college -- a dollar a day for every day they were in the program. In addition to money, the girls learn about fellowship, goal-setting, age-appropriate sexual education and getting into college.

"College Bound Sisters helped me stay focused on school and to understand the consequences of getting pregnant," said 17-year-old Mia Hubbard. "Becoming a teen parent would slow me down or stop me from going to college. That's what happened to my sister."

Hubbard has been in the program for six years, and will receive $2000 when she starts at Wake Forest next fall.

The program does have its critics. Abstinence is not required of participants -- the program offers information on both birth control and safe sex, which doesn't sit well with those who support abstinence-only education. Others believe the government should not pay teens to do what's in their own self-interest.

Indeed, many of the girls who join the program initially are motivated by the money. But they stay, Brown says, because of the support they receive and the opportunity to get a college education. "You can't work toward a negative," she says, "so saying 'Don't get pregnant' isn't good enough. This program gives them something to work toward."

College Bound Sisters has been very successful. Only six girls of the 125 enrolled for six months or longer have become pregnant. About 40 have already finished high school, and 10 have graduated from college.

Programs like this also save taxpayers money. Teen pregnancies cost $9.1 billion annually, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, or around $500,000 for each teen pregnancy for health care and welfare. College Bound Sisters costs just $75,000 a year to operate.

"When you can prevent a pregnancy, you've more than paid for a program like this," says Brown.

* * *

What do you think of this program?

Is this an appropriate use of tax dollars?  Should it be expanded to other areas?

What type of sex education do you favor? 

[cowgirlsr2]

What do you think of this program?I think it is awesome and there should be more everywhere!!

Is this an appropriate use of tax dollars?  Should it be expanded to other areas?Yes it beats paying for another child counselors and daycare while young mom tries to figure out what she is doin.Or a baby in the system.I think there should be a few of these scattered through out each state available foe all girls.

What type of sex education do you favor? I did not get a choose in my daughters they did in 5th grade without telling parents.I prefer her to be abstinent but when she is old enough we will go for birth control .

[NearSeattleMom]

It does seem kind of odd to have to pay young people to do the right thing in the first place. 

That said, I'd rather tax dollars go toward a program that encourages young women to graduate from college without getting pregnant than to pay public assistance for a young single mom without any job skills or college education. 

 

[JoshiRachelsMom]

there's a chance that the abortion rate will go up rather secretively since the girls won't declare any pregnancies..

[cherry41089]

What do you think of this program? I think it's a good start

Is this an appropriate use of tax dollars?  Should it be expanded to other areas? I rather pay for this then for a teenager mother who is job less and not trying to better herself. ( I'm not saying that all teenage mother aren't trying to better then selves cuz I was one)

What type of sex education do you favor? I like BC method better becuz it's pretty safe to say that abstinence method isn't working

[Happypancake]

I think it gives the wrong message... that having children is BAD or UNWANTED.

Reproduction is part of the human existence. It should not be shunned or turned into a leverage whether or not a woman can be educated as well. 

[RaggedyAnne]

 

What do you think of this program? I think it's a great idea

Is this an appropriate use of tax dollars?  Should it be expanded to other areas?  I think it's appropriate,I think it should

What type of sex education do you favor?  Birth Control & Sexually Transmitted Diseases

[luckcharm]

 

What do you think of this program?  I think it is an interesting approach,  it seems to be working better or as well as any of the other approaches used in the past.

Is this an appropriate use of tax dollars?  Should it be expanded to other areas?  I think it is a good use of tax dollars... it is going to help a problem that has been growing increasingly larger,  and is actually doing something.... that seems to be more than most tax dollars do

What type of sex education do you favor?  I am in favor of actually educating children about sex,   teaching abstinence does not educate them about sex and shouldn't be called sex education.   Give the kids the knowledge to make informed decisions about their bodies and what they choose to do with it.    Sex ed should include information about their bodies,  what sex is,  diseases, pregnancies,   and birth control.   It should teach respect for partner and self as well.   Knowledge is power,  but on this important issue a lot of people want to deny our children that knowledge/power which I think is crazy.

[PamR]

Quote:

I think it gives the wrong message... that having children is BAD or UNWANTED.

Reproduction is part of the human existence. It should not be shunned or turned into a leverage whether or not a woman can be educated as well.

I don't think it's telling them that having children is bad or unwanted; it's telling them that delaying childbearing until you have completed your education and are better able to care for a child is better.

I think it's great - it provides them with a goal that will help keep them on track, and gives them the tools to stay with their goal.  Anything that constructively cuts down on the number of teen moms is a positive.

[luckcharm]

Quoting Happypancake:

I think it gives the wrong message... that having children is BAD or UNWANTED.

Reproduction is part of the human existence. It should not be shunned or turned into a leverage whether or not a woman can be educated as well. 

I don't believe they teach that children are bad,  just that it is better to be prepared for them.   That their is a better time to have them... ie after you yourself have grown up and are able to care for them as best as possible. 

[mistynights234]

An educated mother who can financially take care of a child is better off reproducing then a 15 year old high school drop out. This is statistics and not a poke at younger mothers.......

"it should not be shunned" I dont think its shunning.  I think its teaching girls to be responsible. 

Not everyone should "reproduce".  If this keeps a few teenagers from reproducing I dont think its going to hurt humanity existence. 

Quoting Happypancake:

I think it gives the wrong message... that having children is BAD or UNWANTED.

Reproduction is part of the human existence. It should not be shunned or turned into a leverage whether or not a woman can be educated as well.