The National Campaign To Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
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Teen pregnancy and birth rates among all teens have declined by about one-third since the early 1990s. Even so, the Latino teen pregnancy rate is almost twice the national average and has declined about half as fast as the national rate. At present, the National Campaign estimates that 51% of Latinas get pregnant at least once by age 20 (compared to 3 in 10 nationally). In addition, a new summary analysis of existing data prepared by the National Campaign also shows that the birth rate for Latinas aged 15-19 increased in 16 of 37 reporting states and the District of Columbia between 1990 and 2005.

For these reasons and others, the National Campaign has begun a new initiative focused specifically on helping the Latino community in its efforts to reduce continued high rates of adolescent pregnancy and childbearing. Click here to learn more about this new initiative.

The National Campaign would like to offer our sincere thanks to the generous sponsors of the Latino Initiative. Special thanks to the Summit Fund of Washington, the Turner Foundation, and the Abbott Fund.

Publications

Parent-Adolescent Communication about Sex in Latino Families: A Guide for Practitioners
This new publication not only assesses available information of parent-teen communication in Latino families, but also pinpoints the research findings that are most useful to practitioners. In addition, the publication gives communication tips for Latino parents in both English and Spanish.

Available in English only.


What Research Tells Us About Latino Parenting Practices and their Relationship to Youth Sexual Behavior
This second research review examining Latino parent-teen communication describes research assessing the ways that Latino parents’ values, beliefs, and parenting practices shape their adolescent children’s sexual behaviors. 

Available in English only.

 

Voices Heard: Latino Adults and Teens Speak Up About Teen Pregnancy
To better understand the attitudes and beliefs of Latino adults and teens, the National Campaign commissioned our first survey of Latinos.  Serving as a companion piece to With One Voice, a survey of the American public in general, Voices Heard is the full report of what Latino adults and teens think about teen pregnancy in their community.

Available in English or Spanish

 

Tips for Parents to Help their Children Avoid Teen Pregnancy

As parents, we struggle so that our children can have a better future, a good education, a job, and, of course, happiness. In this country, that future has been affected by an alarming rage of teenage pregnancy. We hope the following tips help you guide your children to good decision-making throughout their lives and, also, to avoid teen pregnancy.

Available in Spanish and English.

 

Faith, Hope, and Love

Created in partnership with a distinguished group of advisors, this guide provides faith leaders serving Latino families ideas to help young people avoid too-early pregnancy and parenthood.

Available in Spanish and English.

 

Bridging Two Worlds

Although teen pregnancy and birth rates have declined in the Latino community, they have not declined nearly as rapidly as they have among other racial/ethnic groups. This report summarizes research, provides guidance on effective programs for Latino youth, provides advice from those working with Latino teens, as well as the advice of Latino teens themselves.

Available in Spanish and English.

 

Public Service Announcements

These Spanish-language public service ads were part of an education and awareness campaign developed by the National Campaign for Latino parents.  The ads appeared in magazines several magazines, including People en Español and Cristina la Revista

Available in English and Spanish

 

 


Latino Community Quick Facts:

  • 51% of Latina teens get pregnant at least once before age 20 - that's 1 out of every 2 girls
  • The Latina teen pregnancy rate is declining at half the pace of the national rate.
  • Latinas have the highest teen birth rate of any major ethnic/racial minority in the United States—this birth rate is nearly two times higher than the national average.


Latino Initiative Goals:

  1. Building strong capacity and partnerships.  
  2. Strengthening the research base for action. 
  3. Enhancing existing work. 
  4. Reaching out to key national/regional organizations. 
  5. Offering technical assistance and expert advice. 
  6. Mobilizing funding.

For a more detailed look at the Latino Initiative goals, please click here for a downloadable fact sheet.


Fact Sheets on the Latino Community:


Promising Programs in the Latino Community

 

 
       
 


For more information on the Latino Initiative, please please contact Ruthie Flores, Senior Manager, Latino Initiative, at 202-478-8504.

 

 

Jagged Little Pills
Latina
March 2008

The Truth About Teen Pregnacy
Chica Girl Magazine
December 2007

Youth & Health: National Effort Seeks To Reduce Teenage Hispanic Birth Rate by Making Message More Culturally Appropriate
Kaiser Health Daily Reports
November 2, 2007

Teen Pregnancy Educators Rethink Their Message to Latinos
Wall Street Journal Online
October 31, 2007

Learning to ‘Think Twice’: A new salvo in the fight to prevent Latino teen pregnancy
Newsweek
October 30, 2007

Jóvenes latinas entre la maternidad y la escuela
Diario La Estrella
21 de septiembre 2007
(Available only in Spanish)

Latina Teen Pregnancies Spur Push for Family Talks
Women's ENEWS
August 21, 2007

La paternidad es maravillosa, pero es para adultos
Washington Hispanic
20 de agosto 2007
(Available only in Spanish)

Hispanics Drive Teen Birthrate
Washington Post
July 27, 2007

Latinas and Teen Pregnancy
Conscience: the Newsjournal of Catholic Opinion
Summer 2007
Listen to a Podcast related to this story.

En Alerta: Embarazo entre adolescentes
AOL Latino
March 12, 2007
(Available only in Spanish)

Special Report: Teen Pregnancy
Latina Magazine
May 2006

On Wednesday, March 28, the National Campaign officially launched the new Latino Initiative with a briefing on Capitol Hill. In attendance were:

  • Sarah Brown, Director, the National Campaign
  • Isabel Sawhill, President, National Campaign Board
  • Daisy Expósito-Ulla, Board Member and Latino Initiative Advisory Group Chair
  • Mario H. Lopez, Executive Director, Congressional Hispanic Conference
  • Helen Iris Torres, Executive Director, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE)  
  • Janet Murguia, President, National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
    • Read a press release from NCLR
  • Representative Hilda Solis (D-CA)
  • Representative Ciro D. Rodriguez (D-TX)
  • Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ)

More information on the launch is available here:

  • Read about the Capitol Hill launch of the Latino Initiative.
  • View a photo gallery from the launch of the Latino Initiative.
  • Meet the National Campaign's Latino Initiative Advisory Group.
  • Download a press release on Voices Heard and the National Campaign's new Latino Initiative.
  • Latino Initiative Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
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