Teen mothers in foster care have high risk of losing custody of babies

Teen mothers who are in foster care may be more likely to lose custody of their babies than adolescent mothers in different living circumstances, a Canadian study suggests.

Researchers examined data on 576 teen mothers who were in foster care and 5,366 adolescent mothers who were not. Overall, the mothers in foster care were more than seven times more likely to lose custody of their babies by the time children were two years old, researchers report in Pediatrics.

More >> Teen mothers in foster care have high risk of losing custody of babies

• Babies born to teen mothers in Manitoba’s child-welfare system more likely to be placed in care, study shows
• Understanding the Intergenerational Cycle of Child Protective Service Involvement

Texas Child Protection leader slams foster care pregnancy report

The leader of Texas child protection is slamming a recent report that found high rates of teen pregnancy in foster care, calling the data "more sensational than factual."

In a sharply worded letter, Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Henry "Hank" Whitman Jr. accused the report of potentially making it harder for the agency to find homes for older foster teens by implying the girls are more likely to get pregnant.

More >> Texas Child Protection leader slams foster care pregnancy report

Why Do Children in Foster Care Become Pregnant At A Much Higher Rate? Well, It’s Complicated

Texas children in foster care are getting pregnant at a rate five times higher than children who are not in the system. That was the shocking bottom line of a report released last month by the non-profit policy organization Texans Care for Children.

More >> Why Do Children in Foster Care Become Pregnant At A Much Higher Rate? Well, It’s Complicated

Study: Texas foster children five times as likely to get pregnant than other teens

Teens in Texas foster care are nearly five times as likely to get pregnant than other youth their age, according to a study released Monday that calculates the rate for the first time.

More >> Study: Texas foster children five times as likely to get pregnant than other teens

• Report: Teen pregnancy rate 5 times higher among Texas foster youth
• For girls in the Texas foster care system, teen pregnancy is 5 times more likely

For Foster Teens, Accessing Birth Control Is an Uphill Battle

As an attorney with the Bronx Defenders, Kara Wallis routinely attends permanency hearings, which occur when a foster youth is either being returned to their home, placed with adoptive parents, or beginning independent living. As part of these hearings, judges read a set of directives for the guardian overseeing custody, such as providing the youth with a passport or a driver’s license. For foster youth transitioning to independent living, these directives include things like job counseling.

More >> For Foster Teens, Accessing Birth Control Is an Uphill Battle

Becoming A Parent While In Foster Care: Pregnant Teens In DCS Face Many Struggles

Teenage pregnancy has been declining in Arizona over the past few decades. That reflects a national downward trend, but let’s take a look at a specific group: teens in the foster care system.

More >> Becoming A Parent While In Foster Care: Pregnant Teens In DCS Face Many Struggles

Teen Birth Rate Drops Dramatically, Still Huge Issue for Foster Kids

Jessica Chandler spent her teenage years in foster care in California after her parents divorced and her mother struggled with mental illness. At age 18 she became pregnant. She was terrified, she wrote in an op-ed piece in the Los Angeles Times in May 2013.

More >> Teen Birth Rate Drops Dramatically, Still Huge Issue for Foster Kids

Free Condoms Mailed To Teens In California

Free Condoms Mailed To Teens In California

Free condoms are being mailed to teens in California by the California Family Health Council. The condoms are being provided as part of a program called the Condom Access Project, which provides free condoms to California residents between the ages of 12 and 19.

Texas Will Begin Tracking Pregnant Foster Youth

Texas Will Begin Tracking Pregnant Foster Youth

The teenage pregnancy rate in the United States, including Texas, continues to fall, according to a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

MTV has done more for the US teen birthrate than decades of policy

MTV has done more for the US teen birthrate than decades of policy

When 16 and Pregnant debuted in 2009—followed soon after by its spinoff Teen Mom—critics decried it as the ultimate in exploitative programing. Pundits declared that turning unmarried teenage mothers into celebrities would glamorize what society knew and data demonstrated was a destructive behavior. This pair of shows is often cited as the most crass of the reality genre, making entertainment out of the serious emotional problems and poor life choices of its subjects. Amber Portwood, one of the season one stars, was arrested and convicted for a domestic violence incident shown on the show. Farrah Abrams, another season one star, has been arrested for drunk driving and has launched a porn career. It is hard to imagine anyone arguing that two shows seemingly focused from the outset on documenting inevitable trainwrecks could  make any kind of positive impact on the lives of its audiences.

Hilton Foundation study reveals foster care shortcomings

Hilton Foundation study reveals foster care shortcomings

Although teen pregnancies have reached historic lows nationwide, a new study sponsored by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in Agoura Hills shows that birth rates among teens in foster care through California’s Child Protective Services are significantly higher.

Nebraska Court Says Teen Must Obey Religious Beliefs Of Foster Parents And Not Have An Abortion

Nebraska Court Says Teen Must Obey Religious Beliefs Of Foster Parents And Not Have An Abortion

A 16-year-old girl has been denied her constitutional right to choose to have an abortion by the Nebraska Supreme Court. The judges ruled that the unnamed defendant is “not mature or well-informed enough” to make her own reproductive decisions, though the court apparently believes she is mature enough to give birth to and raise a baby as a young single mother. It’s certainly a ruling that defies logic.

Teen moms: Foster youth more likely to have children and need help

Teen moms: Foster youth more likely to have children and need help

Teenage girls in foster care are 2.5 times more likely to become pregnant by age 19 than those not in foster care. By age 21, a full 50 percent of foster youth will have given birth to at least one child, a rate more than double the same-age population. We have been successful in reducing the number of teen pregnancies in California, but we have not been able to reduce the number of teen pregnancies among foster youth.

‘Teen Mom’ star Jenelle Evans gets involved with CPS to help Courtland

‘Teen Mom’ star Jenelle Evans gets involved with CPS to help Courtland

Jenelle Evans’ new husband Courtland Rogers is fighting a personal battle with his daughter’s mother, and things don’t seem to get any better based on tweets from both Courtland and his ex-girlfriend, Taylor Lewis. According to a new Gather report released on Jan. 8, “Teen Mom” star Jenelle Evans is now getting involved to help her husband out with his daughter. The report revealed that Jenelle tweeted out some messages yesterday about Child Protective Services, but she has since deleted them. Ever since Courtland got together with Jenelle, he has only seen his daughter a few times, and Courtland doesn’t think his daughter is safe with Taylor.

Jenelle Evans No Longer Required To Pay Child Support

Jenelle Evans No Longer Required To Pay Child Support


Jenelle Evans is headed down the right path—this according to her mother Barbara. In fact, Barb is so impressed with Jenelle and the direction her life has taken that she's no longer requiring Jenelle to pay her child support for Jace.

12 Studied Effects of Teenage Pregnancy

12 Studied Effects of Teenage Pregnancy


According to new data from the CDC, teen pregnancy rates have reached all-time lows, dropping more than 44% from 1991 to 2010. While teen pregnancy may be on the decline, it’s far from being a non-issue in America. Why? Teen pregnancy costs an estimated $10.9 billion annually and often carries an elevated risk for both mothers and babies. Add to that the fact that the rate of teen pregnancy in America is nine times higher than that of any other developed country, despite the massive drop, and you can see why teen pregnancy isn’t an issue that’s going away anytime soon.

Mississippi fights the nation's worst teen pregnancy rate

Mississippi fights the nation's worst teen pregnancy rate


With her hair in a ponytail and her smile quick and wide, it's hard to tell high school junior Donyell Hollins has been pulling all-nighters for most of the semester to take care of her infant daughter.

'16 & PREGNANT' COUPLE Pregnant AGAIN After Child Services Incident

'16 & PREGNANT' COUPLEPregnant AGAINAfter Child Services Incident

It's barely been six months since Child Protective Services took away their daughter -- but TMZ has learned, "16 and Pregnant" couple Ebony and Joshua Rendon are PREGNANT ... AGAIN.

Everything I Need to Know About Family Law I Learned from Teen Mom:

Everything I Need to Know About Family Law I Learned from Teen Mom:

The lives of teen parents are often complicated, as we see depicted over and over again in the MTV reality show Teen Mom. Although this show is not about law (Law and Order: Teen Mom might be an interesting new spin-off, however), the teen mothers find themselves in a variety of family law controversies in the natural course of things. In this column, I’ll consider just a sampling of the legal issues raised on the show, including those related to legal fatherhood, parental rights, child custody, domestic violence, and open adoption.

Girl who gave birth at 14 loses right to keep her baby after judge hears she is 'barely able to care for herself'

Girl who gave birth at 14 loses right to keep her baby after judge hears she is 'barely able to care for herself'

One-year-old child will be put up for adoption.

Judge turned down grandmother's plea to be allowed to care for the baby.