Education Report - Program Seeks to Lower Teen Pregnancy Rate in New York

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year, 750,000 Americans under the age of 20 become . The United States has one of the highest rates teenage pregnancy among western industrialized countries. New York City an especially high rate, with about 20,000 teen pregnancies year. Since 1984, the Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program worked to reduce the birth rate for teens. The has worked with the Children's Aid Society, which operates activities for young people. The sex education effort starts children who are 10 and 11 years oldBut sex is only part of the effort. Psychologist Michael Carrera the pregnancy prevention program 37 years ago. He says to reduce teen pregnancy rates must help young people themselves as successful adults. He says success is more when young people believe that good things are going happen in their lives. Then they take steps to the risk of teen pregnancy on their own. The includes sports training, art classes, part-time jobs, and help banking. Health care is also available, as well as on education. Young people in the program have 50 fewer pregnancies than other New York teenagers from similar backgroundsMichael Carrera is now in his 70s. He says is still excited to come to work. His program about 4,000 students in 12 states. The Obama administration recognized the program with a social innovation award. In the administration ordered that federal money for sex education go to programs that are proven to be effective.

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