Oral presentation of ECG 100 research project, presented at Cabrini College\'s 6th Annual Arts, Research, and Scholarship Symposium.

1. “An Examination of Sexuality Education
and Pregnancy Prevention Programming
for Foster Youth in Delaware County,
Pennsylvania”
Danielle M. Jones
dmj84@cabrini.edu
Thursday, 26 April 2012

2. OVERVIEW
Adolescents in foster care are engaging in high-risk sexual
behaviors at dramatically higher rates than their non-foster care
peers:
• Foster youth are more likely to have sex at a young age,
experience non-consensual sex, diagnosed with a sexually-
transmitted infection (STI), and an unintended or out-of-
wedlock childbirth
• 50% of youth in foster care (ages 14 – 17) have had consensual
sex
 Of these youth, 41% reported their first sexual experience
occurred at age 13 or younger
• By age 17, 80% of foster youth reported having sex
• 48% of teen girls in foster care have been pregnant by age 19
 Of these girls, almost 50% will have a second pregnancy by
age 19

3. • Sexually active adolescents who age out of foster care are less
likely to use contraceptive methods, in comparison to
adolescents still in foster care
• Foster youth who feel connected to their caregiver are more
likely to use contraceptive methods during sex
• By age 21:
 almost 50% of males in foster care report having gotten a
female partner pregnant
 almost 75% of females in foster care are pregnant
 over 50% of females and almost 33% of males in foster care
have at least one child

4. REASONS FOR HIGH-RISK SEXUAL
BEHAVIORS AND OUT-OF-WEDLOCK
PREGNANCY
Findings from 150 surveyed Chicago-area foster youth and foster
parents:
• Foster youth lack important relationships with caregivers and
caseworkers, as well as foster families
• Foster youth see benefits to having a child
• Foster youth are dealing with pressure to have sex
• Foster youth have access to information to sex and
pregnancy, but offered “too little, too late”
• Foster youth may have access to contraceptive methods, but
may not use consistently, if at all
• Foster youth are thinking about future goals, but are acting on
present impulses
• Foster youth have a lack of trust between the sexes

5. INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMS
(ILPS)
Independent Living Program (ILP) : a federally funded, state-
administered program to prepare foster youth (ages 16 – 21) for
their transition from child welfare services to independence
• Primary purpose of ILP is to reduce or eliminate:
 homelessness
 poverty
 delinquent or criminal behavior
 non-marital childbirth
• Goals of ILP are to increase:
 employability
 high school graduation rates
 enrollment in post-secondary or vocational institutions
 successful transition to adulthood

6. COMPONENTS OF ILPS
(PENNSYLVANIA)
1) needs assessment/case planning (required)
2) life skills training
3) prevention services
4) vocational training
5) high school support and retention
6) preparation for GED
7) individual or group counseling
8) assistance in obtaining higher education
9) job placement
10) subsidized employment
11) practice IL placement (supervised independent living)
12) location of permanent housing

7. 13) room and board
14) stipends for youth
15) aftercare services
16) services for teen parents
17) retreats/camps
18) indirect services
19) program administration
ILPs follows standards provided by:
• Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare (DPW) annual
Children, Youth, and Families Bulletin
• the Title IV-E Independent Living Program Application
Guidelines

8. CURRENT SEXUALITY EDUCATION AND
PREGNANCY PREVENTION PROGRAMMING
IN DELAWARE COUNTY (PA) ILPS
ILPs offer Former Independent Living (IL) Life Skills classes:
• Two twelve-week sessions offered to foster youth:
 one – two sessions are topics specific to sexual health and
well-being
 prevention is common theme in all sessions
• Current partnerships with community and non-profit
organizations:
 Delaware County Teen Pregnancy Coalition
 Planned Parenthood
 AIDS Care Group
 Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems
 Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County

9. INTERVIEW WITH JULIA A.
SULLENDER, ILP SUPERVISOR
(DELAWARE COUNTY CYS)
• Caseworkers are provided with ongoing training in topics
related to sexuality education, but are not required to attend
• Overall, the staff are open in discussing sexual health with the
foster youth
• Many foster youth in Delaware County Children and Youth
Services (CYS) are becoming pregnant at a young age
“I feel that we try to address the issue, but we do have room for
improvement. Foster Care Youth are faced with additional
stressors that their peers do not face. Self-esteem issues are a
major factor. We need to improve team coordination efforts to
ensure youth are being provided with mental health services, as
well as education in prevention.” (J. Sullender)

10. INTERVIEW WITH FOSTER YOUTH
• 18 yrs. old, Caucasian female
• In/out of foster care since age 6
• Signed self out of care, but re-entered care after becoming
pregnant
• First sexual activity and sexual intercourse at age 11
“I just think that instead of telling them not to do it, tell them
how to prevent all the things that come from it. Be open-minded
(with) us being young. Sometimes (you) forget that you guys
used to be our age, so just discuss.” (Foster Youth)

11. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
• Cooperation and collaboration with government and non-
profit organizations:
 provide assistance with planning, development, and
implementation of curriculum, workshops, and trainings
 opportunities to receive additional funding and aid for ILPs
 offer additional information and resources for
caseworkers, caregivers, and foster youth

12. SUGGESTED
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

13. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
• Apply for additional funding from:
 Title X of the Public Health Service Act (Title X)
 The Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP)
 The President’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative
(TPPI)
• Involve foster youth in development of sexuality education
programming and outreach services for ILPs
• Require training and education of sexual health and well-
being topics for caseworkers and caregivers, as well as foster
parents
• Provide mental and behavioral health services for foster youth
(i.e., cognitive therapy)
• Develop and implement sessions/workshops on specific topics
related to foster youth (i.e., self-esteem, peer pressure)

14. • Include sexual health screenings into health coordination
plans for foster youth
 in the health screenings, provide:
o STI screenings and immunizations
o HIV testing
o Females: well-woman exam (breast exam and pelvic
exam)
o Males: testicular examination and sexual health
counseling

15. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND
RESOURCES:
• The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and
Unplanned Pregnancy
www.thenationalcampaign.org
• Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
www.chapinhall.org
• Guttmacher Institute
www.guttmacher.org
• Public Health Institute (California)
www.phi.org

16. WORKS CITED
“Independent Living Project.” University of Pittsburgh School of
Social Work. Web. 20 April 2012.
Jones, Danielle M. Personal Interview with Julia A. Sullender.
15 April 2012.
---. Personal Interview with Foster Youth. 15 April 2012.
Love, Lois Theissen, Jennifer McIntosh, Michael Rosst, and
Kristen Tertzakian. “Fostering Hope: Preventing Teen
Pregnancy Among Youth in Foster Care.” The National
Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 2005.
Web. 5 March 2012.
“Why It Matters: Teen Pregnancy and Child Welfare.” The
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned
Pregnancy, August 2010. Web. 5 March 2012.