Throughout the world pregnancy and childbearing are occurring at younger ages than in the past, resulting in adverse health, demographic and social consequences. Postponing first births until age 20 or later would significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, slow population growth, and contribute to improvements in the quality…

Presents data describing the fragmentation of the family, suggests causes for the fragmentation, and offers suggestions for reversing the trend. The suggestions focus on day care, part-time employment practices, enhancing the position of women, and work and responsibility. (IRT)

Since the parenting education needs of teenage parents are multifaceted, parenting education must also be multifaceted and begin as early as possible during the pregnancy. (MM)

Investigates the thoughts and opinions of teenage unwed mothers on the development of a sex education program by schools. (Author/RK)

Notes the need for parent education in the secondary school and suggests an interdisciplinary effort with the home economics teacher as coordinator for a program involving education, community, and social services. (MF)

The second half of an examination of the school's role in preventing pregnancy among adolescents focuses on legal issues a local school board should consider in developing a policy for dealing with problems associated with adolescent sexuality. (MLF)

Looks at issues surrounding teenage pregnancy and describes different school-based approaches to sex education. Stresses that parental involvement is critical to the success of any effective program for reducing teenage pregnancy. (RWB)

Compared the self-esteem of adolescent mothers (N=37) to a control group to determine whether adolescent mothers felt there was a cause-effect relationship between their behavior and future consequences. Results indicated that adolescent unwed mothers exhibit low self-esteem and high external locus of control. (LLL)

This paper summarizes a collection of papers in a special issue that examines what resources and capabilities parents likely to be affected by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families have; whether these parents are likely to be good parents; the nature of parents' relationships and whether they will be able to cooperate in raising their children;…

This publication reports trends in teen childbearing in the nation, in each state, and in large cities using data from the 2001 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Rates of teenage childbearing continue to steadily decline, and the 2001 rates are historic lows for each age group. NCHS data showed that almost 80% of teen births nationwide…

This report presents five commonly held stereotypes about children in the United States and analyzes their validity through discussion of data related to each. These stereotypes include: (1) births to unmarried women have increased tremendously mostly because of women of color; (2) child poverty is a problem in the inner city, not in the suburbs…

Conscious and unconscious reactions on the part of all professionals to single parenthood can affect the way they deal with it and with the youngsters involved. This paper results from an in depth study of single parents, the needs they bring to social agencies, and the challenge they present to all helping professions. It has been specifically…

Research on social services for pregnant teenagers should provide more information about these clients and their needs as well as the services available to them. Constructive suggestions can then be offered to influence public policy. (JAC)

Explored economic complexities of grandmothers serving as child care providers for their children's offspring. Used longitudinal survey data of employed mothers (N=796) with children under age five. Found grandmothers provided majority of child care for employed mothers, especially if unmarried. Found complex negotiation of work and family roles…

A look back at the 1965 Moynihan report makes it apparent that the nation has experienced further social decline in the past three decades and that society is becoming inured to the trauma. It is encouraging that public discourse is beginning to acknowledge society's problems and look for solutions. (SLD)