If sexual abuse is not addressed, girls may run away or turn to alcohol or other drugs to numb their emotional pain. A few lash out at their perpetrators violently. PACE has opened a new door in my life. I've accomplished many things at PACE, one of which is learning to be a productive member of society. For many young women, teen pregnancy is a virtual guarantee of poverty and long-term reliance on welfare.
Most teen mothers drop out of high school and remain single most of their young adult years.
More than 60 percent of African-American and half of all Hispanic teen mothers are concentrated in poor, racially segregated neighborhoods that have poor housing, high crime rates, and inadequate schools. Many teen mothers have been victims of sexual abuse. By the time they enter the system, they may be at least a grade level behind their peers. Once they enter the juvenile justice system, these girls find themselves back in the classroom. They may perform well behind grade level.