In a press conference at the Santander Arena on national Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day, Co-County Wellness Services announced the launch of Berks Teens Matter (BTM), an initiative to reduce teen pregnancy in Berks County by 40 percent by 2022.
Co-County Wellness Services (CCWS) recognized an enormous gap in primary teen pregnancy prevention in Berks County and has been making strides since 2012 to curb this trend. While CCWS is the backbone of the initiative, they are joined by 29 public and private stakeholders who have committed to working together as a collective to develop and implement a coordinated plan to sustain programs and practices to reduce teen pregnancy, leading to improved educational outcomes and long term well-being of families and communities in Berks County. Funding has been provided by The United Way of Berks County, Berks County Community Foundation and The Wyomissing Foundation.
Dr. Jen May, BTM Project Manager, said at the press conference said that “in 2012, 475 teens gave birth in Berks County, costing taxpayers more than $19 million dollars” and that “comparable class three counties in Pennsylvania, including Chester, Cumberland, Lancaster and York, have lower teen birth rates than Berks County.”
In Pennsylvania, 13 percent of the population lives below poverty level. In Reading, 38 percent of the population lives below the poverty level and only 65 percent of residents have a high school degree or higher. Teen births only exacerbate these disparities. Lack of skills and education, often caused by teen parenthood, decrease the potential of this generation to contribute to the community in the future. Not only do teen births affect the future of the teens themselves, but also the community’s building blocks, including education, financial stability and health. By preventing teen pregnancy, other serious social problems in Berks County can be significantly improved including poverty, child abuse and neglect, father-absence, low birth weight, school failure and poor preparation for the workforce.
Cities across the country have launched similar programs with great success and have seen teen birth rates drastically decrease while the use of birth control has increased along with sexual health education in grades nine through 12.
“The goal of BTM is ambitious, but with the help of parents, educators, legislators and health providers we will be successful in improving the future of Berks County’s teens,” said CCWS Executive Director Carolyn Bazik.
Senator Judy Schwank, a supporter of BTM, said at the conference that Berks Teens Matter “isn’t just a name. It’s a statement and a promise.”
To learn more about Berks Teens Matter, please visit www.BerksTeensMatter.org.
