Foster Children Obtain Birth Control

Teens are quicker to become pregnant than adults, which is why they should be able to get on birth control on their own. There was some research in Texas about teen pregnancy. They found out that teen pregnancy is higher in foster children than in the general population. Foster children who become parents usually get separated from their children. Their children usually end up in the system as well. The national teen rate for girls in foster care is roughly twice as high as the general population according to, Texan Care for Children. These girls should be able to get birth control by themselves. Foster children don’t have parents to get them birth control. They are just in and out of the system until they turn 18. How do you expect foster …show more content…
Both the teen parent’s and the child’s life can be affected. Teen mothers are less likely to receive prenatal care, and their children are more likely to be born prematurely, have low-birth weight, and die in infancy. Children of teen mothers are more likely to have poor health and struggle in school than children born to older mothers. They are more likely to come in contact with the child welfare and criminal justice systems, live in poverty, drop out of high school and become teen parents themselves. In addition, pregnant teens, particularly younger ones, may be more susceptible to negative health factors and be affected by pregnancy related complications …show more content…
Teen pregnancy and childbearing affect the education, income, well-being and health of both the parents and their children. Only half of teens moms earn a high school diploma by the time they reach age 22, compared to nearly 90 percent of women who do not give birth as teens. Less than 2 percent of teen moms earn a college degree by age 30. Studies show that young fathers often have lower levels of educational achievement as well. Teen pregnancy and a lack of education often contribute to a cycle of economic hardship that spans generations. “It’s very hard for a young person to raise a child on her own and still have a really positive influence on her own life or the life of the child” says Perdue. Having a child as an adolescent in foster care makes the difference transition to adulthood and independence even more challenging. Teen pregnancy creates challenges, not only for the state systems responsible for them, but also for their children. “These young women are usually alone and often do not have the necessary financial or emotional support to provide for a child” says Senator Doty. “Even though they’re older, 18 and 19-year-olds are very young adults. Kids that age should be students, not parents.” Although many older teens have finished high school, having a child at this age can still disrupt or derail a young person’s higher education goals, with repercussions for both their future and for that of the U.S. workforce. “Repeat