CARING: MEETING VIEWS TEEN PREGNANCY, OTHER ISSUES

Teen pregnancy, drug abuse, and other issues that trouble young people were discussed at this year's Community Caring Conference.

The conference, held Friday, is an annual event of the Community Caring Council, a coalition of about a dozen local social service organizations and groups.

"We want to do what's best for families," said Shirley Ramsey, president of the council. "When families are in a state of chaos, it affects the whole community." Ramsey is with the Southeast Area Agency on Aging.

She explained that the council brings together representatives of all types of social services to learn what is available and how different groups can work together.

Friday's conference focused on youth at risk, highlighting a few of the projects under way in the community to deal with these issues. About 150 people attended the conference.

The council and conference are the brainchild of state Rep. Mary Kasten.

"Through the council, people begin to exchange information

and services. People begin knowing who to refer families to," said Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau. "This is the first time we are not all working in our own little pockets.

"We've now been recognized as a model for the state of Missouri."

In a panel presentation about teen pregnancy, Molly Strickland with Lutheran Family and Children's Services explained a new program being organized to work with parenting teens. Strickland said the group is so new it doesn't have a name.

The group is working to provide pregnant teens and teen parents information about services available to them. They also plan a series of workshops for teens to discuss parenting skills.

Strickland said more than 500,000 babies are born to teen mothers in the United State each year.

In 1988, Missouri reported more than 15,000 teen pregnancies and 10,456 births to mothers ages 10-20. There were 6,067 births to unmarried mothers.

Only one of every two women who become mothers before they reach 18 complete high school. If a girl does not finish high school. there is a 90 percent chance she will live in poverty.

"Maybe when it hits the pocketbook so hard, we will say it's time to stop," Strickland said.

Public assistance to teenagers giving birth exceeds $225 million annually in Missouri.

If a teenage mother stays on public assistance until her youngest child reaches 18 years of age, she will receive more than $200,000 in public assistance, or an average of $10,000 per year in AFDC, Food Stamps, Medicaid and energy assistance.

Pat Bratton, counselor at Cape Girardeau Central High School, said teen moms are at high risk for dropping out of high school.

Bratton said about 10 students are now pregnant in grades 10-12. Another 12 students are already parents.

"We do a fairly good job of keeping the students in school during the pregnancy," said Bratton.

But once the baby is born and the teen mom must contend with child care, work and school, many students drop out.

The school has tried different ways to help the teen parents stay in school. Last year, pregnant teens were linked with a staff person at the high school in a mentoring program.

This semester, a support group has begun for pregnant teens and teen parents. A part-time counselor is working with teen parents at the vocational school.

"We want our girls to stay in school," Bratton said. "But we know it will be very difficult."

Also speaking Friday was Jeff Krantz with the Teen Pregnancy and Responsibility Network. Krantz is also director of planning at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

The network has been in operation for more than six years and includes representatives from various agencies that deal with teen pregnancy and related issues.

The network compiled and printed a booklet providing facts about sexual anatomy, disease, pregnancy, incest and other topics. The group also has printed a safe dating guide for teens.

"We have formed some basis to meet and discuss the issue," Krantz said.

He said the network is concerned about adding emphasis on the male role in teen pregnancy and parenting. The network is also interested in creating some peer or teen counseling sessions.