If you follow Berks Teens Matter on Facebook or Instagram, you know that our goal is to reduce teen pregnancy in Berks County by 40% by 2022. When we talk about why this is an important goal, we often share statistics about the “costs” of teen pregnancy in our community, including the percentage of teen moms that don’t graduate high school or never complete college, and those that live in poverty.
What rarely (if ever) gets any attention when it comes to teen pregnancy is those teen parents who work so hard to finish high school, go on to further their education and become successful professionals. Like this local woman who had the courage to contribute her story to BTM: www.berksteensmatter.org/2017/03/with-a-blink-of-an-eye/
With community support and a lot of hard work our teen parents can – and many do – become successful community members who make significant contributions to building a better Berks County. These teen parents – male and female – have powerful stories to share. We, as a community, have a lot to learn from them. If you have a story you would be willing to contribute to the conversation please message us on Facebook, or go to www.berksteensmatter.org and click ‘contact us’ at the top of the page.
Our message about reducing teen pregnancy in Berks County is in no way intended to add to the shadow of shame and stigma that often surrounds adolescent sexual health and teen pregnancy. The path to achieving our goal must be paved with positive messages that promote healthy relationships and healthy sexuality.
By Nadine Smet-Weiss
Berks Teens Matter
