From: ndallen@r-node.gts.org (Nigel Allen)
Subject: New Program Aims to Break Cycle of Teen Pregnancy
Organization: Echo Beach, Toronto
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 08:55:25 GMT

Here is an interesting press release from Catholic Charities USA.
Note that the group's package (child care, social casework and 
training) does not appear to include birth control.

 New Program Aims To Break Cycle of Teen Pregnancy
 To: National Desk
 Contact: Alexandra Peeler, 703-549-1390, ext. 13;
          Robert W. Branch, 703-549-1390, ext. 14;
          or Colleen Curry, 703-549-1390, ext. 15
          all of Catholic Charities USA

   LANSING, Mich., Dec. 18   -- Catholic Charities USA, the 
largest network of human service agencies in the country, today
launched an innovative, million-dollar project to help teen
parents break the cycle of teen pregnancy.
   The program supports teen mothers and their families while
countering the negatives of teen pregnancy.  The side effects
of teen pregnancy can be costly, and sometimes may include
child abuse, neglect and welfare dependency.
   Today's program was announced at the Cristo Rey Community
Center in Lansing.
   Catholic Charities USA has teamed with Catholic Social Services of
Albuquerque, N.M.; Catholic Charities in Lansing, Mich.; and
Babyland, a child care agency in Newark, N.J., to launch the Children
of Children project, which will provide services to teen parents and
conduct research.  The three-year pilot program will teach parenting
skills; offer supports such as health care, education, and career
training; and involve the baby's father and grandparents in fostering
healthy family living.  The program targets parents ages 12-16, their
children, and the children's grandparents.
   Major foundation support for the intergenerational program comes
from The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Prudential Foundation, and The
MCJ Foundation on behalf of the Amelior Foundation.
   "Catholic Charities is finding out what works to help young teen
families.  The recipe we propose is a unique blend of comprehensive
services -- child care, social casework and training -- to prevent
some of the costly and painful aftermath of teen pregnancy," said
Rev. Fred Kammer, S.J., president of Catholic Charities USA.
   The program aims to:
   -- strengthen the whole family unit including the child,
mother, father and grandparents;
   -- teach parenting skills to the teen mothers and fathers;
   -- network the family with community resources and services such
as health care, nutrition, transportation and education; and
   -- pursue jobs and training for the young parents so they become
self-supporting and able to maintain financial independence.
   In addition, the project directors believe the program's research
will provide policy-makers and children's advocates with a model to
break the cycle of teen pregnancy and the social problems associated
with it.  The pilot program initially will be carried out in the
three cities under Catholic Charities USA auspices with an eye toward
replicating the positive results in the Catholic Charities USA
network.
   The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was established in 1930 to "help
people help themselves." The private grant-making foundation provides
seed money to organizations that have identified problems and
designed constructive action programs aimed at solutions.  The
foundation's grants focus mainly on youth; leadership; philanthropy,
and volunteerism; community-based, problem-focused health services;
higher education; food systems; and rural development.
   Catholic Charities USA's network of 1,400 agencies, institutions,
and individuals aims to reduce poverty, support families, and
strengthen communities in the United States.
   Catholic Charities agencies provide social services ranging from
adoption, education, day care and counseling to food and housing.
The services are offered to people of all religious, national,
racial, social and economic backgrounds.  More than 12.3 million
people turned to Catholic Charities for help in 1991.
 -30-
-- 
Xref: sparky talk.politics.medicine:453 sci.skeptic:21855 alt.politics.homosexuality:8626