Counseling Pregnant Teens
Transcript of 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 AboutNational Teen Birth Rates, 1940-2005(number of births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19)
40.4
61.8
50.2
96.3
54.1
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005*
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.
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 Facts
Everyday in North Carolina
51
Teenagers Become
PregnantAdolescent 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 Development
Early 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 peer group.
Video
• Teen Pregnancy Video- Media Influence-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-oPzjUW8Nc
Adolescent Development
Middle Adolescence (14-17 years):
Become self-involved, alternating between unrealistically high expectations and poor self-concept.Complain that parents interfere with independence.Are extremely concerned with appearance and with their bodies.Have a lower opinion of parents; withdraw emotionally from them and form sense of identity from peer group.
Teens at Risk
Health 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 of
school 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 ParentGroup
• Group held in May
• Six girls participated in group
• Children ranged in age
Becoming Better Mom/Teen ParentGroup
• 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 Websites
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina
http://www.appcnc.org/
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/local
Websites
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina
www.appcnc.org
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
www.teenpregnancy.org