research: vital communities

Poverty and racial disparities can undermine communities. According to the research, a substantial proportion of risk factors involve some sort of disadvantage or disorganization thus disadvantaged communities with high unemployment, low income, and high crime rates inherently create risks for their members (Kirby)

Access To Health Services

Adolescents under-utilize health and medical care services relative to their levels of need, and in comparison to other age groups. They are at high risk for being uninsured. Providers of health services to teens have challenges, too. Adolescent-specific physician and nursing training is a relatively new field, reimbursement is difficult, and providers' time is always a premium.

The solution is clear make available health clinic programs that improve access to counseling and contraception. Research literature shows that among sexually active adolescents, knowledge of how to effectively use contraception plus access to contraception helps to reduce pregnancy.

Access to health care also means confidentiality. Research shows that minors delay or don't even seek health care if it is not confidential. Research also shows that availability of confidential care does not increase incidence of high risk behavior, and that clinics can often help teens reconnect and communicate better with parents and other adults.

Coalitions Work

Coalitions adults from a wide sector of society, such as businesses, schools, neighborhood associations, community-based organizations, faith communities, public health, and government can provide an excellent base to create change in the community. Coalitions are vehicles for pregnancy prevention messages to be heard across diverse communities.

African American Teen Pregnancy Prevention Collaborative

Initiated by the Minnesota Department of Health and now coordinated through the St.Paul Urban League, this collaborative is a community-wide effort to implement culturally-appropriate strategies to engage parents, youth, policy makers, caring adults and the broader community to prevent teen pregnancy.