The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy provides statewide leadership to prevent adolescent pregnancy and to promote quality services for pregnant and parenting teens and their children through policy analysis, education, research and advocacy.

News

In the Media

The Alliance has been featured in several news stories recently. To read the articles please click on the following links:

Less affluent areas see increase in teen births
Boston Globe, 3/16/08
for pdf version click here

New approach on Latina teen pregnancy
Springfield Republican, 3/9/08
Co-authored by Alliance Board Member Dr. Sarah Perez McAdoo
for pdf version click here

Spike in Gloucester High pregnancies alarms officials
Gloucester Daily Times, 3/7/08
for pdf version click here

Our view: GHS pregnancy spike needs a communitywide response
Gloucester Daily Times, 3/10/08
for pdf version click here

Teen STD rate not surprising to some area health experts
Sentinel and Enterprise, 3/12/08
for pdf version click here

 

Teen Birth Rates Increase Significantly in Many Massachusetts Communities

On February 13, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health released Massachusetts Births 2006. The statewide teen birth rate continued its slow decline, reaching 21.3 births per 1,000 teen girls ages 15-19 in 2006, down 2% from the following year, when the rate was 21.7 per 1,000. While this is good news, there are still substantial ethnic and racial disparities; the Latino teen birth rate in 2006 (72.7 per 1,000) was nearly 6 times that of White teens (12.4 per 1,000).

Many communities, such as Lawrence, Springfield, New Bedford, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Framingham, Leominster, Plymouth, and Cambridge witnessed double-digit increases in the teen birth rate between 2005 and 2006. Leominster had the highest increase, at 73%.

Several communities with perennially high teen birth rates saw significant decreases in 2006. Pittsfield’s rate dropped 6%, Revere’s dropped 19% and Chicopee’s dropped 19%.

Note: community-specific data are based on 2005 population estimates and will be updated as soon as more recent estimates are available.

For our fact sheet on selected communities in Massachusetts please click here

For our press release please click here.

To read the full Department of Public Health report please click here.

 

2009 Fiscal Year Budget Recommendations

The Alliance recommendations for the 2009 Fiscal Year Budget are now posted. We are urging increased funding for teen pregnancy prevention to address significant teen birth disparities for Latino youth.  National teen birth data indicates an increase in the teen birth rate for the first time in almost 15 years.

The Alliance is also advocating for resources to create a young parent bridge to community college and promote educational opportunity for all teen parents.

To see our FY 09 budget recommendations, click here.

The Governor’s FY09 Budget is due out on Wednesday January 23, 2008.  This is the first step of a long process of finalizing the state budget for 2009. The House of Representatives and the Senate will develop their own budgets and negotiate according to their own priorities and will send the final draft to the Governor, who in turn will approve or veto it. We urge you to contact your state representatives and senators to share the important work you do on behalf of Massachusetts youth. 

Click here to find out who represents you.

Be sure to check our website frequently for changes and updates to the budget process. We need your support and energy to influence legislators and ensure that teens’ voices and perspectives are heard! 

 

---

Partners in Prevention Community Partnerships

The Alliance is currently partnering with nonprofit organizations serving youth in five Massachusetts communities. The Partners in Prevention project, with generous funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, assists these partners in selecting, implementing, and evaluating science-based approaches to teen pregnancy prevention.

Lawrence

Health Quarters

Holyoke and Springfield

The YEAH! (Youth Empowerment Adolescent Health) Network

Southbridge

Health Awareness Services/Pregnant and Parenting Teen Program, Oxford Public Schools

Attleboro
Community Care Services

For more information on this project, please contact the Prevention Program Manager at fletcher@massteenpregnancy.org

---

Upcoming Workshops!