May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, and across the United States, teen pregnancy rates are dropping. The costs associated with teen pregnancies have fallen as well. The impact of this is broad; families are better equipped to raise children, less child abuse and neglect occurs, families have less financial stress, and girls tend to get more education, which boosts their individual incomes too. However, there are still nearly 330,000 babies born to teen moms between the ages of 15-19 each year, according to the CDC, which means the country still has quite a bit of work to do. Now one of the major sources of funding that has been instrumental in preventing teen pregnancy could be cut in half.
Half of All TPP Funding Could Be Cut
Most people aren’t familiar with the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPP), a division of the Office of Adolescent Health, but that doesn’t mean that the work it does isn’t valuable. In the first four years it existed, teen pregnancies dropped 29%. At present, teen pregnancies cost the country an estimated $9.4 billion, which the TPP has whittled down with a budget of $101 million. The money is disbursed throughout the country to various programs that use evidence-based methods to educate teens. President Trump’s proposed budget would cut TPP funding in half. While Congress has made it clear that it isn’t taking Trump’s recommendations — which called for massive cuts to virtually every government program — the mere fact that such extreme measures are considered mean funding for programs like TPP, despite obvious successes, will always be in danger.
TPP Programs Provide Education and Resources
There are many programs aimed at preventing teen pregnancies, both at a federal and state level, but they work in markedly different ways. While most tend to focus on abstinence, TPP programs also incorporate teachings about how the body works, how STDs are spread, and how multiple types of birth control work. Many state-funded programs fall short in this respect. Moreover, state-funded programs are often not permitted to provide scientific information about contraception without parental consent, depending on local laws, whereas federally-funded programs usually do. Should TPP wind up on the chopping block, it could leave a massive gap at a time when more funding is already needed.
Help Will Remain Available
Although many programs are largely funded by federal money, they may still be able to continue their work through additional fundraising efforts and donations. However, parental involvement will arguably become an even more crucial component, as studies have shown that parents talking to their kids about sex and educating them about contraceptives have a major impact on teen pregnancies. To learn more about how you can help, or for tips on talking to your children, visit the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy or our partners: the Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and the North Texas Alliance to Reduce Unintended Pregnancy in Teens (NTARuPt). RefillWise membership affording you prescription discounts and cash rewards will also remain available. Our free pharmacy discount program saves up to 80% on common medications, including many types of birth control as well as treatments for STDs. Sign up for your free RefillWise card today.
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