EXPERT RESPONDS TO ABC PRIMETIME SHOW ON TEEN PREGNANCY: “WE MUST GET TO TEEN PARENTS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE”

(Portland, Ore.)—Jeannette Pai-Espinosa, President of The National Crittenton Foundation, thinks that the nation has overlooked the issue of teen parents at the worst possible time. Behind the conversations about abstinence, comprehensive human sexuality education and adoption lies the stark reality:  thousands of teen parents remain invisible, struggling to grow up themselves, while raising their own children.

After declining for 14 years, the teen pregnancy rate rose in 2006 and 2007, which has greatly alarmed researchers and public health advocates. Now, with the airing of a special Primetime called “Family Secrets” on June 23rd, Pai-Espinosa is motivated to talk about the support that teen parents and their children need—and what happens when society ignores these needs.

“Motherhood is a profoundly transformative experience as long as you fit society’s expectations about being a ‘good’ mother. If you are a young single mother, you are invisible,” said Pai-Espinosa. As the special aptly depicts, “Too many young women find themselves becoming mothers alone and for many pregnancy is a continuation of a cycle begun by their parents.”

Most of the young mothers profiled in the special have family to lighten the workload and to share in the emotional challenges and joy. But there are many young mothers who lack family or other adults who might be able to provide guidance and support. Many come from family histories of poverty, abuse, addiction and domestic violence. Most young mothers do end up parenting alone and working overtime to make ends meet.

Pai-Espinosa is calling for a nationwide effort to support young mothers and their children, providing them with services that encourage health, stability and economic self-sufficiency.

“This is the way to reduce and eliminate dependence on social welfare systems, and to truly break intergenerational cycles of teen pregnancy and poverty,” said Pai-Espinosa.

The Foundation is working on a new public engagement campaign,Young mailto:Mothers@themargin to bring people together to support the success of young mothers and their children, to be launched in the Fall of 2009.

The National Crittenton Foundation was founded in 1883 by philanthropist Charles N. Crittenton, and currently supports the work of over 27 Crittenton agencies throughout the country. Agencies still focus their work on supporting the empowerment of vulnerable girls, young women and their families. and women who are pregnant or parenting.

“Primetime: Family Secrets,” airs on Tuesday, June 23 (10:00 – 11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Leslie Carlson, (503) 805-5560,
Leslie@TheNationalCrittentonFoundation.org

Jeannette Pai-Espinosa, (503) 297-2217, Jeannette@TheNationalCrittentonFoundation.org

How you can help: A special appeal

It’s shocking but true–in the U.S., 1 out of 4 girls will be sexually or physically abused before the age of 18.

The result: 25 percent of the female population of this country suffers the lifelong burden and consequences of being abused. Throughout their lives, through no fault of their own, they face trauma and barriers that they alone may not be able to overcome.

Depression, low self-esteem, addiction, involvement in violent relationships, risky sexual behavior and many other serious issues are often markers of abuse. Moreover, evidence is growing about the link between childhood sexual abuse and teen pregnancy. For example, by age nineteen, 32 percent of young women in foster care report having at least one child as compared to 12 percent of their peers not in care. The domino effect is generations of families stretched thin by poverty, homelessness, unemployment and social isolation.

You and I know that the female spirit is resilient and powerful.

With support and opportunity, many do conquer the obstacles created by their past victimization and become healthy, successful, independent women, mothers, colleagues and leaders. The National Crittenton Foundation and the Crittenton family of agencies have been working across the country for more than a century to provide them with opportunities for self-empowerment, treatment and skill development.

Our foundation provides services that support the longevity of our 26 agencies operating in 24 states to provide comprehensive housing, education, mental health, substance abuse, employment, parenting and life skills services to young women working hard to build a better life. All together, the family of agencies have served more than 9 million young women. But today, the provision of these services may be at risk due to decreases in foundation and public funding.

In these challenging economic times, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But one thing we all know is that everybody needs help sometimes. It’s just the nature and degree of help and support that varies. Being a parent is tough in the best of circumstances–but for youn single mothers, the balancing act is even more precarious. In the midst of balancing your own life and budget, you might feel like you can’t do anything that will truly make a difference.

But it’s actually quite easy to help and have a real impact.

This is how: why not take a minute to make an investment of $35, $50, $100 or $500 in recognition of young mothers who are working hard to become self-sufficient and to break intergenerational cycles of destructive behaviors and relationships?

Your donation is tax-deductible, and by investing in the national level of our work, you will be helping support the innovation and stability of our 26 agencies and the young women and young families they serve.

Today, more than ever, we must support young women who are working hard to build safe and stable families and lives. Thank you in advance for your support.

Jeannette Pai-Espinosa, President

The National Crittenton Foundation