High rates of teen pregnancy take their toll not only on the life of teenagers and their children, but also on their immediate parents, on the larger circle of their extended family and friends, as well as on society in its broader definition. When adolescent girls give birth, their future prospects for academic and professional success are seriously impacted. Compared to other young women who delay their first birth until ages 20 and older, teen mothers are more likely to complete less school, have large families, and may end up as single parents.

The children born to teens are also severely put at risk. Compared to children born to women aged 20 and older, babies born to mothers aged 15-17 typically have less supportive and stimulating home environments, suffer from poorer health, manifest lower cognitive development, have less favorable educational outcomes, represent higher rates of behavior problems, and are at higher risk of teen childbearing themselves. Teens exposed to positive mentoring, and effective education, develop a heightened awareness of their potential for success. As Mary, 18, from Juvenile Hall puts it, "I don't want to be a teenage parent because I want to live my life, work, go out, and finish school. When I have my own place and feel ready, I will have a child"

RCHF is currently in its third year of the Community Challenge Grantfrom California State Office of Family Planning. The Foundation is committed to continued efforts in preventing teen pregnancy and forwarding youth development. Our programs promote a comprehensive, positive approach to the dissemination of educational information on promising possibilities for youth.

This year, Project t.e.a.m was successful in all thirteen sites, including North, Lincoln, and Sherman Indian High Schools, Juvenile Hall, Jurupa Learning Center, Project Bridge, YMCA Youth Opportunity Center, and all six middle schools in the Riverside Unified School District. The model consists of twelve components encompassing specific at-risk youth behaviors and educates teens on how to avoid social pressures. It focuses on sexual health and responsibility, factual information about risks associated with teen pregnancy, and methods of reducing the risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

As difficult as it may be at times, Project t.e.a.m addresses, within its scope, the complex issue of teen pregnancy within the City of Riverside. It impacts 2,020 young people, who want accurate information regarding the biological changes they are experiencing, the consequences of their sexual activity and the options that are available to them. At 11, Diana’s words are telling: "I love this class, and I am glad we get to talk about things that we are going through both at school and at home. I don’t have too many friends, and I have no one at home I can ask questions to."

Currently, Project t.e.a.m. works with a new group of eleven girls that are either already parenting, or currently pregnant. Being students at a traditional school site, these young individuals have not been given full opportunity to participate in programs assisting them in building healthy choices concerning their future goals and relationships. As they became increasingly involved with Project t.e.a.m, their level of enthusiasm and hope for their own future is evident. Mayra, 16, has been empowered to self-reliance and independence: "This program has really gotten me to rethink how important it is for me to graduate from high school. I can’t think that someone or my boyfriend will be there to take care of me and my baby. I have to take care of us."

Strong advocates of the program, these young women are willing to participate during lunch hours, with some keeping continued contact with the educator and becoming involved in other activities outside of the program. "I think every girl should have the opportunity to take this class. Why it’s not provided to all girls, I am not sure. They can learn so much, like I did. This program gets you to think" says 16 year old Josephina.

In many ways, male adolescence is a virtual obstacle course. The hurdles are many, from raging hormones, possible experimentation with drugs, bad grades and even the weight of teenage fatherhood. As they navigate these years of turmoil, many young men emerge older and wiser, and generally without any lasting damage. For others though, the obstacles loom larger, and they come to see their own adolescence not as a temporary phase of self-doubt and unsettledness, but as the precursor to a painful, bleak future. And unfortunately, some end up feeling that they may never make it into a successful, high-achieving adulthood.

In an attempt to combat some of the negative aspects of adolescence for males, RCHF’s Project X-Men offers to 1,677 young adolescent men continued support through education and mentorship. It provides them with the necessary skills to make the most of both current and future opportunities. Project X-Men’s deep impact is very real: Joseph, age 16, speaks for many when he says: "I am glad I was in class today for the discussion on healthy relationships. I think that when you find yourself, you are able to have a greater trust in another." For many, this is the only setting where they can safely discuss the realities of becoming an adult. At age 15, Jesse’s gratitude points precisely to the gap that Project X-Men seeks to fill: "Thank you for showing me all those things I never knew about being a good parent. I learn something different at every class."

Project X-Men’s newest endeavor for 2007 was the expansion of the program to the new Arlington Regional Learning Center and to the Juvenile Hall Youth Academy. Overwhelming success is due to the overall collaborative support from school administrators, probation officers, as well as staff and students. Programming continues at North and Lincoln High Schools, Jurupa Community and Grindstaff Community Centers, YMCA Youth Opportunity Center, and Van Horn Youth Facility.

Riverside Community Health Foundation has established a community-based peer to peer education program that aims at improving the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, with an emphasis on preventing pregnancy, STDs/HIV/AIDS, and violence. The program uses a combination of lectures, interactive exercises and structured group processes to promote awareness, provide information, and offer opportunities to reflect on the impact of teen pregnancy prevention. In 2007, we opened two teen clinics, one at the Mark T. Williams Arlanza Family Health Center and the other at the Eastside Health Center.

Each year, the goal is to recruit approximately twenty youth volunteers and train them as peer educators. Peer educators live in the neighborhood where the program’s activities are developed. Although this year we were limited in graduating Peer to Peer educators, we were nonetheless fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated young volunteers, who engaged wholeheartedly and promoted the overall goals of the program. Nicki, age 18, is one of them: "This program was an excellent way for me to show my skills in the discussion groups in Project t.e.a.m. and Teen Clinic. The skills I learned allowed me to turn real life experiences into a platform for leading discussion groups with the youth we had in class.

Current planning about the program will ensure its future sustainability. We are currently formulating alliances with community institutions like clinics, schools, and neighborhood associations. The success of any peer-based education program is determined, in large part, by the skills and commitment of the individual youth peer educators who participates in the program. We are working on growing participation by increasing the number of programs available to train Peer to Peer in other areas around the City of Riverside, in order to accomplish this goal. The commitment of the program’s facilitators is undeniable, and their message to the youth, a powerful one: "I believe in you!" is Peer to Peer facilitator Deborah Myers Norys’ message to every young person.

RCHF’s commitment to the well-being of Riverside’s Youth is manifest not only within its own programs but also in its strong partnerships with other entities similarly dedicated. “Youth are at such a crossroads in their life and they are often making decisions that could affect them for their entire life!”—Bridgette Canson, Supervisor, Riverside County Department of Adolescent Services.

A multi-agency coalition of some 12 participants, RCOYC strives to raise teen pregnancy awareness as well as address other teen issues. "Teen pregnancy affects futures—not only the future of the teens themselves, but also the future of their children. One organization alone--or even a few organizations and agencies working together--isn’t enough to deal with such a large issue. Most local agencies providing pregnancy prevention services are only funded for a limited time, and when that funding ends, so do many of the programs and services they offer. For any effort to be truly sustainable, members of the community must also be invested in addressing the issue of teen pregnancy and be willing to help in any way they can."--Dr. Michael Matthews, Evaluation and Research Consultant, Nexus Consulting.

RCOY met for a two-part presentation on November 15, 2007 at the Zacatecas Café, on the Eastside. Following a successful format previously used within the Arlanza community, the session was facilitated by health educator Clara Huertas, of Planned Parenthood. Topics ranged from family values, sex, reproductive anatomy, psychological and sexual development of children, abstinence, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and birth control, thus providing parents in attendance with a broad base of information regarding their teens’ development. Such educational opportunities for parents as well as community members at large, is a crucial approach to successfully mentor some 3,921 of Riverside’s youth, and the Communication Between Parents and Children class, for instance, opens doors to questions that parents themselves have about these important issues.