New Figures Show Teen Births Hit a Record Low in California

A news article released from the Los Angeles Times on February 23, 2010 highlights a new report by the California Department of Public Health which shows that California reached a record low in the teen birth rate in 2008.

New figures show teen births hit a record low in California

Los Angeles Times, By Amani Khan, February 23, 2010

Highlights from the article:

• "Weaver attributed the improvement to state-supported teen-pregnancy prevention efforts, including family planning programs, comprehensive sex education and reproductive health services."
  
• "Constantine agreed, pointing to such services as the Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment Program. About $45 million of the approximately $450-million program is used to serve teens, he said."
  
• "We believe the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease is through abstinence," Weaver said. "But we do believe it is important to teach teens that if they choose to be sexually active, that they should be fully informed of contraceptives and have access to services."

Read the full Los Angeles Times article here.