The Senate Subcommittee met in order to examine the alarming increase of out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies in the United States. Information provided at the hearings included: the scope of the issue; input from experts on what is causing the increases being recorded; different approaches to reducing teen pregnancy; and, teen parent perspectives. Statements were given by organizations such as: Women's Health Services, Teen Services Program, Athletes for Abstinence, Family Court Division of the City of Philadelphia, Sex Respect, Inc., and the Philadelphia Board of Education. Dr. Jocelyn Elders, Surgeon General, also gave a statement. Topics discussed include: pressure to become sexually active, role of mass media, young men's responsibility, the role of parents, comprehensive health education, abstinence, welfare, and the use, cost, and availability of Norplant were addressed. Extensive charts, graphs, program descriptions, and testimony are included. (JBJ)

This report provides a brief overview of state policies and programs to address the problems of adolescent pregnancy and parenting. Section 1, a brief introduction, is followed by a section which examines a broad set of state policies and programs affecting at-risk youth, including pregnant teenagers and teenage parents. The state-by-state review provided in this section covers the following specific areas: (1) state planning and coordination, including task forces, individual agency initiatives, and coordinated programs and policies; (2) health care programs and policies, including family planning services, support for school-based clinics, and Medicaid coverage of low income pregnant women; (3) educational programs and policies, including preschool child development, middle grades improvement, efforts to reduce school failure among older youth, and family life education; and (4) employment and training initiatives. The final section presents conclusions and provides a table summarizing the major types of organizational and programmatic responses of states for addressing the issues of teenage pregnancy and parenting. It is concluded that the data shows that many states have taken significant steps toward improving their health, education, and employment/training programs to more effectively meet the needs of high-risk children and youth, but that states still have a long way to go in establishing universal primary prevention programs. Appendices include information about existing data sources on the subject of adolescent pregnancy and parenting and a list of state contacts on teenage pregnancy and parenting. (NB)

Abstract: This book presents the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Committee on Child Development Research and Public Policy within the National Research Council. The panel examined research and existing programs which address the areas of adolescent sexuality, pregnancy, and childbearing with the intent of making recommendations for policy making, program design, program evaluation, and research. The panel's report is presented in chapters addressing the following topics: trends in adolescent sexuality and fertility, society and changing roles of adolescents, determinants of sexual behavior, effects of adolescent childbearing, interventions, and priorities for data collection, research, policies, and programs. An accompanying volume contains the working papers on which the report was based. The working papers address three broad areas, which are: 1) influences on early sexual and fertility behavior, 2) consequences of early sexual and fertility behavior, and 3) programs and policies related to teen pregnancy and sexuality.