St. Gerard's Campus in St. Augustine

Let's face it, teen pregnancy is not an ideal situation however it happens.

Parenting is never easy, whether there is one parent or two involved, it is expensive and the cost is not only financial, but emotional.

St. Gerard, located in St. Augustine, has been helping young pregnant women and girls since 1981.

St. Gerard Campus rescues girls and provides guidance to help them avoid poverty, dependency, and welfare. They learn to cope with difficult situations, rise above those difficulties, and grow to be nurturing mothers, productive members of society, and a positive force in the workplace.

In their 30 years open, they have mentored over 48,000 mothers and supported the birth of almost 31,000 babies.

The holidays are a time to give.  Take the time to be a part of our community outreach, stop by and donate what you can.
Here is a list of some of the items they need:

• Food
• Formula
• Diapers
• Adult's and children's clothing
• Maternity clothes
• Baby clothing
• Cribs and bassinets
• Infant seats
• Car seats
• Bouncy seats
• Carriages
• Strollers
• High chairs
• Dressers
• Furniture and household items such as curtains, bedspreads, couches, tables, etc. 

If your not located in St. Augustine, be sure to find a local charity to give to, especially at this time of the year.  There are so many people, especially young children that need our help.

Safe Haven Law: Protecting Newborns

Baby abandonment is a tragedy that is happening in the United States - It does not have to happen:
A Safe Haven for Newborns began in response to the tragedy of infant abandonment in Florida. We see and read about abandoned babies all too often – it is heart breaking.

The Safe Haven Law is a safety net for both the mother and the newborn infant. Instead of abandoning a newborn to an almost sure death, it allows mothers, fathers or whoever is in possession of an unharmed newborn, approximately seven days old or less, to leave them at a Safe Haven facility: Any Hospital, Staffed 24/7 Fire Rescue Station, or Staffed 24/7 Emergency Medical Service Station, with no questions asked, totally anonymous, free from fear of prosecution...... A compassionate approach which is saving lives.


According to a CNN review of FBI statistics, nearly five infants under the age of one are killed in the U.S. each week. The federal government and most states do not keep statistics specific to abandoned newborns. There is presently no way to clearly determine what portion of infant deaths are due to abandonment.

This eye-opening story can open the lines of communication with your teenager.  Talk to your teen about sex education, pregnancy and choices they have.  Learn more at Stay Teen.

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Pregnant Teens Back to School - Know Your Rights

Teen pregnancy is a subject that can be sensitive to some parents.

Through the many resources available in Broward County, teenage pregnancies have been  decreasing. According to National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy there have been more than 354,000 teen births in Florida, between 1991 and 2004, costing taxpayers a total of  8.1 billion dollars.

In September 2006 report by Guttnacher Institute, Florida ranked 6th in a nationwide study with 97 per 1,000 pregnancies in women between ages of 15-19. (Broward County Teen Pregnancy Help).
National Women's Law Center will be hosting a free conference call.

Know Your Rights: A Conference Call for Pregnant and Parenting Students!

Wednesday, August 10, 3pm Eastern

Pregnant and parenting students have a right to equal educational opportunities! Interested? Get more information about protections for students against discrimination.

Expert Speakers will include:

• Lara S. Kaufmann, Senior Counsel, National Women's Law Center
• Jeanette Pai-Espinosa, President, National Crittenton Foundation

Are you:

• A student who is pregnant or has been pregnant while attending school, whether at the high school or post-secondary level?
• A member of the school community who wants to ensure that pregnant and parenting students do not experience discrimination but instead stay in school and succeed?
• Someone who works with students or advocates for young mothers' rights?

Whether you're a student, guardian, educator, counselor, or community member, our experts on Title IX can help answer your questions. To register, please complete the form.

Be an educated parent, you will have healthier teens.

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Spina Bifida Awareness Month is October

Did you know that birth defects occur in 7 out of every 10,000 live births in the U.S.?  And Spina Bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect?  In honor of October being Spina Bifida Awareness Month, I’m reaching out on behalf of the Spina Bifida Association to ask everyone to take a few minutes today to get involved by educating loved ones. 

So what exactly is Spina Bifida?  The short version of it: Spina Bifida happens when the spinal column doesn't close completely. It’s hard to believe that eight births each day are affected by Spina Bifida or a similar birth defect of the brain and spine. Think of it this way, there are currently over 65 million women in the U.S. who could become pregnant and each one of these ladies is at risk of having a baby born with Spina Bifida.  

So because Spina Bifida occurs during the first month of pregnancy (that’s even before most women know they’re pregnant!) it is that much more important, as a woman, to take proper precautions to help try to prevent it now.  

Okay. So what type of precautions can help in prevention, you ask?  Although at this time there is no known cause of Spina Bifida, research has shown that if a woman takes 400 mcg of folic acid every day and before she becomes pregnant, she reduces her risk of having a baby with Spina Bifida or another neural tube defect by as much as 70%! 

That fact is reason enough to encourage women (and men) to get out there this month and spread awareness.  To hear one mom’s message, click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC9KtJ1CnHk

And finally, SBA is launching great, online resources for parents, tweens and teens including transitional resources, social network involvement and even an online university for young adults. For even more information, tips and resources, you may visit: www.spinabifidaassociation.org

Sue Scheff: Teen Pregnancy - Stay Teen

Every day, more than 2,000 teen girls in the United States get pregnant. In fact, 3 in 10 girls will become pregnant by age 20. Not having sex is the only sure way to avoid pregnancy, though there are a lot of other good reasons to wait, too. But if you're having sex, you must use birth control carefully and correctly every single time you do.

The best time to think about how you would handle a risky situation is before you're in it. Will you say no? If so, how will you say it? And if you do go all the way, how will you protect yourself and your future?

Visit www.stayteen.org and learn more.

Sue Scheff: Teen Moms - 16 and Pregnant

Parenting today can be one of the most difficult jobs any adult will have. "Adult" being the operative word, when a teenager has a child it can be even more stressful and complicated.

16 and Pregnant, which airs on MTV and is hosted by Dr. Drew, will give you a birds-eye view of teenagers having babies. From deciding on whether to keep the baby, to giving birth, 16 and Pregnant will take you inside the lives of girls living through the difficult process being pregnant and having a baby.

In 16 and Pregnant, you will see a variety of girls with a variety of decisions. What works best for them, and what is best for their child. Will the father be involved, or does he want to be involved?

These teens learn that being pregnant means having to grow up very fast. The new challenges they face, the financial responsibilities compounded with the emotional roller coaster ride of having a baby and still being a child (teen).

What about school? What choices will they make? 16 and Pregnant will take you through the lives of several young teens and definitely can be an eye-opener to those that believe that having a baby is easy. From going out to party to growing up real fast, being pregnant is a responsibility that is not easy.

These are expecting teens experiencing the consequences of unprotected sex and learning about the unexpected challenges of being pregnant raising a baby.

Be an educated parent, talk to your teens about sex. Talk to your kids period.

Watch the trailer and read more on Examiner.

Sue Scheff: The National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Source: National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy

May 6, 2009 is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. How do you score? Take the National Day Quiz and find out.

Take the National Day Quiz

Grab the National Day widget

Teens

Parents

http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/national/pdf/2009/2009_ND_obama_message.pdf - Letter from President Obama.

Hundreds of thousands of teens nationwide are expected to participate in the eighth annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 6, 2009. The purpose of the National Day is straightforward. Too many teens still think “It can’t happen to me.” The National Day helps teens understand that it can happen to them and that they need to think seriously about what they would do in the moment.

Read more here.

Teenage Pregnancy - Is it on the Rise?

Learn more about this growing concern again.

Click here.

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

The National Campaign seeks to improve the well-being of children, youth, families, and the nation by preventing unplanned and teen pregnancy.

The Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students

The Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students by Dorrie Williams-Wheeler

Nicolette Heaton-Harris, BellaOnline's Pregnancy Editor - An excellent resource for young women who have discovered that they are accidentally pregnant. Recommended.