Breaking the cycle of teen pregnancy  . . . May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

Teen birth rates in the U.S. are as much as nine times higher than in most other developed countries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nearly 4% of all teenage girls give birth each year. Preventing teen pregnancy is a public health priority in Jefferson County and across the nation because of the enormous economic, social, and health costs on teen parents and their families.

The Jefferson County Public Health Family Planning Program provides confidential and comprehensive services to support and educate teens in our community. Prevention efforts work by teaching teens how and why to delay starting sex and steps that they need to take if they become sexually active.  Sexually active teens should have access to effective and affordable birth control. While the task to eliminate teen pregnancy may seem daunting, advocates, parents, and communities can take small steps to engage youth in ways that can help reduce the prevalence of teen pregnancy.
 
Family Planning (reproductive health and birth control) services are available at our Arvada and Lakewood locations. Services are provided on a sliding fee scale and to people with Medicaid. No one is denied services due to the inability to pay.

JCPH Family Planning Services: http://www.jeffco.us/health/health_T111_R121.htm

To schedule an appointment, please call one of our conveniently located clinics:
Lakewood 303-239-7078 or Arvada 303-275-7500.

• Colorado data: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ps/mch/mchadmin/mchdatasets2009/Teen%20Fertility%20map%20and%20list%202009%20Rel.pdf
• CDC teen pregnancy (http://www.cdc.gov/Features/VitalSigns/TeenPregnancy/)
• The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy at: http://www.teenpregnancy.org
• The Colorado Organization on Adolescent, Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention (COAPPP) at http://www.coappp.org