\nIt’s the news that very few of us were shocked to hear: teen pregnancy rates rose in 2006, according to the latest from the Guttmacher Institute. But when it comes to addressing the problem, will real progress get made, or are parents, lawmakers and anti-choice interest groups still playing ostrich with their heads in the sand?\n<\/p>\n
\nGuttmacher, always a fan seeing the bright side of everything, points to a possible "silver lining<\/a>" from the cloud of news of a 7% of teenage girls getting pregnant in 2006.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThe discouraging trends may actually have a modest silver lining. \tIn \nSo what’s causing the rates to rise?\u00a0 The proliferation of abstinence only sex ed classes<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n\tGuttmacher and others suggest the increase is \n\tFunding for abstinence doubled from 2000 to \n\t"The focus on abstinence and the shifts in pregnancy occurred about the same time," says Guttmacher’s Lawrence Finer.\n\t<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \nOf course, with the Obama administration considering restoring $50 million of the $150 million in abstinence only educational funding, the abstinence crew is fighting hard to point fingers<\/a> to other causes for the first rise in pregnancy since 1990.\n<\/p>\n \n\t"Research unmistakably indicates that delaying sexual initiation rates \n\t"Contributors include an over-sexualized culture, lack of involved \nPerhaps new ways of looking at teen sex and its consequences is a good start.\u00a0 If so, Hollywood is beginning to make moves to showcase the less glamorous side of teen sex, as an episode of "Friday Night Lights" that focuses on abortion recently did<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nOf course, regardless of numbers of teens getting pregnant, the right will always come up with the same answer: cut Planned Parenthood’s funding<\/a>.\u00a0 In their minds, any penny that Planned Parenthood gets is penny going to abortions, regardless of the designation.\n<\/p>\n \n\tAbortion advocates often argue that the tax money Planned Parenthood \nWill we ever find the right way to talk to teens and reverse the upward trend in teen pregnancy rates?\u00a0 Baylor Teen Health Clinic<\/a> has a good approach, and it’s as easy as ABC.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0\u201cYoung people simply do not understand the risks associated with \n\tThe teen clinic uses the ABC model, which urges teens to (A) abstain \n\t\u201cAbstinence is something that should be strongly considered but when \n \n<\/p>\n \nMini Roundup:<\/strong><\/em> It’s bad enough if you’re in an abusive relationship.\u00a0 Now it looks like you need<\/a> to lock up<\/a> your birth control<\/a>, too…\n<\/p>\n \n \n<\/p>\n \nRise \nContraceptive \nSenate \nKansas \nUsher: \nGroup \nTeen \nTens \nMONAHAN: \nPresident \nDefendant \nProsecution \n\u00a0<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nJanuary 25<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nFriday \nDeal-breaker, \nLawmakers \nMale \nTeens \nPro-Life<\/span> \nTrial \nPro-Life<\/span> \nSupreme \nPro-Life<\/span> \nStarting \nTebow’s \nSwearing \nMale \nReproductive \nSex \nWomen’s \nTeen\n
\n\tThey may provide those concerned about too-early pregnancy and
\n\tchildbearing a fresh opportunity to make their case to policymakers,
\n\tparents, practitioners, and others.\n\t<\/p>\n
\n\taddition, the extraordinary declines in teen pregnancy and childbearing
\n\tover the past two decades have proven to cynics that progress can be
\n\tmade on tough issues.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
\n\trelated to a focus on abstinence-only sex education programs under the
\n\tBush administration.\n\t<\/p>\n
\n\t2003, to $120 million. By 2008, funding was at $176 million. Guttmacher
\n\tis an outspoken opponent of abstinence-only education.\n\t<\/p>\n\n
\n\tand reducing the total number of lifetime partners is more valuable in
\n\tprotecting the sexual health of young people than simply passing out
\n\tcondoms," said Valerie Huber of the National Abstinence Education
\n\tAssociation, who blamed the increase on several factors.\n\t<\/p>\n
\n\tand positive role models, and the dominant message that teen sex is
\n\texpected and without consequences," Huber said. The Obama
\n\tadministration is launching a $110 million pregnancy prevention
\n\tinitiative focused on programs with proven effectiveness but has left
\n\topen the possibility of funding some innovative approaches that include
\n\tencouraging abstinence.\n\t<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\n\tabsorbs goes to its educational programs and not to abortions per se.
\n\tHowever, as any business knows, money coming in the door becomes part
\n\tof an operating budget. Tax money designated for "education" on a
\n\tbalance sheet only means that monies from abortions are freed up for
\n\tother uses.\n\t<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\n\tsexually transmitted infections and HIV,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe talk to them
\n\tvery candidly not only about pregnancy but also STIs and HIV.\u201d\n\t<\/p>\n
\n\tfrom sex, but if they choose not to do that to (B) be faithful and (C)
\n\tuse a condom.\n\t<\/p>\n
\n\tteens choose not to be, you have to give them a plan B,\u201d Smith said.\n\t<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nin teenage pregnancy rate spurs new debate on arresting it<\/span><\/a><\/span> Washington Post<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\npills may reduce a woman’s bone density<\/span><\/a><\/span> Washington Post<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\npasses ultrasound <\/span>abortion<\/span> bill<\/span><\/a><\/span> Louisville Courier-Journal<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nman killed <\/span>abortion<\/span>
\ndoctor without a word: court<\/span><\/a><\/span> AFP<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nSuspect visited slain <\/span>abortion<\/span> doc’s church<\/span><\/a><\/span> Kansas City Star<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nprotests Tebow’s possible anti-<\/span>abortion<\/span> ad<\/span><\/a><\/span> Kansas City Star<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\npregnancy, <\/span>abortion<\/span>
\nrates rise<\/span><\/a><\/span> USA
\nToday<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nof Thousands March Against <\/span>Abortion<\/span> in San Francisco<\/span><\/a><\/span> The New American<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nNix <\/span>abortion<\/span>
\nfunding<\/span><\/a><\/span> Washington
\nTimes<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nAffirms Support for <\/span>Abortion<\/span><\/a><\/span> CitizenLink<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nIdentified As Killer Of Kansas <\/span>Abortion<\/span> Provider<\/span><\/a><\/span> NPR<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\npresents case in <\/span>abortion<\/span> doc’s death<\/span><\/a><\/span> Washington Post<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nNight Lights takes on <\/span>abortion<\/span><\/a><\/span> Feministing<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nThy Name is <\/span>Abortion<\/span><\/a><\/span> Huffington Post<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nCredit Pro-Life Movement for Stopping Pro-<\/span>Abortion<\/span> Health Care Bill<\/span><\/a><\/span> LifeNews.com<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nAbusers Often Sabotage <\/span>Birth Control<\/span> With Partners<\/span><\/a><\/span> Palm Beach Post<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nturn to new options for <\/span>birth control<\/span><\/a><\/span>
\nBCM News<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nNews: CNN, March for Life, Washington Post, Baby Isaiah, Assisted Suicide<\/span><\/a><\/span> LifeNews.com<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nBegins for Man Charged With Killing Abortionist<\/span><\/a><\/span> The New American<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nOhio Marks 37th Anniversary Of Roe vs. Wade<\/span><\/a><\/span> WMFD.com<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nCourt Ruling Sets Up Attack on Precedent for Pro-Abortion Roe Case<\/span><\/a><\/span> LifeNews.com<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nAdvocates Confront Notre Dame’s Father Jenkins at March for Life<\/span><\/a><\/span> LifeNews.com<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nover on Health Bill would be <\/span>Pro-Life<\/span> Victory: Knoxville Bishop<\/span><\/a><\/span> Lifesite<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>pro-life<\/span> ad
\nset for Super Bowl<\/span><\/a><\/span> Washington
\nTimes<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nOff Sex: Can Bristol Palin Stick by Abstinence Pledge?<\/span><\/a><\/span> ABC News<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nAbusers Often Sabotage Birth Control With Partners<\/span><\/a><\/span> U.S. News & World Report<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\ncoercion is a factor in unintended pregnancies<\/span><\/a><\/span> Los Angeles Times<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nlesson guidance stresses right to say ‘No’<\/span><\/a><\/span> Independent<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nvirginity ‘a precious gift’, says Tony Abbott<\/span><\/a><\/span> Herald Sun<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\nPregnancy Rate on the Rise<\/span><\/a><\/span> PR Newswire<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n