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FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY
THE EAST ROOM
MAY 2, 1997
[Acknowledgments: Dr. Bel Sawhill, the Campaign's President; general
acknowledment of the leaders of the National Campaign; Senator Nancy
Kassebaum-Baker; Senator Olympia Snowe; Congresswoman Nita Lowey;
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton; Congresswoman Connie Morella;
Congresswoman Eva Clayton.]
Thank you for joining me as we mark the beginning of teen pregnancy
prevention month and the first anniversary of the National Campaign to
Prevent Teen Pregnancy. In his 1995 State of the Union address, the
President called on parents and leaders across the country to join together to
prevent teen pregnancy. You met that challenge and formed the nonpartisan,
non-profit National Campaign. I want to thank you for all of your work over
the past year: including your efforts on Capitol Hill to raise interest in teen
pregnancy; your leadership in forging partnerships among government,
business, the media, and others; your support for state and local action; and
your series of informative and insightful reports. I am particularly happy to
welcome you here today to recognize the National Campaign's first 12
honorees -- leaders whose efforts to prevent teen pregnancy are making a
difference across the country.
Teen pregnancy is a serious problem in the United States. Four in ten girls
become pregnant at least once before turning 20, and 75% of teenagers who
have children are not married.
Having a child as a teenager limits a young mother's likelihood of finishing
high school and increases the chances that she will end up in poverty. And
the children of teen parents often suffer. They have poorer health, more
difficulty in school, and a greater chance of being abused or neglected. With
the new information we have about the importance of the earliest years of
childhood, it is especially heartbreaking to think that children are being born
to parents who are not yet prepared to care for, nurture and stimulate them.
1
We are making progress. We are heartened that the teen birth rate has fallen
four years in a row after reaching its highest point in two decades in 1991.
And an HHS study released yesterday has given us more encouraging news
by showing that teenage sexual activity has dropped for the first time since
the survey began 20 years ago.
The President is committed to reducing teen pregnancy. Since 1993, the
Administration has supported innovative and promising teen pregnancy
prevention strategies in over 1,400 communities across the country. Just
yesterday, Secretary Shalala announced two new grants to prevent teen
pregnancy and promote responsible behavior. One grant, part of the Girl
Power! Campaign, will give communities tools to work with girls between
the ages of nine and 14 to build self-esteem and prevent teen pregnancy, as
well as smoking and drug use. The other will help communities educate
boys and encourage them to make responsible decisions.
The unifying theme of the President's work on teen pregnancy is that there is
no one size fits all answer to teen pregnancy. We know that people in
communities around the country are developing unique and diverse solutions
that are making a real difference. The Administration is dedicated to
supporting and fostering these community-based efforts.
That is why I am so pleased today to recognize the leaders of 12
organizations that are being honored by the National Campaign. These
programs share important basic themes. They all emphasize the importance
of values and self-esteem in attacking teen pregnancy; of working hand in
hand with businesses and the media; of adapting approaches to changing
times and circumstances; of including boys in prevention strategies; and of
encouraging communication between adults and children and involving our
young people in the discussion about how to prevent teen pregnancy.
[RECOGNIZE EACH OF THE HONOREES. ASK THEM EACH TO STAND
BUT ASK AUDIENCE TO HOLD APPLAUSE UNTIL THE END.]
Elayne Bennett, President and Founder of the Best Friends Foundation,
a school-based program reaching about 2,000 girls in 15 cities to promote
responsible behavior and abstinence, and to build self-esteem. I would also
like to recognize Alma Powell, Chair of the National Council and a member
of the board of the Best Friends Foundation, who is also here today.
2
Patricia Canessa, President of the Board of the National Organization
on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention, who has brought
together a diverse network of health care providers, education and social
service professionals, and national, state and community leaders to reduce
teen pregnancy.
Russell C. Deyo, Vice President of the Johnson & Johnson Family of
Companies and the Chair of Johnson & Johnson's Corporate
Contributions Committee, for Johnson & Johnson's civic commitment and
ongoing support of this cause.
Sue Cameron, County Commissioner of Tillamook County, Oregon,
who through unity of purpose and diversity of means have achieved dramatic
success -- reducing the teen pregnancy rate in the county by nearly 75%
between 1990 and 1994.
Gloria Feldt, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America,
Inc., who unfortunately could not be here, for the work she and Planned
Parenthood have done to encourage families to communicate about this
difficult issue. Michael McGee, the Vice President of Educational Services
at Planned Parenthood, is here today on her behalf.
Eric Graham, President of Children's Express, who through journalism
has given children a voice on this and other important issues.
Susan Wilson, Executive Director for the Network for Family Life
Education at Rutgers University, for creating a forum for teens to discuss
pregnancy, abstinence, drugs and other issues.
Dr. Wade Horn, Director of the National Fatherhood Initiative, who has
worked to improve the well-being of children by increasing the chances that
they will grow up with loving, committed and responsible fathers.
Edward Pitt, Associate Director of the Fatherhood Project, and Director
for the National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families at the
Families and Work Institute, who has also been a strong voice for the role
of fathers and other men in the lives of children and teens.
3
Marion Howard, Ph.D., Clinical Director of the Grady Teen Services
Program, who, since the 1970s, has run innovative programs and paired
them with rigorous evaluations, thereby increasing our knowledge about how
to prevent teen pregnancy.
Sheila Johnson, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Black
Entertainment Television (BET), who has used the media to raise
awareness on this critical issue and will host a live, nationally-televised town
meeting on teen pregnancy tomorrow.
Ann S. Moore, President of People Magazine, who printed a compelling
cover story on teen pregnancy which informed millions of Americans about
the serious consequences of teen pregnancy.
I am grateful for the work of all of these honorees, the National Campaign,
and so many others who are with us today. You show all of us that while
teen pregnancy is one of the most difficult problems facing this country,
there are approaches that can work if all of us who have a stake in this
problem and in the future of our children dedicate ourselves to the challenge.
I'd like to introduce someone who has done just that. My good friend
Governor Kean, the Board Chairman of the National Campaign to Prevent
Teen Pregnancy, the President of Drew University, and the former Governor
of New Jersey, has been a powerful and determined voice in the battle
against teen pregnancy. I am so happy, Governor Kean, that you could be
with us today.
###
4
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visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
Booklet, "National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy," 5 pages
FIRST LADY
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
welcomes you to
THE WHITE HOUSE
In recognition of the
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO
PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY
Friday, May 2, 1997
05/02/97
10:05
002
MAY. 2. 1997 8:33AM
NCPTP
NO. 3587
P. 2
Remarks at White House Reception
Mrs. Clinton, thank you so much for your support and for hosting
this wonderful reception. I want to say, on behalf of the entire
Campaign family, how pleased and honored we are to be here. Your
leadership and the President's have been so important in focusing
the nation's attention of this very serious issue. It was his State of the
Union message in 1995 that challenged all of us to get involved in
working on the problem of teen pregnancy and we wouldn't be here
today if it hadn't been for his and your leadership.
We have accomplished a great deal during the past year but it
wouldn't have been possible without the help of an absolutely terrific
group of people who have agreed to serve on the Campaign's four
task forces as well as on its national board, its-staff, and its
congressional advisory panels. Many of them are here today and I
wish I could recognize all of them and their impressive contributions.
These groups are hard at work trying to get new messages into the
media, encouraging and supporting states and local communities in
their efforts, sharing with these communities and others the research
on what works to prevent teen pregnancy, and looking for ways to
reduce the conflict that has too often impeded taking concrete action
to prevent teen pregnancy.
We have now visited 10 different states or communities and are
making available today a report to the nation on the lessons we have
learned from talking with those working on the front lines.
We are also releasing today a new publication, aptly entitled I think,
"Whatever Happened to Childhood" as well as some new polling
data.
The polling data suggests how strongly the public feels about this
MAY 01 '97 17:01
PAGE.02
05/02/97
10:05
003
MAY. 2. 1997 8:33AM
NCPTP
NO. 3587 P. 3
issue and how much they support a standard of abstinence during
the school age years, even while recognizing that not every teen is
going to achieve that standard, and that for those who don't, we
must insure that they have the means to protect themselves from
pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Equally important, we think, is giving teens reasons to avoid
pregnancy. Our work suggests they often have the means to prevent
teen pregnancy but they may not have the will. To strengthen their
motivation:
We need to provide them with more guidance and supervision.
We need to mentor them and invest in their futures. And we need to
talk to them about love and sex and how to tell the difference.
At the same time, we need to strenghten the consensus that
pregnancy and childbearing among teens is not O.K. -- that every
baby deserves parents who are ready and able to provide the care
that everyone knows and your recent conference on brain
development further emphasizes " is so essential to healthy child
development.
And finally we all need to be involved and we need to intensify
our efforts. This is the message coming from the Summit on
voluntarism and it is a message we heartify applaud.
And it is why we are honoring those whose efforts are already
making a difference. I hope you will join me and other Campaign
leaders in our salute to these groups who have contributed so much
to turning this problem around. As you know, there is some recent
good news on this front. Teen pregnancy rates are beginning to fall,
sexual activity among teens is down, and contraceptive use is up. I
wouldn't want to suggest that our honorees have single-handedly
caused all of this to happen, but they embody the kind of efforts that
will be needed to sustain our progress.
PAGE 03
05/02/97 10:06
004
MAY. 2. 1997 8:34AM
NCPTP
NO. 3587 P. 4
Again, thank you so much for your help, your leadership, and
for so graciously hosting this event.
PAGE. 04
MAY 01 '97 17:02
05/02/97 10:53
001
The White House
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The
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DOMESTIC POLICY URGENT
Pls hand
FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION COVER SHEET
deliver
TO:
Jenklein
FAX NUMBER:
62878
TELEPHONE NUMBER: 62599
FROM:
Cynthen Rue
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
62846
PAGES (INCLUDING COVER): 10
COMMENTS:
6 Members of Coropero f
former members who should be
acknowled are circled
05/02/97
10:54
002
For Official Government Use Only
President's List
TEEN PREGNANCY - Friday MAY 2 1997 - 1:30 AM White House - Business - East Visitors Entrance
For Official Government Use Only
Page 1
THE FIRST LADY
REPORT DATE: May 2, 1997
REPORT TIME: 10:16 AM
Accepts and No Responses
A
Ms. Delia Abarra
Speechwriter, Office of the Asst. Secretary for Public Affairs
A
Ms. Kim Armstrong
Children's Express
Washington, DC
This is the
A
Ms. Elayne G. Bennett
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
list for today's
Washington, DC
A
Dr. Linda Berne
event!
Professor, UNC-Charlotte College of Nursing
Charlotte, NC
Dr. Robert W. Blum
Twice
R
Director, University of Minnesota
Minneapolis,, MN
A
Ms. Katrina Braxton
Network for Family Life Education, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ
A
Dr. Claire Brindis
Director, Center for Reproductive Health Policy Research
San Francisco, CA
A
Ms. Barbara Broman
Director for Children and Youth Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
Washington, DC
A
Dr. Jane Brown
Professor, Department of Journalism adn Mass Communications, University of North Carolina
A
Mrs. Sarah Brown (Spouse of: Winthrop Brown)
A
Ms. Donna Butts
Exec. Dir., NOAPPP
Washington, DC
A
Mr. Michael Bzdak
Johnson and Johnson Family of Companies
New Brunswick, NJ
A
Mr. Brian Cameron
County Courthouse
Tillamook, OR
A
Ms. Sue Cameron
State Commissioner
Tillamook, OR
A
Ms. Patricia Canessa-Mancera
President of the Board, National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting, and Prevention
Washington, DC
For Official Government Use Only
05/02/97
10:54
1.
003
For Official Government Use Only
Page 2
REPORT DATE: May 2, 1997
REPORT TIME: 10:16 AM
Accepts and No Responses
A
Dr. J.J. Card
Presidet, Sociometrics Corporation
Los Altos, CA
A
Ms. Laurie Rubiner (Substitute for: John Chafee)
A
Ms. Linda Chavez
President, The Center for Equal Opportunity
Washington, DC
A
Hon. (Rep.) Eva M. Clayton
D/North Carolina, House of Representatives
Washington, DC
A
Mr. Dax Clinkscale
A
Ms. Lorriane Cole
Executive Director, National Medical Association
A
Ms. Margaret Conway
Vice President of Public Policy, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
New York, NY
A
Mr. Aldrich Cooper
Johnson and Johnson Family of Companies
New Brunswick, NJ
A
Ms. Rosann Wisman (Substitute for: Brenda Cooper)
A
Mrs. Annette P. Cumming
Facilities Administrator, Leucadia Financial Corporation
Salt Lake City, UT
A
Ms. Constance Danielson
Atlanta, GA
A
Mr. Richard Deem
Government Relations, American Medical Association
Washington, DC
A
Mr. Russell C. Deyo
Vice President, Johnson and Johnson Family of Companies
New Brunswick, NJ
A
Mr. Harold Donofrio
Executive Director, Campaign for Our Children
Baltimore, MD
A
Mr. Robert Dugger
National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting, and Prevention
Washington, DC
A
Mr. Jaben Early
A
Ms. Martha Easton
Corporate Secretary and Assistant to the President, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Washington, DC
For Official Government Use Only
05/02/97
10:55
1
004
For Official Government Use Only
Page 3
REPORT DATE: May 2, 1997
REPORT TIME: 10:16 AM
Accepts and No Responses
A
Ms. Christina Ferrari
President, People Magazine
New York, NY
A
Ms. Carmen Ford
Director of Adminstration, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregancy
A
Ms. Vanya Francis
Hyattsville, MD
A
Ms. Carol Galaty
Director, Office of Program Development / Maternal adn Child Health Bureau
Rockville, MD
A
Dr. William Galston
University of Maryland
College Park, MD
A
Ms. Lisa Gilmore
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Olivia Golden
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of Health anmd Human Services
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Toby Graff
Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary, Department fo health and Human Services
Washington, DC
A
Mr. Eric Graham
President, Children's Express
Washington, DC
A
Dr. Bradley Greenberg
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
A
Ms. Marcia Greenburger
A
Ms. Lisa Haileab
Washington, DC
A
Dr. David Alan Hamburg
President, Carnegie Corporation of New York
New York, NY
A
Mrs. Pauline Hamlette
Washington, DC
A
Mr. Irving Harris
Chairman, The Harris Foundation
Chicago, IL
A
Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC
For Official Government Use Only
05/02/97
10:55
005
For Official Government Use Only
Page 4
REPORT DATE: May 2, 1997
REPORT TIME: 10:16 AM
Accepts and No Responses
A
Ms. Katrina Holt
National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention
A
Ms. Caroline Horn
Gaithersburg, MD
A
Ms. Christen Horn
Gaithersburg, MD
A
Mrs. Claudia Horn
Gaithersburg, MD
A
Mr. Wade Horn
Executive Director, Association for Children with Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Disorder
Gaithersburg, MD
A
Dr. Marion Howard
Grady Memorial Hospital
Atlanta, GA
A
Ms. Barbara Huberman
A
Ms. Bernice Humphrey
Director, Teen Connections, Girls, Inc.
Indianapolis, IN
A
Mr. John Hutchins
Communications Manager, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Prenancy
A
Dr. Renee Jenkins
Society for Adolescent Medicine
Washington, DC
A
Mrs. Sheila Johnson
Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Black Entertainment Television
Washington, DC
Dr Waldo Johnson
R
Assistant Professor, University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
?
Mr. Paul Tudor Jones
Chairman & CEO, Tudor Investment Corporation
New York, NY
A
Ms. Leslie Kantor
Vice President of Education, Planned Parenthood of New York City
New York, NY
A
Mrs. Nancy Kassebaum-Baker
Washington, DC
A
Mr. Thomas H. Kean
Drew University
Madison, NJ
For Official Government Use Only
05/02/97
10:56
006
For Official Government Use Only
Page 5
REPORT DATE: May 2, 1997
REPORT TIME: 10:16 AM
Accepts and No Responses
A
Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Kirby
Director of Research, ETR Association
Santa Cruz, CA
A
Ms. Elisa Koff
Social Science Program Specialist, Office of the Asst. Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
A
Ms. Seo Hee Koh
Rutgers School of Social Work, Livingston Campus
New Brunswick, NJ
A
Ms. Linda Kramer
People Magazine
New York, NY
A
Ms. Tamara Kreinin
Director of State and Local Affairs, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
A
Mr. Thomas Kring
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs, Office of Public Health Science
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Tracey Lauterborn
Director of State and Local Affairs, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Prenancy
A
Mr. Ira Lederer
Rutgers School of Social Work, Livingston Campus
New Brunswick, NJ
A
Mr. Jefferi Lee
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Alexandra Leverich
Assistant to the Director, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
A
Ms. Judith L. Lichtman
Women's Legal Defense Fund
A
Ms. Cecilia Llama
Rutgers School of Social Work, Livingston Campus
New Brunswick, NJ
A
Hon. (Rep.) Nita H. Lowey
D/New York, House of Representatives
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Yvonne Maddox
Deputy Director, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Bethesda, MD
A
Dr. Beverly Malone
American Nurses Association
Washington, DC
A
Dr. Rebecca Maynard
Professor, Universiy of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
For Official Government Use Only
05/02/97
10:56
1.
007
For Official Government Use Only
Page 6
REPORT DATE: May 2, 1997
REPORT TIME: 10:16 AM
Accepts and No Responses
A
Sister Mary Rose McGeady
A
Mr. Michael McGee
Vice President of Education, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
New York, NY
A
Ms. Eileen McGrath
Executive Director, American Medical Women's AssociationN/A
Alexandria, VA
A
Ms Judy McGrath
A
Ms. Martha McKay
Children's Express
Washington, DC
A
Mr. David Mechlin
Senior Partner, Ogilvy and Mather Worldwide
New York, NY
A
Mr. Stuart Merkel
Children's Express
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Marie Mitchell
c/o Dr. Marion Howard
Atlanta, GA
A
Ms. Izetta Mobley
Children's Express
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Ann Moore
President, People Magazine
New York, NY
A
Dr. Kristin Moore
Washington, DC
A
Hon. (Rep.) Constance "Connie" A. Morella
R/Maryland, House of Representatives
Washington, DC
Guest. Ms. Kathryn Pearson
A
Mr. Chris P. Nelson
Director of Social Services, Bridges/PEER
Caldwell, ID
A
Ms. Marisa Nightingale
Program Development Associate, The national Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
A
Ms. Audrey Nora
Department of Health and Human Services
Rockville, MD
A
Ms. Angela Norman
Washington, DC
For Official Government Use Only
05/02/97
10:57
008
For Official Government Use Only
Page 7
REPORT DATE: May 2, 1997
REPORT TIME: 10:16 AM
Accepts and No Responses
A
Ms. Theodora Ooms
Executive Director, Family Impact Seminar
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Ara-Cely Panameno
Latina National Aid's Education Leadership Council
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Nancy Parello
Sex ect. - A Newsletter by Teens, for Teens, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ
A
Mr. Wayne Pawlowski
Director of Training, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Annette Pitt
Families and Work Institute
New York, NY
A
Mr. Edward Pitt
Director, National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families
New York, NY
A
Mr. Eric Pitt
A
Mrs. Alma Powell
Alexandria, VA
A
Ms. Sally Quinn
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Connie Revell
County Courthouse
Tillamock, OR
A
Ms. Angela Rice
Coordinator, Best Friends Foundation
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Elana Rios
A
Ms. Sharon Rodine
Coordinator: Heart of OKC Project, Oklahoma Child Advocacy Institute
Oklahoma City, OK
A
Ms. Ann Rosewater
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and External Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services
Washington DC
A
Ms. Jeannie Rosoff
President, Alan Guttmacher Institute
New York, NY
A
Ms. Nancy H. Rubin
The White House
Washington, DC
For Official Government Use Only
05/02/97
10:57
009
For Official Government Use Only
Page 8
REPORT DATE: May 2, 1997
REPORT TIME: 10:16 AM
Accepts and No Responses
A
Mr. Rush Russell
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ
A
Ms. Victoria Post Sant
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Shira Saperstein
The Moriah Fund
Washington, DC
A
Dr. Isabel Sawhill
President, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Washington, DC
A
Mr. John J. Schlitt
Associate Director, Making the Grade, The George Washington University
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Hilary Shelton
UMC
Washington, DC
A
Dr. Aaron Shirley
Jackson Medical Mall
Jackson, MS
A
Ms. Kristin Siebenaler
A
Ms. Melissa Skolfield
Dept. of Health & Human Services
Washington, DC
A
Mr. William Smith
Program Aswsociate for Religion and Public Values
A
Hon. (Sen.) Olympia J. Snowe
R/Maine, United States Senate
A
Dr. Edward Sondik
Director, National Center for Health Statistics
Hyattsville, MD
A
Ms. Isabel Carter Stewart
President, Girls, Inc.
New York, NY
A
Dr. Barbara Sugland
Senior Research Associate, Child Trends, Inc.
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Deborah Tang
Exec VP of Corporate Affairs, Black Entertainment Television
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Vivien Stewart Teitelbaum
For Official Government Use Only
05/02/97 10:58
010
For Official Government Use Only
Page 9
REPORT DATE: May 2, 1997
REPORT TIME: 10:16 AM
Accepts and No Responses
A
Ms. Francine Tollver
A
DR Kathleen E Toomey
Atlanta, GA
A
Ms. Jamie Tullman
Special Assistant to the President
A
Dr. Mary Vernon
Medical Officer, Centers of Adolescent and School Health
Atlanta, GA
A
Ms. Patricia Funderburk Ware
Director of Educational Services, Americans for a Sound AIDS/HIV Policy
Washington, DC
A
Ms. Samara Weinstein
Office of the Assistant Secret, HHS
A
Ms. Susan Wilson
Executive Coordinator, Network for Family Life Education
New Brunswick, NJ
A
Mr. Jay Winsten
Associate Dean for Public and Community Affiars, Center for Health Communications
Boston, MA
A
Dr. Roger Witherspoon
Families and Work Institute
New York, NY
A
Ms. Phyllis Wolfe
For Official Government Use Only
"The word about HIV and AIDS
local programs across the country
Teenagers
has gotten out, and that's contribut-
aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy.
ed" to the decline in sexual activity,
Among the programs cited by the
she said. "And there's been a willing-
campaign is one in Tillamook, Ore.,
Less Sexually
ness of adults to begin to acknowl-
where the community offered birth
edge that young people are sexual hu-
control at the local health department,
man beings and they need to talk to
sex education focusing on abstinence
Active in U.S.
them."
in the schools, strong programs for
The National Center for Health
teenagers in the churches, more after-
Statistics, which conducted the sur-
school activities for girls at. the
vey of young women, also found that
YMCA, a teenage center and other
Surveys Also Show
use of condoms had tripled since the
educational activities.
1970s. The proportion of young wom-
The county, on the Oregon coast
More Using Condoms
en saying they had used condoms the
just south of the Washington border,
first time they had intercourse went
had the second highest teenage preg-
from 18 percent two decades ago to
nancy rate in the state in the 1980s,
AI
By Barbara Vobejda
54 percent in the 1990s.
and after instituting the programs, the
and Judith Havemann
Researchers have known for sever-
lowest. But since then, the rate has
Washington Post Staff Writers
al years that teenage births were de-
risen again, as some efforts slacked
clining-a trend that first appeared in
off, and the community is gearing up
After climbing steadily for more
1991-but they did not know if it was
to attack the problem again.
than two decades, sexual activity
because young people were having
Fifteen-year-old Emmalea Trent, a
among American teenagers has de-
clined, the first drop since the feder-
less sex, improving their use of con-
high school freshman in the area, said
al government began tracking the
traceptives or having more abortions.
she was influenced by all the messag-
information in 1970, according to a
The new figures, combined with
es she's heard about teenage pregnan-
new government survey released
cy. "I'm afraid to go out and do it be-
yesterday.
cause I don't want to get pregnant,"
Among girls aged 15 to 19, the
she said.
proportion who reported having had
"I think it is easier
But the story of Jesmine Meltzer
sexual intercourse had fallen to 50
underscores the complexities of get-
percent in 1995 from 55 percent in
1990, the last time the study was
for young people to
ting that message through to all teen-
agers. At 14, she is the mother of an
conducted. A separate federal study
showed the figure for boys had
refuse to become
11-month-old son, Austin. The daugh-
ter of a registered nurse and con-
dropped to 55 percent in 1995 from
sexually involved.'
struction worker, Jesmine became
60 percent in 1988.
sexually active at 11, pregnant at 13,
The national studies also found
- educator Marion Howard
and now, as a high school freshman,
that those teenagers who are sexual-
she lives at home and supports her
ly active are more likely to use con-
studies showing that abortion rates
son with child support checks from
traceptives than they were in the
have declined among teenagers, pro-
the child's 18-year-old father, who is
past, and condom use has increased
vide the answer.
in the Army.
most dramatically.
Those two changes-fewer teen-
"Something is turning around
"I always used birth control," she
agers having sex and better contra-
here," said Isabel V. Sawhill, a senior
said, "but the one time I didn't, I got
fellow at the Urban Institute, "but we
pregnant. It was really dumb."
ceptive use among those who are-
explain why the birth rate among
still have the highest teen pregnancy
teenagers has fallen since 1991, re-
rate in the industrialized world."
searchers said.
"We welcome the news that the
The new figures were released as a
long-term increase in teenage sexual
group of civic leaders, politicians, and
activity may finally have stopped,"
researchers, including Sawhill,
Health and Human Services Secre-
launched a far-reaching effort known
tary Donna E. Shalala said in a state-
as the National Campaign to Prevent
ment.
Teen Pregnancy. The group, which
While researchers cautioned that
has as its goal to reduce teenage preg-
teenage birth rates in this country
nancy rates by one-third over the next
remain disturbingly high, they also
eight years, is holding a series of
said the new studies show young
events in Washington this week, in-
See TEENAGERS, A12, Col. 1
cluding a White House reception to-
day hosted by first lady Hillary Rod-
TEENAGERS, From A1
ham Clinton.
The organization was initiated last
people are responding to programs
year at the prompting of President
urging them to delay sex and take
Clinton and is now raising private
steps to avoid pregnancy and AIDS.
funds to support research into which
That message is now a common in-
programs work, and to enlist the help
gredient in sex education courses,
of the media in changing the messages
AIDS awareness programs and other
going out to young people and support
community efforts aimed at reducing
teenage sexual activity and births.
Many of these programs offer infor-
mation on both contraception and safe
The Washington Post
sex, as well as teaching young people
how to resist peer pressure to be-
come sexually active.
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1997
"I think it is easier for young people
to refuse to become sexually in-
volved," said Marion Howard, co-au-
thor of a program used in the Atlanta
public schools that trains and hires
older teenagers to help younger stu-
dents postpone sex.
In Bosnia, a Dubious Peace Process
Karadzic's Power Symbolizes Weakness in Pressing Balkan Accords
AI
As a result, according to the GAO,
he appears to have consolidated his
By Michael Dobbs
"many western observers" said some
position, winning a power struggle
Washington Post Staff Writer
international peacekeeping force
with his nominal successor, Biljana
Virtually every day, an easily
probably will be needed there "for
Plavsic.
recognizable figure with an unruly
many years." That conclusion is be-
While sharing Holbrooke's frustra-
pompadour of gray hair reports to
ginning to gain some currency within
tion over the failure to arrest war
work at his political headquarters
the Clinton administration, according
criminals, a former State Department
in Pale, capital of the Bosnian
to senior officials, despite Secretary
colleague described Holbrooke's let-
Serb ministate. U.S. officials say
of Defense William S. Cohen's insis-
ter to Foreign Affairs as "self-
they are in no doubt that Radovan
tence that U.S. troops will pull out of
serving." He traced the present im-
Karadzic, an indicted war crimi-
Bosnia next year whatever the conse-
passe back to inherent flaws in the
nal, is effectively calling the shots
quences.
Dayton agreement itself, which was
in the Serbian half of Bosnia more
"There is a growing sense of pessi-
negotiated by Holbrooke and sought
than eight months after an Ameri-
mism, both within the international
to reconcile two fundamentally irrec-
can-brokered agreement suppos-
bureaucracy and the U.S. bureaucra-
oncilable visions of Bosnia's future.
edly stripped him of all power.
cy, that this is not working out," said
The Serbs regarded the agreement
Morton Abramowitz, president of the
as tantamount to western recognition
The continuing influence of Ka-
Carnegie Foundation for Internation-
of their own ministate, while the
radzic and others wanted for war
al Peace and a former intelligence
Muslims saw it as a blueprint for a
crimes is turning into a major
chief at the State Department.
reunified country.
headache for the Clinton adminis-
"There has been a loss of high-level
State Department officials have
tration as it searches for ways to
concentration on Bosnia. The zest
paid tribute to the military for going
make good on its commitment to
has gone out, and political concerns
out of its way to assist the civilian au-
withdraw 8,600 U.S. peacekeep-
have crept in."
thorities with certain aspects of Day-
ing troops from Bosnia by the
In the absence of an energetic lead
ton implementation. The most fre-
middle of 1998 without reigniting
from the White House, squabbles
quently cited example are last
Europe's worst conflagration
have broken out between the Penta-
summer's Bosnia-wide elections,
since World War II. Balkan ex-
gon and the State Department over
which NATO troops rescued by
perts in the administration and
the extent to which U.S. troops
transporting ballot boxes, guarding
elsewhere agree that the goal of a
should get involved in catching war
polling stations and providing other
self-sustaining peace in Bosnia will
criminals and otherwise implement-
support.
remain illusory as long as people
mg the Dayton accords. Many offi-
However, to the great frustration
like Karadzic stand in the way of
cials in the State Department were
of most Bosnia experts in the State
even a minimal reintegration of
dismayed when Cohen issued his pull-
Department, the military has missed
the country.
out deadline earlier this year.
several easy opportunities to grab
While the war criminals issue is
If Bosnians want to "go back to
Karadzic. As a result, in the words of
only one of several examples of
slaughtering each other," that will be
one Bosnia negotiator, "he has be-
nor mpliance with the 1995
"up to them," Cohen told reporters on
come a walking symbol to the rest of
Dayton Peace Accords, it has be-
a trip to Europe. According to the
the region that you can defy NATO
come a symbol of a much larger
GAO assessment, that is the outcome
and get away with it."
The Washington Post
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1997
problem. In purely military terms,
to be expected if all troops are with-
NATO and U.S. officials in the past
the Bosnia operation has been a
drawn.
two months have talked vaguely of
huge success, with scarcely any
The struggle to shape Bosnia poli-
plans to form special police squads to
casualties to NATO troops. But
cy is emerging as a test of the credi-
arrest Bosnian war criminals, but
the prospects for long-term peace
bility and political skills of Secretary
nothing has come of it.
in Bosnia seem dubious as long as
of State Madeleine K. Albright, who
State Department officials and
the economic reconstruction of
was one of the leading proponents of
western diplomats say that Albright's
the country and the fate of more
forceful western intervention to end
thinking on Bosnia is still unclear.
than a million refugees are held
the 3½-year Bosnian war in her pre-
The clearest evidence of her ap-
hostage to the ambitions of the
vious job as U.S. ambassador to the
proach has come with the appoint-
politicians who plunged the coun-
United Nations. Self-proclaimed ad-
ment of one of the State Depart-
try into war.
mirers of Albright are watching her
ment's top trouble-shooters, Robert
Critics, both inside and outside
very closely to see if, in the words of
S. Gelbard, to take over from John
the administration, complain of an
a colleague, "she can wrestle Cohen
Kornblum as the administration's
back onto the reservation."
Bosnia point man.
See POLICY. A25, Col. 1
Although much of the sniping is
Some Bosnia experts in the admin-
POLICY, From A1
taking place in private, some of it has
istration interpret the appointment as
surfaced in public. In a letter pub-
a sign that Albright favors an activist
atmosphere of drift that has resulted
lished in the policy journal Foreign
approach, because Gelbard is regard-
in widespread noncompliance with
Affairs, former Bosnia peace negotia-
ed as a tough, results-oriented diplo-
the political provisions of Dayton. At
tor Richard C. Holbrooke complained
mat, in the Holbrooke mode, who is
the same time, pressure is growing in
that the Defense Department's "re-
ready to make a few enemies in order
Congress for a unilateral pullout of
luctance to go beyond a rather nar-
to get the job done. "You don't
U.S. troops from Bosnia, with a bi-
row definition of its role and man-
choose Bob Gelbard for such a job if
partisan group of lawmakers led by
date" had reduced the chances of a
your preferred option is just to mud-
Rep. John R. Kasich (R-Ohio) propos-
successful reconstruction effort in
dle through," said a State Depart-
ing to cut off funding by the end of
Bosnia. He added that the military's
ment official.
this year.
"continuing refusal to even consider,
The critics have recently obtained
let alone attempt, the arrest of Ra-
Staff writer Thomas W. Lippman
new ammunition in the form of a
dovan Karadzic or any other indicted
contributed to this report.
gloomy assessment by the General
war criminal has given strength
Accounting Office, the investigative
to the [Serb] separatist cause."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
arm of Congress, which concludes
Last July, Holbrooke negotiated an
For key texts from the mission
that hardly any of the major political
agreement with the Bosnian Serbs
in Bosnia, including the Dayton
and economic components of Dayton
under which Karadzic would give up
Peace Accords and war crimes
have been implemented.
his political posts and retire com-
indictments against Bosnian Serb
The draft report, based on GAO
pletely from public life. While Kara-
dzic did step down from his position
leaders, click on the above symbol
visits to Bosnia in July and December
as president of the Bosnian Serb re-
on the front page of The Post's Web
and on interviews with U.S. and Eu-
public, U.S. officials now concede
site at www.washingtonpost.com
ropean officials, says that while the
shooting has stopped the Dayton ac-
that, behind the scenes, he continues
cord signatories have refused to car-
to pull the strings. In recent weeks,
ry out most of its provisions.
Sex Activity
House Passes
By Youths
Financing Bill
The measure was approved today,
262 to 157, with all but one of the
rebels, Representative Mark W. Neu-
Is on Decline
mann of Wisconsin, and 52 Demo-
After Rebels
crats, voting for it.
Nine Republicans, including Rep-
WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters)
resentative Mike Pappas of New Jer-
- The proportion of American teen-
Win Points
sey, voted against it.
agers who have had sexual inter-
A spokesman for Mr. Pappas, Sean
course at least once has dropped for
Spicer, said, "While the people of
the first time in more than 20 years,
By ERIC SCHMITT
New Jersey continue to work harder,
the Government reported today.
WASHINGTON, May 1 - The
it's not appropriate to be spending
The finding came from two sur-
House approved the financing for its
more money on Congress."
veys, both using 1995 data.
18 committees in the 105th Congress
The measure emerged with only
One of them found that 50 percent
today, but only after a group of Re-
marginal changes. Republican lead-
of girls 15 to 19 years of age had had
publican renegades had wrung sev-
ers agreed to trim $550,000 and
sex, a drop of five percentage points
eral unrelated concessions from
change certain financing rules.
since that survey was last taken, in
Speaker Newt Gingrich.
But Mr. Gingrich also promised
1990.
Many of the 11 rebellious conser-
the rebels to freeze the allocation to
vative Republicans said that over the
the House subcommittee that fi-
A separate but similar study found
nances several agencies under the
a five-percentage-point drop as well
past month they had won promises to
freeze some legislative spending and
auspices of Congress, including the
among boys in that age group: 55
to refocus their leaders' efforts to cut
Library of Congress, Government
percent had experienced inter-
taxes, balance the budget and over-
Printing Office and Botanic Garden.
course, compared with 60 percent in
haul entitlement programs!
The 1998 fiscal year level would re-
1988.
"The old Contract With America
main at $2.2 billion. Because this
The decline follows a long period in
feeling is back," said Representative
would require Senate consent, it was
which teen-age sexual activity rose
Lindsey Graham of South Carolina,
unclear today how Mr. Gingrich
relentlessly. When the survey on
one of the renegades.
would fulfill his pledge.
girls, which is taken every five years,
The rebels embarrassed Mr. Ging-
was first adopted in 1970, only 29
rich in late March when they joined
percent reported having had sex.
House Democrats and stalled a bill
The new survey on girls' sexual
that would have paid for an investi-
Check Counterfeiters
activity was part of a larger study,
gation into White House and Demo-
scheduled for release later in May,
cratic campaign fund-raising.
While the House approved the in-
Enter Computer Age
on childbearing and family planning.
The study was carried out by the
quiry's financing the very next day,
National Center for Health Statistics.
lawmakers were forced to adopt a
WASHINGTON, May 1 (AP) - A
30-day stopgap measure, which
fast-growing computerized corps of
The data on teen-age boys were
would have expired on Friday, to
check counterfeiters is stealing bil-
collected separately, in a study spon-
allow committees to continue their
lions of dollars with phony checks -
sored by the National Institute of
business while Mr. Gingrich negoti-
many times what bank robbers steal
Child Health and Human Develop-
ated with the insurgents.
with guns, the Federal authorities
ment.
The lawmakers decided to pick a
warned today.
"We welcome the news that the
The Secret Service and F.B.I. told
fight over the financing measure be-
long-term increase in teen-age sexu-
cause they saw it as the last straw in
a Congressional subcommittee that
al activity may finally have
a move away from the principles
counterfeit checks were thriving.
stopped," said Donna E. Shalala, the
that catapulted Republicans to con-
"Over 1.2 million worthless checks
Secretary of Health and Human
trol of Congress in 1994.
are accepted for payment every
Services, who called for further ef-
"That first 'No' vote was not just
day," said Chuck Owens, the finan-
forts to "change the cultural mes-
about committee funding, it was
cial crimes section chief at the F.B.I.
sages that have been accepted too
about drift in the party," Mr. Gra-
That is fewer than 1 percent of the
long" about teen-age sex.
ham said. "Since that last vote,
180 million written daily but enough
to amount to an expensive problem.
The survey on girls also found that
we've seen a newly energized leader-
ship."
Its cause lies in the rapid spread of
more of them were likely to use birth
personal computers and desk-top
control the first time they had sex:
The immediate issue today was
approval of a $149.9 million measure
publishing. A decade ago, producing
three of four had used contraception
convincing counterfeit checks re-
the first time, compared with about
to pay for the operations of 18 House
committees over the next two years.
quired offset printing equipment and
64 percent found doing so in surveys
That is a 4 percent increase over the
a fair degree of skill. Now, all that is
in the late 1980's.
levels in last Congress.
needed is a laser scanner to capture
Much of the increase is due to
But the overall increase is actually
an original check, a personal com-
more condom use, the new study
puter to alter the data and a quality
found.
13 percent when the measure is com-
bined with the $20 million approved
laser printer. Total cost of the equip-
Dr. Shalala said the decreasing
for the House Government Reform
ment is less than $5,000.
sexual activity and greater use of
and Oversight Committee, the panel
contraception might be responsible
conducting the fund-raising inquiry,
for the leveling off and recent decline
and $7.9 million for a special reserve
in the teen-age birth rate. The latest
fund that could be used for the inves-
data, through June 1996, show that
tigation. The committee received
this decline has continued.
$13.5 million in the 104th Congress
and there was no reserve fund then.
The New York Times
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1997
Government Finds Racial Bias
On Corps of Engineers Dredge
By KEVIN SACK
became the first blacks in the 64-
MEMPHIS, May 1 - An investiga-
year-history of the Hurley and its
The report found that white work-
tion by the Department of Defense
predecessor boat, the Burgess, to be
ers regularly used racial epithets to
has concluded that black deckhands
moved from seasonal work to full-
refer to black counterparts in their
on a Mississippi River dredge oper-
year status. The full-year jobs are
presence. It also said that white
ated here by the United States Army
coveted because they carry higher
workers told racist jokes on the boat.
Corps of Engineers have for years
salaries, a guarantee of year-round
Regarding the promotion of David
endured racial slurs and discrimina-
employment and faster advance-
Woods, the black worker who did not
tory personnel practices by white
ment toward eligibility for retire-
file a discrimination complaint, the
authorities on the boat.
ment benefits.
report concluded that "retaliation
One of the black workers, Randy C.
The Hurley, a five-story, 300-foot-
such as this is especially egregious
Galloway, said in an interview today
long vessel, dredges mud from the
since it sends a chilling message to
that conditions on the dredge, known
Mississippi River bottom during a
the complainants and others that
as the Hurley, were "modern-day
shallow-water season that usually
speaking out against employment
slavery." Mr. Galloway, 41, who has
stretches from late spring into the
discrimination is unacceptable."
10 years with the corps, added, "All
fall. During the season, the dredge
The report also found that Mr.
they wanted blacks to do was make
operates from Cape Girardeau, Mo.,
Nation had awarded a significant
their beds, cook their food and clean
to just north of Baton Rouge, La. In
promotion in 1994 to Roger D. Con-
their toilets and walkways."
the off-season, it docks in Memphis
rad, a white officer who had "exhibit-
Another black worker, Chancey
and full-year employees spend their
ed alcohol problems for an extended
Wilson, a 42-year-old deckhand lead-
time maintaining the boat.
er with 17 years' corps experience,
Last year, after the two black men
period of time while occupying a
position in the pilot house." The in-
said, "They wanted you just, to be a
were promoted, the Hurley carried a
vestigators found that Mr. Conrad
houseboy."
staff of 22 full-year employees and 25
was "an abusive supervisor prone to
The finding of discrimination,
seasonal employees. Most of the sea-
sonal workers are black, while all but
berate African-American employees
which was made public this week, is
the second such judgment against
the two recently promoted full-year
by using harsh and unmistakably
racist terms."
the Army Corps of Engineers this
employees are white.
year. In February, the corps agreed
Several black dredge workers said
The bottom line, they concluded, is
to pay $800,000 in damages and to
that on the Burgess, which was used
that "Mr. Nation placed his trust in
revise its personnel policies to settle
until 1993, sleeping quarters, bath-
an individual with a known alcohol
a racial discrimination case brought
rooms and mess halls were segregat-
abuse problem but lacked confidence
by black workers in Pittsburgh.
ed by race. While white workers
any African-American employee
Officials with the corps said today
were assigned semiprivate quarters
could handle such responsibility."
that they did not believe that dis-
in the front of the boat, blacks slept
Alvin C.W. Ellis, counsel to the
crimination was endemic in the
10 to 12 to a room in the aft. The
Memphis district of the Corps of
agency.
Defense Department investigation
Engineers, said Mr. Conrad had re-
"I don't think there's as much con-
did not address that complaint.
signed from the Corps last year. He
cern that it is a recurring problem as
The report, which was filed by the
said that the corps was studying the
there is in making sure that it doesn't
Office of Complaint Investigations in
investigative report and that no em-
become a recurring problem," said
the Defense Department, found that
ployees of the Hurley had been disci-
Homer H. Perkins, a spokesman for
the environment on the Hurley was
plined thus far.
the corps in Washington.
"permeated with malicious and
Officials with the Corps of Engi-
In the Memphis case, investigators
reckless indifference toward Afri-
neers and the National Federation of
took particular issue with the deci-
can-American employees."
Federal Employees, the union repre-
sion by officers last year to promote
While saying that black employees
senting the black workers, agreed
the only black employee on the
who testified in the case may have
that the language in the investigative
dredge who had not recently filed a
exaggerated the pervasiveness of ra-
report was unusually strong.
discrimination complaint against
cial slurs, the investigators conclud-
them. A second black man, who had
ed that "the evidence clearly shows
"This is the agency investigating
filed a discrimination complaint, was
white managers used racially
itself, and you just don't see reports
also promoted last year. But the in-
charged language" and that they
like this come down that often," said
vestigators concluded that his pro-
"stifled the progress of African-
Clark D. King, president of Local 259
motion was apparently designed "as
American employees." The Hurley's
of the Federal employees union.
a shield against a possible finding of
captain, Jimmy Nation, "either con-
The report recommends that the
discrimination."
doned or ignored discriminatory be-
corps provide an "appropriate reme-
The two men who were promoted
havior," the report states.
dy." The black workers are seeking
hundreds of thousands of dollars in
compensation, training that would
qualify them for advancement, and
The New York Times
punishment of white officers who
have discriminated.
On Wednesday, the corps began
discussing a possible settlement of
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1997
the case with Joshua A. Bowers, a
lawyer for the black workers.
"The offer was not serious," Mr.
Bowers said. "In fact, it was out-
rageous."
If a settlement cannot be reached,
Mr. Bowers said he was likely to take
the case to Federal court.
TNPRG WPD
Page 1
DRAFT 2 WHSO LAYOUT
a/o 4/30/97 S. Warren
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY EVENT
Friday, May 2, 1997
Guest invite:
2:00pm
Principal Time:
2:00pm
EV Gate Opens:
1:30pm
Guests Invited:
175
Open Press
2:00p.m.
The First Lady arrives in the Red Room for event briefing
2:05p.m.
The First Lady proceeds to the Blue Room to meet recipients and stage
participants.
2:10p.m.
PROGRAM BEGINS:
-recipients are announced into the East Room and proceed to seats in
the front
row.
-The First Lady, and Governor Thomas Kean are announced in to the
East Room
-The First Lady, delivers remarks and introduces Governor
Thomas Kean.
-Governor Kean delivers remarks.
2:30p.m.
Upon conclusion of program, The First Lady, returns to the podium to
invite
guests into State Dining Room for a tea.
The First Lady proceeds to receiving line with guests.
Receiving line flow: Red Room to Blue Room to Green Room.
2:50p.m.
Upon conclusion of receiving line, The First Lady proceeds to the
Diplomatic
Reception Room for an interview with Black Entertainment
Television.
3:10p.m.
The First Lady departs.
TNPRG WPD
Page 2
TO:
THE FIRST LADY
WHAT:
NATIONAL TEEN CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY
WHERE:
Greeting: Blue Room
Speaking Program: East Room
Rec. Line: Blue Room
WHEN:
Friday, May 2, 1997
2:00p.m.
NOTES:
170 Guests/Open Press
FROM:
Ann Stock, Setti Warren
2:00p.m.
The First Lady arrives in the Red Room for event briefing
2:05p.m.
The First Lady proceeds to the Blue Room to meet recipients and stage
participants.
2:10p.m.
PROGRAM BEGINS:
-recipients are announced into the East Room and proceed to seats in
the front
row.
-The First Lady, and Governor Thomas Kean are announced in to the
East Room
-The First Lady, delivers remarks and introduces Governor
Thomas Kean.
-Governor Kean delivers remarks.
2:30p.m.
Upon conclusion of program, The First Lady, returns to the podium to
invite
guests into State Dining Room for a tea.
The First Lady proceeds to receiving line with guests.
Receiving line flow: Red Room to Blue Room to Green Room.
2:50p.m.
Upon conclusion of receiving line, The First Lady proceeds to the
TNPRG WPD
Page 3
Diplomatic
Reception Room for an interview with Black Entertainment
Television.
3:10p.m.
The First Lady departs.
preg501.97
Page 1
May 2, 1997
TEEN PREGNANCY EVENT
DATE:
May 2, 1997
LOCATION:
Roosevelt Room
TIME:
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
FROM:
Bruce Reed
I.
PURPOSE
To demonstrate the Administration's commitment to reducing teen
pregnancy and to highlight the one year anniversary of the National
Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and their first 12 honorees. The event
also recognizes the month of May as Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month.
II.
BACKGROUND
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is a private nonprofit
organization dedicated to preventing teen pregnancy. It formed in response
to President Clinton's challenge, issued in his 1995 State of the Union
address, that "parents and leaders across the country.. join together in a
national campaign against teen pregnancy." May 1997 marks the
campaign's first anniversary.
Following his State of the Union comments, the President held a meeting at
the White House with a group of prominent teen pregnancy prevention
experts and advocates to discuss what could be done to combat the
problem. From that meeting came a private sector planning effort that led to
the creation of the national campaign.
The campaign is chaired by former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean.
Its Board of Directors includes Whoopi Goldberg, Katherine Graham, the
Hon. Nancy Kassebaum-Baker, the Hon. Warren B. Rudman, and William
Galston. Isabel V. Sawhill, President of the campaign, was an Associate
Director of the Office of Management and Budget during President Clinton's
first term.
preg501.97
Page 2
Today, at an earlier event on Capitol Hill, the campaign distributed three
reports. The first, Whatever Happened to Childhood, chronicles the problem
of teen pregnancy in the United States. Using mostly previously released
data, the report finds that: 1) although we are making some progress, there
is much more work to do and 2) there is no single or simple solution to the
problem so we must continue to be creative, innovative, and persistent in our
efforts. A second report, Snapshots from the Front Line, provides examples
of community efforts to prevent teen pregnancy, highlighting some of
today's honorees. The campaign is also distributing a previously released
report No Easy Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen
Pregnancy, which finds that only a few programs have produced credible
evidence that they reduce the risk of pregnancy, but the overwhelming
evidence shows that sex education does not increase sexual activity.
At the close of the program you will recognize 12 honorees chosen by the
campaign who will be seated in the front row. Each honoree supports
prevention approaches that are helping to lower teen pregnancy rates and
strengthen communities. The honorees' work embodies several key themes
that are essential to preventing teen pregnancy:
Emphasizing values and self-esteem in working with adolescents;
Forging partnerships with the corporate sector;
Focusing the community on a "unity of goal" to prevent teen
pregnancy
even when there are conflicts over program approaches;
Encouraging adult-child communication;
Involving youth in the discussion;
Emphasizing the importance of male involvement in prevention;
Recognizing the importance of program evaluation; and
Involving the media in reducing teen pregnancy.
In your remarks, you will discuss two new teen pregnancy prevention grant
programs and new findings from a study of childbearing and family planning
released yesterday by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Grants: In Los Angeles yesterday (May 1), Secretary Shalala announced the
two new community grant programs to prevent teen pregnancy and promote
responsible behavior. One program will be aimed at teenage girls and the
other at teenage boys. Each of the grant programs will total about $1 million
per year and involve public-private partnerships organized by individual
communities.
HHS Study: The Secretary also discussed a newly released study which
shows that teen sexual activity declined from 55 to 50 percent during the
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1990s after increasing steadily for more than two decades. The decline is
small -- 10 percent -- but significant because it shows that the long-term
increase in teenage sexual activity may finally be over. This data is part of a
new study of child bearing and family planning covering all women 15-44.
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III. PARTICIPANTS
The First Lady
Former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean,
Chair of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
*Attached is a list of the 12 Campaign honorees who will be seated in the
front row. Also, please note that Alma Powell, who is on the board of Best
Friends, one of the
honored organizations, will be seated in the front row as
well.
IV. PRESS PLAN
Open.
V.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
- You will greet the 12 honorees and Isabel Sawhill in a brief photo receiving
line prior to
the event in the Blue Room.
- The 12 honorees and Isabel Sawhill will then be announced into the East
Room and
proceed to their seats in the front row.
- You and former Governor Kean will be announced into the East Room and
proceed to
the stage.
- You will make remarks and then individually recognize the 12 honorees and
ask
them to stand.
- You will then introduce Governor Kean.
- Governor Kean will make remarks.
- You will then close the event by inviting the guests into the State Dining
Room for tea.
VI. REMARKS
Prepared by Jennifer Klein.
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BACKGROUND AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FACT SHEET
Over the past four years, the Clinton Administration has launched a comprehensive
effort to prevent teen pregnancy. Data shows we are making progress:
Teen birth rates have fallen four years in a row, by 8 percent from 1991 to
1995, and appear to have continued to drop since then; and
A new study, released today by HHS, shows the percentage of teenagers
who have had sex declined by 10 percent in the 1990s (from 55 percent in
1990 to 50 percent in 1995).
However, there is still much work to do. More than 4 out of 10 young women
become pregnant before age 20 and 75 percent of those who give birth do so
outside of marriage. Teen pregnancy remains a major social problem for this
country and one that none of us can ignore.
Administration Accomplishments
Since 1993, the Administration has supported innovative and promising teen
pregnancy prevention strategies tailored to the unique needs of communities.
HHS-supported programs already reach about 30 percent or 1,410
communities in the United States.
In his 1995 State of the Union address, President Clinton challenged
"parents and leaders across the country to join together in a national
campaign against teen pregnancy to make a difference." In response to his
challenge, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy was formed.
The national campaign is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to
preventing teen pregnancy by supporting values and fostering actions that
are consistent with a pregnancy-free adolescence. This month marks the
national campaign's first anniversary.
The President has consistently supported efforts to reduce teen pregnancy as
part of welfare reform, and the law he signed in August 1996 contains
several important provisions:
Unmarried minor parents are required to stay in school and live at
home, or in an adult-supervised setting, in order to receive assistance;
The law encourages "second chance homes" -- adult-supervised
residential homes designed to provide teen parents with the skills and
support they need;
$50 million a year in new funding for state abstinence education
activities is provided starting FY 1998;
The law includes the toughest ever child support enforcement
measurements which send a strong message to young boys and girls
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that they should not have children until they are ready to provide for
them.
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Just yesterday, Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala
announced two new community grant programs to prevent teen pregnancy
and promote responsible behavior. One program will be aimed at teenage
girls and the other at teenage boys. Each of the grant programs will total
about $1 million per year and involve public-private partnerships organized by
individual communities.
The Secretary also released a new study that shows that teen sexual activity
declined from 55 to 50 percent in the 1990s after increasing steadily for
more than two decades. The decline is small -- 10 percent -- but is significant
because it shows that the long-term increase in teenage sexual activity may
finally be over. This data is part of a new study of child bearing and family
planning covering all women 15-44.
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TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION
May 2, 1997
Announcement
To mark the first anniversary of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy,
the First Lady will today recognize 12 individuals chosen by the campaign for their
efforts to prevent teen pregnancy. The First Lady will also discuss two new teen
pregnancy prevention grant programs, as well as findings from a new study of
childbearing and family planning released yesterday by the Department of Health
and Human Services.
Background
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is a private nonprofit
organization dedicated to preventing teen pregnancy. It formed in response to
President Clinton's challenge, issued in his 1995 State of the Union address, that
"parents and leaders across the country join together in a national campaign
against teen pregnancy." May 1997 marks the campaign's first anniversary.
Following his State of the Union comments, the President held a meeting at the
White House with a group of prominent teen pregnancy prevention experts and
advocates to discuss what could be done to combat the problem. From that
meeting came a private sector planning effort that led to the creation of the
national campaign.
The campaign is chaired by former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean. Its
Board of Directors includes Whoopi Goldberg, Katherine Graham, the Hon. Nancy
Kassebaum-Baker, the Hon. Warren B. Rudman, and William Galston. Isabel V.
Sawhill, President of the campaign, was an Associate Director of the Office of
Management and Budget during President Clinton's first term.
To commemorate the first anniversary of the campaign, the First Lady is
recognizing
12 honorees chosen by the campaign for their outstanding leadership. Each
honoree has promoted prevention approaches that are helping to lower teen
pregnancy rates and strengthening communities. The honorees' work embodies
several key themes that are essential to preventing teen pregnancy:
Emphasizing values and self-esteem in working with adolescents;
Forging partnerships with the corporate sector;
Focusing the community on a "unity of goal" to prevent teen
pregnancy
even when there are conflicts over program approaches;
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Encouraging adult-child communication;
Involving youth in the discussion;
Emphasizing the importance of male involvement in prevention;
Recognizing the importance of program evaluation; and
Involving the media in reducing teen pregnancy.
Secretary Shalala's Announcements
In Los Angeles yesterday (May 1), Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna
Shalala announced two new community grant programs to prevent teen pregnancy
and promote responsible behavior. Each of the grant programs will total about $1
million per year and involve public-private partnerships organized by individual
communities.
The Secretary also discussed a newly released study which shows that teen sexual
activity declined from 55 to 50 percent during the 1990s after increasing steadily
for more than two decades. The decline is small -- 10 percent -- but significant
because it shows that the long-term increase in teenage sexual activity may finally
be over. This data is part of a new study of child bearing and family planning
covering all women 15-44.
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Q&A MAY 2 TEEN PREGNANCY EVENT
Question: Why did you choose to honor these specific programs picked by the
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy?
Answer:
Each of these people has offered tremendous leadership in the fight
against teen pregnancy. The honorees' work embodies several key themes
that are essential to preventing teen pregnancy: emphasizing values and
self-esteem in working with adolescents; forging partnerships with the
corporate sector; encouraging adult-child communication; involving youth in
the discussion; emphasizing the importance of male involvement in
prevention; and involving the media.
Question: What was it that Secretary Shalala announced yesterday in California?
Answer:
Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala announced
two new community grant programs to prevent teen pregnancy and promote
responsible behavior. One program will be aimed at teenage girls and the
other at teenage boys. Each of the grant programs will total about $1 million
per year and involve public-private partnerships organized by individual
communities.
The Secretary also released a new study that shows that teen sexual
activity declined from 55 to 50 percent in the 1990s after increasing
steadily for more than two decades. The decline is small -- 10 percent
-- but is significant because it shows that the long-term increase in
teenage sexual activity may finally be over.
Question: How much has the teen birth rate fallen over the past several years?
Answer:
HHS last October released data showing an 8 percent drop in teen
birth rates from 1991 to 1995, and the latest data indicates that the decline
has continued.
preg501.97
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Question:
Why do you cite teen birth rates but not teen pregnancy rates? Have
teen pregnancy rates fallen too?
Answer:
Teen pregnancy rates refer to the rate at which teens become
pregnant while teen birth rates measure the rate at which teens actually give
birth. Teen pregnancy rates and teen birth rates have both fallen over the
last few years. Teen pregnancy rates fell slightly from a high of 117
pregnancies per 1,000 women in 1990 to 112 per 1,000 women in 1992
(the most recent year for which data is available). The reason we cite teen
birth rates more often than teen pregnancy rates is that teen birth rates are
more current.
Question: What causes the difference between the teen pregnancy rate and the
teen birth rate?
Answer:
More than half of teen pregnancies result in birth, one third end in
abortion and another 14 percent end in miscarriage.
Question: In other words, are you saying that teen pregnancy increases the
incidence of abortion?
Answer:
Since 1990, abortion rates among teens have declined because fewer
teens are becoming pregnant, and, in recent years, fewer pregnant teens
have chosen to have an abortion. Today, one-third of teens end their
pregnancies in abortion, and teens account for roughly one- quarter of all
abortions performed annually. There is no stronger argument for teen
pregnancy prevention and family planning than the need to reduce the
number of abortions in this country.
Question: Isn't abstinence alone the best way to prevent abortion? Don't family
planning and sex education increase abortion?
Answer:
We believe unmarried teenagers should abstain from having sex.
However, it is unrealistic, even dangerous, to ignore the fact that some teens
will, in fact, have sex outside of marriage and before they are ready for it. It
is for that reason, that we must simultaneously preach abstinence and teach
teens about family planning and sex, including the use of birth control. By
offering teens family planning and sex education, we are working to prevent
abortion.
Question: Is teen pregnancy primarily a problem in African-American
neighborhoods?
Answer:
No. Teen pregnancy is a problem everywhere, across racial and
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socio-economic lines. About half of all pregnant teens aged 15-19 are white.
However, teen birth rates are higher among African-American and Hispanic
teens than among white teens.
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Question:
What are the negative effects on a teen mother and her child?
Answer:
Early parenting limits a young mother's likelihood of completing high
school -- less than one-third of teens who begin their families before age 18
ever complete high school -- and increases the likelihood that young mothers
will end up in poverty. In addition, the children of teen mothers have more
health problems, do much worse in school, live in home environments of
lower quality, suffer higher rates of abuse and neglect, and are more likely to
become teen mothers themselves.
Question:
What else has the Clinton Administration done to prevent teen
pregnancy?
Answer:
We have done a lot.
Since 1993, the Administration has supported innovative and
promising teen pregnancy prevention strategies tailored to the unique
needs of communities. HHS-supported programs already reach about
30 percent or 1,410 communities in the United States.
In his 1995 State of the Union address, President Clinton challenged
"parents and leaders across the country to join together in a
national campaign against teen pregnancy to make a difference." In
response to his challenge, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen
Pregnancy was formed. The national campaign is a private nonprofit
organization dedicated to preventing teen pregnancy. This month
marks the national campaign's first anniversary.
The President has consistently supported efforts to reduce teen
pregnancy as part of welfare reform, and the law he signed in August
1996 contains several important provisions:
Unmarried minor parents are required to stay in school and live
at home, or in an adult-supervised settings in order to receive
assistance;
"Second Chance Homes" adult-supervised residential homes
designed to provide teen parents with the skills and support
they need to finish school, become good role models, and
providers for their children -- are allowed and encouraged;
$50 million a year in new funding for state abstinence education
activities is provided starting FY 1998;
The new law includes tough child support enforcement which
sends the strongest possible message to young boys and girls
that they should not have children until they are ready to
provide for them.
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Page 14
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Page 15
Question:
Last year the President appointed Dr. Henry Foster as his senior
advisor on teen pregnancy prevention and youth issues. What has Dr. Foster
accomplished to date?
Answer:
Dr. Foster is a key part of the Administration's effort to send a
message to teenagers of the importance of postponing child bearing until
they are emotionally, physically, and financially prepared for the
responsibility. Dr. Foster has spent the last year-plus traveling around the
country visiting with teenagers and community-based prevention programs.
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1997 NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY HONOREES
Elayne Bennett, President and Founder, Best Friends Foundation
Best Friends is a school-based program for girls in grades five through nine that
fosters self-respect and promotes responsible behavior and abstinence. Best Friends
helps girls identify what self-respect is, and teaches them how they can succeed in
life if they set goals and maintain their self-respect. Ms. Bennett formed the
program in 1987 in Washington, D.C. and now approximately 2,000 girls
participate in 50 schools in 15 cities.
Patricia Canessa, President of the Board, the National Organization on Adolescent
Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention (NOAPPP)
NOAPPP is a diverse national network of national, state and community leaders and
health care, education and social service professionals dedicated to preventing teen
pregnancy and addressing problems related to adolescent sexuality, pregnancy, and
parenting. NOAPP provides technical assistance and training, informational
materials, and organizes conferences to enhance state and local coalitions working
to reduce teen pregnancy.
Russell C. Deyo, Vice President of the Johnson and Johnson Family of Companies
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Mr. Deyo serves as the Chair of Johnson and Johnson's Corporate Contributions
Committee, which supports socially responsible charities and encourages civic
improvements and better health and education for young people. Mr. Deyo and Ms.
Canessa serve on the National Urban Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program, an
effort that identifies, evaluates and disseminates information about successful
adolescent pregnancy programs.
Sue Cameron, County Commissioner, Tillamook County, Oregon
County Commissioner Cameron has lead a successful county-wide effort which has
reduced the teen pregnancy rate of girls under age 18 by nearly 75 percent
between 1990 and 1994. Realizing that their are differing values and that no
single approach can alone reduce teen pregnancy, Ms. Cameron used the debate
over teen pregnancy as an opportunity to incorporate several different approaches
into one coordinated effort to reduce teen pregnancy in Tillamook.
Gloria Feldt, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., New York,
NY
Planned Parenthood is the world's oldest and largest voluntary family planning
organization which provides educational programs to enhance the understanding of
individual and societal implications of human sexuality. Ms. Feldt has increased
efforts to help parents talk with their children and teenagers about sexuality,
growth and development through a comprehensive program, Talking About Sex: A
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Guide for Families.
Eric Graham, President of Children's Express
Children's Express is a national, non-profit youth development and leadership
organization that uses journalism to give children a voice. Children's Express issues
a weekly national column which is researched, reported and edited by children and
adolescents and is syndicated to newspapers around the country.
Susan Wilson, Executive Director for the Network for Family Life Education
New Brunswick, New Jersey
The Network for Family Life Education publishes Sex, Etc. -- A Newsletter by
Teens, for Teens, which publishes the opinions of teens on social issues, including
sexuality, abstinence, teen pregnancy, drugs, etc. It also provides educational
information to teens on these issues.
Wade Horn, Ph.D., Director of the National Fatherhood Initiative
Gaithersburg, Maryland
The National Fatherhood Initiative is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization that
aims to improve the well-being of children by increasing the number of children
growing up with loving, committed and responsible fathers. This organization
promotes fatherhood through public awareness campaigns, conferences and
community fatherhood forums.
Edward Pitt, Associate Director of the Fatherhood Project and Director for the
National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families at the Families and Work
Institute
New York, New York
The National Practitioners Network is a center for research-based solutions to the
problems associated with changing trends in family life. Mr. Pitt has worked for
the Urban League's Male Responsibility Campaign and has been a committed voice
for the role of fathers and other men in the lives of children and teens.
Marion Howard, Ph.D., Clinical Director, Grady Teen Services Program, Atlanta,
Georgia
The Grady Teen Services Program has been providing educational classes on
Postponing Sexual Involvement since the 1970's. The classes evolved into a
comprehensive program designed to help young teens understand the pressures
influencing their sexual behavior; to understand their rights in social relationships
and ways of meeting social and personal needs other than by sexual involvement.
Sheila Johnson, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Black Entertainment
Television (BET)
Teen Summit is BET's award-wining, weekly talk show that focuses on
African-American teens and engages teens and celebrities in frank discussions
preg501.97
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about issues affecting young people. In May 1997, as part of their Teen Summit
programming, BET will air a live Town Meeting focusing on the consequences of
teen pregnancy and on involving boys and men in preventing teen pregnancy. BET
has also created teen pregnancy PSAs which will be broadcasted around the time
of the Town Meeting and shared with other networks who wish to promote the
issue.
Ann S. Moore, President of People Magazine, New York, New York
In the fall of 1994, Ms. Moore ran a cover article for People on teen pregnancy
entitled, "Babies Who Have Babies: A Day in the Life of Teen Pregnancy in
America." This issue was one of the highest selling issues in People Magazine
history. The article focused on the stress teen pregnancy puts on teen mothers and
all involved. The article and its sequel a year later raised the profile of the
consequences of teen pregnancy.
05/01/97 19:34
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The White House
"
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1012
DOMESTIC POLICY
FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION COVER SHEET
TO:
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FAX NUMBER:
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to both)
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FROM: Cynthia
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
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PAGES (INCLUDING COVER):
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Final HHS pess release
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NUMA., SERVICES USA
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
&
HEALTH
OF
Melissa T. Skolfield
DEPARTMENT
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
Phone: (202) 690-7850 Fax: (202) 690-5673
To:
Cynthia Rice
DPC
Fax: 456-7431
Phone:
Date: 511
Total number of pages sent: 62
Comments:
Final TP material
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Bldg. HHR, Room 647-D, Washington, D.C. 20201
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HHS NEWS
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NCHS Press Office, (301) 436-7551
Thursday, May 1, 1997
Sandra Smith or Jeffrey Lancashire
TEEN SEX DOWN, NEW STUDY SHOWS
Secretary Shalala Announces New Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grant Programs
The percentage of teenagers who have had sexual intercourse has
declined for the first time after increasing steadily for more than
two decades, HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala announced today. These
findings are part of a major new study of childbearing and family
planning covering women 15-44 to be released later this month by
HHS.
The 1995 National Survey of Family Growth, conducted by HHS'
National Center for Health Statistics, found that 50 percent of
women 15-19 years of age had ever had intercourse, the first decline
ever recorded by the periodic survey. The survey previously found
that 55 percent of 15-19 year old women had ever had intercourse in
1990, reflecting a steady increase from 53 percent in 1988 and 47
percent in 1982. Earlier surveys found the percentage to be 36
percent in 1975 and 29 percent in 1970.
Additional research sponsored by HHS' National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development indicates a similar trend for
teenage males. The percentage of never-married males 15-19 who have
ever had sexual intercourse declined from 60 percent in 1988 to 55
percent in 1995, reversing a trend measured since 1979. The NICHD
research was carried out by the Urban Institute.
"We welcome the news that the long term increase in teenage
sexual activity may finally have stopped," said Secretary Shalala.
"But this news should encourage us to do more, not lull us into
doing less. We need to change the cultural messages that have been
accepted too long. Continual increases in teen sexual activity are
not inevitable, and we can take action together to protect the
health and well-being of our young people."
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The survey released today also found increases in the use of
contraceptives at the time of first intercourse. Among women of all
ages, some 76 percent of all those who began having intercourse in
the 1990s used contraception at first intercourse, up from 64
percent in the late 1980s, according to the Survey of Family Growth.
The increase in contraception at first intercourse was a result of
marked increases in condom use: from 18 percent in the 1970's to 36
percent in the late 1980s and 54 percent in the 1990's. The NICHD-
sponsored research also showed an increase in the use of
contraceptives by teenage males or their partners at the time of
first intercourse.
These increases in condom use may be related to another
finding from the survey: 90 percent of women 18-19 reported that
they have received formal instruction on sexually transmitted
diseases, safe sex to prevent HIV, and how to say no to sex.
Secretary Shalala said the dramatic increase in contraceptive
use at first intercourse and the decrease in sexual activity among
teens may be responsible for the leveling off and recent decline of
the teenage birth rate. HHS last October released data showing an
8-percent drop in the teen birth rate from 1991 to 1995, and the
latest data available through June 1996 indicate that the decline
has continued. Pregnancy rates for teens aged 15-19 also declined
in 30 of 41 reporting states in 1992, the latest year for which
statistics are available, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Speaking in Los Angeles today at a conference on girls and the
media, Secretary Shalala announced two new community grant programs
to prevent teen pregnancy and promote responsible behavior. One
program will be aimed at teenage girls and the other at teenage
boys. They are part of the National Strategy to Prevent Teen
Pregnancy, announced in January.
"These grants will help communities develop innovative and
comprehensive approaches to preventing teen pregnancy, especially by
promoting all the activities and achievements that boys and girls
should be saying 'yes' to," Secretary Shalala said. "When young
people can see lives of opportunity and hope ahead of them, they are
more likely to make the right choices.'
The grant program for girls is part of the secretary's new
Girl Power! campaign, which is aimed at enhancing self-esteem,
promoting good health and preventing unhealthy behaviors among girls
9 to 14 years old. Each of the grant programs will total about $1
million per year and involve public-private partnerships organized
by individual communities.
Tomorrow, in a White House ceremony, First Lady Hillary Rodham
Clinton will honor 12 organizations and individuals who are working
in their communities to prevent and reduce teen pregnancy.
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The 1995 National Survey of Family Growth, to be released in
full later this month, will provide the latest and most
comprehensive national data on fertility, contraception, marriage
and cohabitation, infertility, adoption, maternity leave, medical
services, breast-feeding, smoking and other factors which impact
both teenage and adult women, and the health and well-being of their
children. The study updates key trends, includes many new topics,
and has significant new findings on teenagers. More findings of the
survey available today include:
Approximately 16 percent of girls whose first intercourse was
before age 16 reported that first intercourse was not voluntary,
compared with just 3 percent of women whose first intercourse was at
age 20 or older. (Overall, 8 percent of all women said that their
first intercourse was not voluntary.) In addition, nearly two-
thirds of births to teenagers (65 percent) were unintended when they
were conceived, compared with 31 percent of births to women of all
ages. The study also found that teenage wives face a much higher
risk of separation and divorce than women who wait longer to marry:
47 percent of women who married before age 18 saw their marriages
dissolve within 10 years, compared with 19 percent of women who
married at age 23 or older.
The study asked for the age of the woman and her male partner
when she had her first voluntary intercourse. of women who had
their first voluntary intercourse before age 16, 66 percent reported
that their partner was under 18, 21 percent said their partner was
18 or 19, 7 percent said their partner was 20-22 and for 6 percent
their partner was 23 or older.
Only 36 percent of teenage mothers breastfed their infants,
compared with 55 percent of all mothers; and teen mothers who do
breastfeed do SO for a shorter time than adult mothers (an average
of 18 VS 29 weeks, or about 4 vs 7 months).
The 1995 survey was based on 10,847 in-person interviews
conducted by female interviewers in the homes of women 15-44 years
of age who comprise a nationally representative sample.
The National Survey of Family Growth was jointly planned and
funded by a number of HHS agencies: the National Center for Health
Statistics, a part of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention; the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development, one of the National Institutes of Health; and the
Office of Population Affairs; with additional support from the
Administration for Children and Families.
Excerpts from "Fertility, Family Planning, and Women's Health"
can be downloaded from the NCHS Home Page on the Internet at
http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww/nchshome.htm along with the news release
and ordering information for the full report.
###
Note: HHS press releases are available on the World Wide Web at:
http://www.dhhs.gov.
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HHS CHALLENGES COMMUNITIES TO INVEST IN THE FUTURES OF GIRLS AND BOYS
Today Secretary Shalala announced the availability of two new grant programs for communities to develop
innovative approaches - one targeted to girls and other to boys to prevent teen pregnancy and promote
responsible behavior. Both grant programs build on the Clinton Administration's comprehensive teen pregnancy
prevention strategy and one also supports the Department of Health Human Services (HHS) Girl Power! public
education campaign.
Building Bright Futures For Girls
As part of HHS' Girl Power! public education campaign, HHS will offer a total of $1 million in grants to
communities to build public-private partnerships to promote healthy behavior, increase confidence and prevent teen
pregnancy and other risky behaviors, such as smoking and drug use, among girls 9 to 14 years old.
Focusing on Young Girls: Recognizing that girls experience adolescence differently than boys and that 9-14 year
old girls are particularly vulnerable to negative influences, loss of self confidence and mixed messages about health
risk behaviors, the projects will address the critical and unique needs, interests and challenges of this age group.
Offering a Comprehensive Approach: The projects will take a comprehensive approach by addressing teen
pregnancy prevention as it relates to other risky behaviors and within the overall context of health promotion, self
confidence, motivation and opportunity.
Building Partnerships: By building strong partnerships with parents, schools, communities, youth groups, religious
organizations, media, health providers, businesses and local governments, the grant projects will demonstrate how
communities can work together to improve the health, education. and well-being of young girls and their families.
Promoting Volunteerism: Responding to the challenge of the Presidents' Summit for America's Future, the projects
will utilize community volunteers to serve as mentors to the girls, to encourage the girls to get involved in
community service and to spread the messages of delaying sexual activity, staying in school and preparing for the
future.
Expanding The Message To Boys and Young Men
Recognizing that a comprehensive strategy to prevent teen pregnancy and promote responsible behavior must also
target boys and young men, HHS announced the availability of $1 million in grants to organizations-already
working with males to add a family planning component to their existing programs.
Helping to Develop Long-Term Strategies: We do not know enough about what influences a boy's and young
men's decisions about abstinence, sexual activity and fatherhood. Similarly little is known about what family
planning/reproductive health services are appropriate and effective for males. Therefore these projects will be
critical in developing long-term strategies at the federal, state and local levels for including boys and young men in
teen pregnancy prevention and family planning efforts.
Focusing on Safe and Responsible Behavior: The projects will focus on developing and testing approaches to
providing family planning services to males; ensuring that adult males send the message of abstinence, responsibility
and health to young men and boys; and involving males in building community support for teen pregnancy
prevention and respectful relationships.
Offering a Wide Range of Services: The projects will provide educational services, counseling, outreach to males
and their families, clinical services and public information on family planning/reproductive health issues.
Utilizing Existing Resources: Utilizing the best available resources, the grantees will work in partnership with
federal, state, local and community-based health and social service agencies to educate males about health decision-
making and family planning.
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According to the latest state-by-state data on teen births, released by HHS in January 1997,
37 states had a sustained decline in their teen birth rates between 1991 and 1994. Twenty-one
of these states had declines of between 5 and 10 percent, and 10 states had declines of more
than 10 percent over this period.
In addition, teen pregnancy rates for 15-19-year-olds fell 3 percent from 1991 to 1992. Teen
pregnancy rates also declined in 30 of 41 reporting states in 1992, the latest year for which
statistics are available.
Similar Trend for Males: A recent study - the 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males
sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) indicates
similar trends for teenage males.
The percentage of teenage males who have ever had sexual intercourse declined from 60
percent in 1988 to 55 percent in 1995.
The proportion of teenagers protected by contraception at first intercourse rose from 62
percent in 1988 to 73 percent in 1995.
Condom use at first intercourse increased sharply from 55 percent in 1988 to 69 percent in
1995. In 1995 two-thirds of males aged 15-19 reported using a condom at first intercourse.
Use of ineffective of no method of contraception at first intercourse declined from 38 percent
to 27 percent.
Other interesting findings of the NSFG:
Approximately 16 percent of girls whose first intercourse was before age 1.6 reported that
first intercourse was not voluntary, compared with just 3 percent of women whose first
intercourse was at age 20 or older.
Nearly two-thirds of births to teenagers were unintended when they were conceived,
compared with 31 percent of births to women of all ages.
47 percent of women who married before age 18 saw their marriages dissolve within 10
years, compared with 19 percent of women who married at age 23 or older.
Of women who had their first voluntary intercourse before age 16: 66 percent reported
that their partner was under 18; 21 percent said their partner was 18 or 19; 7 percent said
their partner was 20-22; and for 6 percent their partner was 23 or older.
Only 36 percent of teenage mothers breastfed their infants, compared with 55 percent of all
mothers.
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FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY Questions and Answers on Teen Pregnancy/NSFG Report
Q
What is the NSFG and why is it important?
A
The National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) is a periodic study, of childbearing and family
planning covering women ages 15-44, conducted by HHS' National Center for Health Statistics
(NCHS) every five years. Among the many important findings of the 1995 NSFG, to be
released by HHS later this month, is that the percentage of teenagers who have had sexual
intercourse has declined for the first time after increasing steadily for more than two decades.
The percent of women 15-19 who have had sexual intercourse declined from 55 percent in 1990
to 50 percent in 1995. The survey also found increases in the use of contraception at the time of
first intercourse. The combination of the dramatic increase in contraceptive use at first
intercourse and the delay of sexual activity among teens may be responsible for the leveling off
and recent decline of the teenage birth rate.
Q
Did you get parents' permission to ask girls under 18 about their sex lives?
A
Yes. We obtained parental permission before interviewing unmarried girls between the ages 15
of 17.
Q
Do you survey boys too?
A
In this survey of fertility and reproductive health we interview only women ages 15-44. Women
can provide the most accurate and detailed information on their pregnancies and the health-
related aspects of childbearing. Meanwhile, additional research sponsored by HHS' NICHD
indicates a similar trend for males. The percentage of never-married males 15-19 who have ever
had sexual intercourse declined from 60 percent in 1988 to 55 percent in 1995, reversing a trend
measured since 1979. The NICHD study, the 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males was
carried out by the Urban Institute.
Q
Why do you say that the use of contraception at first intercourse is a factor in the declining teen
birth rate?
A
Almost 80 percent of women interviewed reported that they had their first premarital intercourse
when they were under age 20, so the assumption is reasonable. The decline in teen sexual
activity is also playing an important role.
Q
What is having the most impact on teen birth rates - delayed sexual activity or increased condom
use?
A
Both the delay in sexual activity and the increase in the use of contraceptives are probably
contributing to the decline in teen birth rates. The increase in the use of contraceptives
seems to have had an even greater effect. For example, contraceptive use for women at first
premarital intercourse (the overwhelming majority of whom are teenagers) increased from 64
percent in the late 1980's to 76 percent in the 1990's. Teens typically choose condoms as their
contraceptive method at first intercourse. The percentage of teenagers who were having sex
without using birth control has also been slowly declining--from 10 percent in 1982 to 8 percent
in 1988 and 7 percent in 1995.
That said, we believe that communities, schools, and parents not Washington - are best able
to determine the needs, interests and challenges of children, and that communities must be
allowed to design programs that are right for them.
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Q
How do you get information on the age differential between teenage girls and their
sexual partners and why?
A
The survey asked the woman for her age when she had her first intercourse. We asked a
separate question about her partner's age. This information contributes to our understanding of
teen pregnancy prevention and to the design of prevention strategies.
Q
Has there been an increase in abortions causing the decline in the teen birth rate?
A
While we don't have complete and comprehensive data on abortions among teens since 1992, we
know that according to preliminary Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, total
abortions have declined, and the proportion of abortions to teens has declined. Thus, the teen
abortion rate has dropped concurrently with the birth rate, signaling a definite drop in teen
pregnancy.
Q
Are you claiming credit for the results of this study?
A
This particular survey measures the differences from 1990 to 1995 and does not include annual
data. However, teen birth rates have been going down every year from 1992 to 1995, according
to the CDC. The recent declines in teen birth rates indicate that public and private-sector
programs may be having some success. The reasons for the good news are complex. But
certainly in the past few years, we've been able to forge a consensus about the importance of
both personal responsibility and community involvement. We've promoted abstinence
education. And we've cracked down on child support enforcement. In addition, preventing teen
pregnancy has been a top priority for the President since he took office:
In January, HHS announced the National Strategy to Prevent Teen Pregnancy to strengthen
our existing efforts to assure that every community in the country is working to prevent out-
of-wedlock teen pregnancies by: increasing opportunities through welfare reform; supporting
promising approaches; building public-private partnerships; improving data collection,
research and evaluation; and disseminating information on innovative and effective practices.
President Clinton fought for three-and-a-half years for a welfare bill that sends teenagers the
message that staying in school, postponing sexual activity, and preparing to work are the right
things to do. And teens have been getting that message.
Overall HHS has increased funding for teen pregnancy prevention. We've provided funding
for13 grants through the CDC to help communities build coalitions to reduce teen
pregnancy; 17 demonstration projects through the Adolescent Family Life program aimed at
preventing early teen sexual activity and pregnancy; and 27 grants through HRSA to
specifically address a wide range of adolescent pregnancy issues.
Last year, President Clinton challenged parents and leaders all across this country to join
together in a national campaign against teen pregnancy. A group of prominent Americans
responded to that challenge, forming an organization that will support grassroots community
efforts all across our country.
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Q
You note approvingly that more women are getting sex education. Are you promoting
this?
A
The survey measured trends in percent of women who had formal education on sexually
transmitted diseases, safe sex to prevent HIV, and how to say no to sex by the time
they were 18 years of age. We found that 9 out of 10 women 18-19 had fortnal
education--which could have taken place at school, church, health center, clinic, or
other location--in those topics.
BACKGROUND: The survey asked this of all women but answers are really only
meaningful beginning with the 18-19 year olds. Results show that formal instruction in
each of these areas has increased.
Again, we believe that communities, schools, and parents - - not Washington are best
able to determine the needs of children, and that communities must be allowed to design
programs that are right for them. But appropriate instruction on the risks of teen pregnancy and
on building refusal skills to avoid both premature sexual activity and teen pregnancy, can be
useful.
Q
Are you saying your way i.e. two $1 million grant programs - are the only way?
A
Absolutely not. Preventing teen pregnancy has been a priority of the Clinton
Administration since the President took office and we support a wide variety of
community-based strategies. These grants build on the Administration's comprehensive,
ongoing efforts to prevent teen pregnancy and HHS' Girl Power! public education
campaign.
The Administration has supported many innovative and promising teen pregnancy
prevention strategies tailored to the unique needs of communities based on five
principles: parent and adult involvement; strong messages of abstinence and personal
responsibility; clear strategies for young people's futures; involvement of all facets of
the community; and a sustained commitment to young people. HHS-supported programs in this
area already reach about 30 percent of communities in the United States. And our National
Strategy strengthens our existing efforts to assure that every community throughout the country
is working to prevent out-of-wedlock teen pregnancies. We believe that communities, schools,
and parents - not Washington - are best able to determine the needs of children, and that
communities must be allowed to design programs that are right for them.
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Q
Are you promoting condoms for boys and abstinence for girls? If so, isn't this a double
standard?
A
No. These grants build on our comprehensive, ongoing strategy to prevent teen pregnancy,
encourage responsible behavior and send the strongest possible message to girls and boys that
postponing sexual activity, staying in school and preparing for work are the right things to do.
Because we know that there is no single or simple intervention to combat teen pregnancy, our
strategy approaches teen pregnancy on a number of fronts, including abstinence education and
family planning. Ultimately, we believe that communities, schools, and parents - not
Washington - are best able to determine the needs of children, and that communities must be
allowed to design programs that are right for them.
But it is simply not acceptable - emotionally, physically, and financially - for 9 to 14-year-
olds. boys and girls, to be having sex and having children. Therefore, as part of our national
strategy, we will engage all of our teen pregnancy prevention and related youth programs in
sending a strong abstinence message to boys and girls in this age group.
The new Girl Neighborhood Power grant program is specifically targeted to girls in this age group
for whom the abstinence message is most appropriate. Recognizing that girls experience
adolescence differently than boys and that 9-14 year old girls are particularly vulnerable to
negative influences, loss of self confidence and mixed messages about risky behaviors, the
projects will address the critical and unique needs, interests and challenges of this age group.
The other new grants projects are not targeted to a specific age of males and may serve adult males
as well as boys. Grantees should determine what message is appropriate based on the age group
they serve.
Q
How can you be sure that the survey data are accurate? why would teens report truthfully about
sensitive topics, such as sex?
A
First, we do the NSFG and our other surveys using the best practices in the field, and there is
now more than 2 decades of experience interviewing teens on these topics. For example in the
NSFG, we make certain that parents and teens know who is doing the study by sending them a
letter and a pamphlet that explains the survey before the interviewer contacts the respondent.
For minors, parental consent is obtained. The interviews are conducted in private; if anyone
comes into the room during the interview the interviewing stops until privacy is restored. We
paid $20 incentives because our pretesting showed that they improve response rates, save
money, and improve data quality--especially for teens. We designed the questionnaires
carefully and tested them extensively before using them in the national study. Finally, we can
compare the findings to findings from other surveys. We generally find very good agreement
with other well-conducted studies.
Q
What are the latest data on the teen birth rate?
A
HHS last October released data showing an 8-percent drop in the teen birth rate from 1991 to
1995, and the latest data available through June 1996 indicate that the decline has continued.
Pregnancy rates for teens aged 15-19 also declined in 30 of 41 reporting states in 1992, the latest
year for which statistics are available, according to CDC.
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Q
Are young teens vulnerable to involuntary sex or sexual intercourse with older partners?
A
About 8 percent of women in the study (1 in 12) said that their first intercourse was not
voluntary. The younger a woman is at first intercourse the more likely it is that her first sexual
experience was not voluntary. About 16 percent of women who had their first intercourse
before age 16 said it was involuntary, but that drops to 7 percent or less at age 16 or older.
BACKGROUND: In the United States, the man is typically 1-3 years older than the woman-
whether at first intercourse, first marriage, or remarriage. Of course, in some cases the age
difference is larger. For women who were 17 at their first intercourse: 89 percent of their first
partners were age 22 or younger; 11 percent were 23 or older, for example. At first marriage,
the average age of men is about 2 years older than women; at remarriage, men average about 3
years older women. [Source: NSFG report and 1990 marriage data.]
Q
When will the full survey results be released? Did you rush the teen findings for teen pregnancy
prevention month?
A
The 1995 National Survey of Family Growth was a major study which collected a wide range of
data on many, many topics. In the past, the NSFG results have been released one topic at a
time. In this cycle, the NSFG staff decided to do a large report covering a wide range of topics,
so that more of the study's data would be available as quickly as possible. The findings on teen
sexual activity and contraception from this large report are being released now. The rest of the
full report of the survey results will be available electronically in a week or two, and the printed
report should be available in about a month.
5
Clinton Presidential Records
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This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
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of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
Booklet, "National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy: No Easy Answers," 24pages
Summary
THE
NATIONAL
CAMPAIGN
PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY
No Easy
Answers
RESEARCH FINDINGS ON PROGRAMS
TO REDUCE TEEN PREGNANCY
Douglas Kirby, Ph.D.
A RESEARCH REVIEW COMMISSIONED BY THE
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN'S TASK FORCE ON
EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH