| Pregnant teenagers are a matter of great concern for | | | | These centers also provide support to the teenager |
| the teen herself, her family and the community at large. | | | | through the pregnancy. Some churches provide |
| The teen will need to shoulder the responsibilities of an | | | | shelters and short or long stay homes for pregnant |
| unplanned baby without an income through a job, or a | | | | teenagers who are unable to get family help. |
| skill to do a job. A baby can be a setback to future | | | | The Government funds several support programs for |
| plans of the teenager. The government and other | | | | pregnant teens. These programs focus on helping the |
| organizations have recognized the problems of | | | | teenager to stay in school till they graduate. Support |
| teenage mothers and the need for the baby to have | | | | services provided to the pregnant or parenting teen |
| stability and grants are provided to help teenage | | | | are healthcare, nutritional care, parenting advice and |
| mothers to overcome obstacles in the life. | | | | career planning. Special advice, mentoring and tutoring |
| The TOPS program is a scholarship program for | | | | are provided in charter schools, technical schools and |
| teenage mothers. This program prevents teenage | | | | other schools to help pregnant and parenting |
| mothers from dropping out from school. The major | | | | teenagers through their education. Temporary |
| part of the funding helps teenagers to pay for books | | | | assistance is provided for needy families. Food stamps |
| and the rest is to help teenagers manage the | | | | are provided for the health of mother and child and |
| expenses for their livelihood and for the baby. Funds | | | | special Medicaid benefits are provided for teenage |
| are provided to establish shelters and homes for | | | | mothers. The Women Children and Infants program |
| teenage mothers. Licensed day care facilities for | | | | provides nutritious food for teenage and parenting |
| teenage mothers to prevent them from missing out on | | | | adolescents who are full time students in school. |
| an education are provided. | | | | The Department of Health and Human Services of |
| Private grants help pregnant and parenting teens stay | | | | many states organizes comprehensive medical and |
| in school and study towards a diploma and obtain a | | | | support facilities for pregnant and parenting mothers |
| marketable job skill through technical education. These | | | | under the age of 17. Social workers, nurses and |
| grants are given to organizations to provide support | | | | therapists work together to help these women through |
| services to the pregnant teen including health | | | | their pregnancy and through the early years of |
| monitoring, tutoring, mentoring, enrollment and | | | | motherhood. Shelters and residential schools to help |
| employment. | | | | these young women get an education while parenting |
| Grants are given by religious groups to establish crisis | | | | their child are available. |
| pregnancy centers. In these centers teenagers are | | | | Pregnant teens are not condemned as they were in |
| counseled to give birth to the child and not to undergo | | | | bygone times. Today, the government and society |
| an abortion. Christian organizations that provide these | | | | make every effort to look after the health and welfare |
| services are Care net and Heartbeat International. | | | | of the adolescent mother and her child. |
| Some centers are subsidized by the government. | | | | |