Indicator Report - Teen Birth Rate Girls Age 15-17, by Race and
Ethnicity 2008-2010 Why Is This Important?Early pregnancy and
childbearing is closely linked to a host of other critical
social issues, including poverty and income disparity, overall
child well-being, out-of-wedlock births, and education, to name
just a few. Simply put, if more children in this country were
born to parents who are ready and able to care for them, we
would see a significant reduction in a host of social problems
afflicting children in the United States, from school failure
and crime to child abuse and neglect. Teen childbearing is
costly to the public sector - federal, state, and local
governments and the taxpayers who support them. Reducing teen
pregnancy will enhance overall child well-being. The children of
teen mothers bear the greatest burden of teen pregnancy and
childbearing, and are at significantly increased risk for a
number of economic, social, and health problems. Preventing teen
pregnancy is critical to improving not