By Addie Rising, SHARECharlotte.com, a free, easy and local website that makes it easy to learn about and engage with our local nonprofits.
Parenting teen and tween girls on a good day is hard work. I know. I have two. Providing a safe, loving environment while allowing our children the freedom to learn, grow and mature is no easy task and yet sometimes our teens will make undesirable choices in spite of our efforts. And as difficult as my days can seem, I feel so much for those teens who don’t have proper parental guidance to help them make good choices.
May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. In 2014 there were nearly 1,000 babies born to mothers aged 15-19 in Mecklenburg County1. While the teen pregnancy rate continues to drop throughout the United States2, there is still room for improvement. “The United States has made remarkable progress in reducing both teen pregnancy and racial and ethnic differences, but the reality is, too many American teens are still having babies,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a statement last week. “By better understanding the many factors that contribute to teen pregnancy we can better design, implement, evaluate, and improve prevention interventions and further reduce disparities.”
In Charlotte, there are resources for adolescent and young women who need assistance and that is a wonderful thing.
Florence Crittenton Services was established by Charlotte civic religious leaders in 1903 to provide a safe place and understanding, rather than condemnation, for single, pregnant women. Today, Florence Crittenton Services’ mission is to promote health and hope for tomorrow’s children by providing comprehensive health, educational and social services for single pregnant and non-pregnant adolescents, women and their families. Florence Crittenton Services provides housing, education and support for those in need and in turn, we support their work.
To learn more about Florence Crittenton Service and its over 100 years of service in Charlotte, visit SHARECharlotte.com. Here you will also find Florence Crittenton Services’ Wish List if you would like to donate products to this wonderful organization that serves girls right here in our community.
Provide Meals – Prepare or bring in a meal and dine with residents for a weeknight dinner or weekend lunch. A group representative is required to meet with the volunteer coordinator and tour the facility and kitchen in advance of the activity.
Babysitting – Provide childcare for infants and/or children in Florence Crittenton Services residential Mother-Child Program, Sarah’s House, while moms attend classes/activities, do homework, go to work or run errands. Sarah’s House moms have a “Mother’s Afternoon Out” once a month on a weekend day.
1. Shift NC –
2. Teen Pregnancy Rates Hit Historic Lows, CDC Finds
