High school social workers help guide pregnant teens

School social workers are often called upon to provide students with much-needed advice. Their offices can be a neutral space where teenagers can receive consistent counseling.

They may also serve as health advocates who provide awareness about the risk of certain behaviors. With pertinent information in hand, teenagers may be able to make more informed decisions that affect their health and well-being.

One school district in Missouri has seen a marked decline in teen pregnancies in the past year, which is due in part to the help of social workers, according to a report in the St. Joseph News-Press.

While many school health classes emphasize abstinence, the district's social workers took a different approach. They supported pregnant teenagers through mentoring programs that taught basic parenting skills, according to the media outlet. They also created informational pamphlets for parents to improve communication with their adolescent children about topics related to pregnancy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1991 and 2005, the U.S. teen birth rate dropped by nearly one-third. After a 5 percent spike in the succeeding two years, teen births went down again in both 2008 and 2009.

Students who are pursuing a master's in social work may choose to help educate youth by taking a position as a school counselor.  

POSTED BY: admin - February 1st, 2011 at 03:51pm ( 0 )