There are many reasons why The Children’s Aid Society Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program is needed. We do it because we believe that all teens should be given as much opportunity in life as possible. Teen pregnancy, as a rule, interferes with opportunity and sometimes makes it nearly impossible. Below are some facts to help understand the problem more closely. Fortunately, the Carrera program has proven its ability to reduce these shocking numbers.

Highest teen pregnancy rates
The United States has the highest rates of both teen pregnancy and teen birth of any industrialized country. Four out of ten girls get pregnant at least once before age 20.

Teens are having sex earlier
Although teen pregnancy and births have been declining since the early 90's, according to the National Survey of Family Growth and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, teens are having sex earlier. Sexual activity has declined among all teens except for those under the age of 15. 8.3% of students report having had sex before age 13, an increase of 15% since 1997.

Inconsistent use of contraception
The percentage of teens using contraception the first time they have sex has been increasing since 1982, but the percentage of teens using contraception the last time they had sex is declining. Three out of ten teenage girls were completely unprotected the last time they had sex, and 30 to 38% of teens who use contraception, use it inconsistently.

Public costs of teen pregnancy
Teen pregnancy incurs substantial social and economic consequences. In fiscal year 1996, it was estimated that the federal government spent over $38 billion on services and support related to teenage childbearing. Alternatively, $138.1 million was spent on teen pregnancy prevention - over 275 times less than the costs associated with teenage childbearing.