May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month! It's a time to celebrate the historic decline in the teen birth rate in the United States and highlight the importance of helping adolescents reach their full potential.

Despite the progress that has been made, however, we still see disparities by race, ethnicity, and in the most vulnerable populations---including youth who are homeless, living in foster care, or involved with the juvenile justice system---compared to the general population. 

For this reason, it is important to increase capacity in our local communities to serve vulnerable youth so that we can decrease the US teen birth rate across all populations. This means connecting youth to services and opportunities and developing programs to help them acquire the knowledge and skills they need to become healthy and productive adults.

While May is a critical time to consider teen pregnancy and how it impacts individuals and the community, it is important to note that this issue is one to focus on year-round. For Catholic Charities, that also means ensuring that when teens DO become pregnant, they have access to the resources and support they need to become knowledgeable and self-sufficient mothers who are capable of making the best decisions possible for themselves and their baby. We offer free pregnancy support for all women regardless of age, income, marital status, or religious affiliation. Click here for more information.

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