Counseling Pregnant Teens

Counseling Pregnant/Teen Moms The Role of School Counselors and Creating Effective Small Group Counseling Natalie Spencer

Goals of Presentation• Participants will learn…• Fast Facts• Adolescent Development• I’m a Counselor... What Can I do?• Where to start• Forming the Group• Outside Resources

Why We’re Here!• Help Counselors Better Understand Teen Pregnancy• Help Counselors Identify and provide appropriate counseling for pregnant teens.

National Fast Facts• The United States has the highest teenage pregnancy rate of all developed countries.

National Fast Facts• In the United States, the teen pregnancy rate is more than nine times higher than the Netherlands, nearly four times higher than the rate in France, and nearly five times higher than that in Germany.

National Fast Facts• About 1 million teenagers become pregnant each year; 95% of those pregnancies are unintended, and almost one third end in abortion.

More to Feel Good About National Teen Birth Rates, 1940-2005 (number of births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19) From 1940 to 1957, the teen birth rate increased 78% to a record high. The birth rate dropped fairly steadily from the end of the 1950s through the mid-1980s, but then increased 23% between 1986 and 1991. Between 1991 and 2005*, the teen birth rate decreased 35% to a record low of 40.4 in 2005. *Data for 2005 are preliminary. 120 100 96.3 80 61.8 60 54.1 50.2 40 40.4 20 0 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005*Ventura, S.J., Mathews, T.J, & Hamilton, B.E. (2001). Births to Teenagers in the United States: 1940-2000. National Vital Statistics Reports, 49(10).; Hamilton, B.E., Martin, J.A.,& Ventura, S.J. (2006). Preliminary Data for 2005. Health E-Stats. Released November 21, 2006.Teenpregnancy.org.

Fast FactsEveryday in North Carolina 51 Teenagers Become Pregnant Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina

More North Carolina Facts• Nearly 29% of the pregnancies to girls 19 and under were repeat pregnancies.• North Carolina has the ninth highest teen pregnancy rate in the US.• Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina

More North Carolina Facts• Teen pregnancy cost North Carolina $312,000,000 in 2004.• The number of 10-14 year old girls who became pregnant in the year 2005 could fill nine school buses. Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina

More North Carolina Facts• The teen pregnancy rate in North Carolina declined 30 % between 1991 and 2004 Teenpregnancy.org

More North Carolina Facts• The total number of North Carolina teens aged 15-19 who were pregnant in 2006 was 19,192.• That number includes both married and unmarried females. Nearly 29 percent of those pregnancies were to girls who had been pregnant at least once before. The number of 10 to14-year-olds who were pregnant last year was 405. Teenpregnancy.org

Adolescent DevelopmentEarly Adolescence (13-14 years):Begin to question parents values.Are often moody.Form closer friendships.Realize parents are not perfect; identity faults.Follow interests and clothing style of their peergroup.

Video• Teen Pregnancy Video- Media Influence- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0- oPzjUW8Nc

Adolescent DevelopmentMiddle Adolescence (14-17 years):Become self-involved, alternating between unrealistically highexpectations and poor self-concept.Complain that parents interfere with independence.Are extremely concerned with appearance and with theirbodies.Have a lower opinion of parents; withdraw emotionallyfrom them and form sense of identity from peer group.

Teens at RiskHealth Concerns:Teen mothers are in jeopardy psychologically because they experience higher levels of stress, despair, depression, feelings of helplessness, low self esteem, a sense of personal failure Jorgensen, S.R.(1993). Pregnancy and parenting. In T.P. Gullota, G.R. Adams, and R. Montemayer (Eds.), Advances in adolescent development(Vol.5)(pp. 103-140). Newbury Park,CA::Sage

Teens at Risk• Only one-third of teen mothers receive a high school diploma.• Less than half of mothers (40%) who have a child before they turn 18 ever graduate from high school.• Parenthood is leading cause ofschool drop out among teen girls. www.teenpregnancy.org

Starting a Group• Why start a group?• How can a small group help?• Will the students be interested in a group?

Starting a Group• Seek Approval from Principal• Contact School Nurse• Develop letter to send home• Get approval from parents• Take advantage of community resources

Starting a Group• Meet with interested group members• Notify teachers• Review attendance and academic performance

Group Activities• Goals – Long Term and Short Term• Weekly Reflection• Building Confidence

Group Activities• Healthy Relationships- parents, child’s father, classmates• Stress Management – school, job, baby• What Does the Future Look Like? College? Work? Etc??

Group Resources• Take advantage of community resources – SAFEchild• County Health Department• School Nurse• Child Development Class• Grandparent volunteer• Local Library

Now What?• Email or contact School Nurse to identify students in case load.• Meet students. Ask them how they are doing.• Check in with teachers.• Check in with parents.

Becoming Better Mom/Teen Parent Group• Group held in May• Six girls participated in group• Children ranged in age

Becoming Better Mom/Teen Parent Group• Students knew each other• Provided Support• Outcome- teachers reactions, attendance, outcome

Your Stories• How does the school counselor assist pregnant teens/teen mothers?• Have you had a unique experience assisting a pregnant teen/teen mom?• Was it difficult or rewarding?• What else can we do?

Resources Great WebsitesAdolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina http://www.appcnc.org/ North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/local

WebsitesAdolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina www.appcnc.orgNational Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy www.teenpregnancy.org

The End! Thank You!!!!Please contact if you have any questions! Natalie Spencer nspencer@wcpss.net

Counseling Pregnant Teens

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