1. Counseling Pregnant/Teen Moms
The Role of School Counselors and
Creating Effective Small Group
Counseling
Natalie Spencer

2. Goals of Presentation
• Participants will learn…
• Fast Facts
• Adolescent Development
• I’m a Counselor... What Can I do?
• Where to start
• Forming the Group
• Outside Resources

3. Why We’re Here!
• Help Counselors Better Understand Teen
Pregnancy
• Help Counselors Identify and provide
appropriate counseling for pregnant teens.

4. National Fast Facts
• The United States has the
highest teenage pregnancy rate
of all developed countries.

5. National Fast Facts
• In the United States, the teen
pregnancy rate is more than nine
times higher than the Netherlands,
nearly four times higher than the rate
in France, and nearly five times higher
than that in Germany.

6. National Fast Facts
• About 1 million teenagers become
pregnant each year; 95% of those
pregnancies are unintended, and
almost one third end in abortion.

7. More to Feel Good About
National Teen Birth Rates, 1940-2005
(number of births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19)
From 1940 to 1957, the teen birth rate increased 78% to a record high. The birth rate dropped fairly
steadily from the end of the 1950s through the mid-1980s, but then increased 23% between 1986 and 1991.
Between 1991 and 2005*, the teen birth rate decreased 35% to a record low of 40.4 in 2005. *Data for
2005 are preliminary.
120
100
96.3
80
61.8
60
54.1 50.2
40
40.4
20
0
1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005*
Ventura, S.J., Mathews, T.J, & Hamilton, B.E. (2001). Births to Teenagers in the United States: 1940-2000. National Vital Statistics Reports, 49(10).; Hamilton, B.E., Martin, J.A.,
& Ventura, S.J. (2006). Preliminary Data for 2005. Health E-Stats. Released November 21, 2006.
Teenpregnancy.org.

8. Fast Facts
Everyday in North Carolina
51
Teenagers Become
Pregnant
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina

9. More North Carolina Facts
• Nearly 29% of the pregnancies
to girls 19 and under were
repeat pregnancies.
• North Carolina has the ninth
highest teen pregnancy rate in
the US.
• Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina

10. More North Carolina Facts
• Teen pregnancy cost North
Carolina $312,000,000 in 2004.
• The number of 10-14 year old
girls who became pregnant in
the year 2005 could fill nine
school buses.
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina

11. More North Carolina Facts
• The teen pregnancy rate in
North Carolina declined 30 %
between 1991 and 2004
Teenpregnancy.org

12. More North Carolina Facts
• The total number of North Carolina teens aged 15-19
who were pregnant in 2006 was 19,192.
• That number includes both married and unmarried
females. Nearly 29 percent of those pregnancies were
to girls who had been pregnant at least once before.
The number of 10 to14-year-olds who were pregnant
last year was 405.
Teenpregnancy.org

13. Adolescent Development
Early Adolescence (13-14 years):
Begin to question parents values.
Are often moody.
Form closer friendships.
Realize parents are not perfect; identity faults.
Follow interests and clothing style of their peer
group.

14. Video
• Teen Pregnancy Video- Media Influence-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-
oPzjUW8Nc

15. Adolescent Development
Middle Adolescence (14-17 years):
Become self-involved, alternating between unrealistically high
expectations and poor self-concept.
Complain that parents interfere with independence.
Are extremely concerned with appearance and with their
bodies.
Have a lower opinion of parents; withdraw emotionally
from them and form sense of identity from peer group.

16. Teens at Risk
Health Concerns:
Teen mothers are in jeopardy
psychologically because they experience
higher levels of stress, despair,
depression, feelings of helplessness, low
self esteem, a sense of personal failure
Jorgensen, S.R.(1993). Pregnancy and parenting. In T.P. Gullota, G.R. Adams, and R. Montemayer (Eds.), Advances in adolescent
development(Vol.5)(pp. 103-140). Newbury Park,CA::Sage

17. Teens at Risk
• Only one-third of teen mothers receive a high
school diploma.
• Less than half of mothers (40%) who have a
child before they turn 18 ever graduate from
high school.
• Parenthood is leading cause of
school drop out among teen girls.
www.teenpregnancy.org

18. Starting a Group
• Why start a group?
• How can a small group help?
• Will the students be interested in a
group?

19. Starting a Group
• Seek Approval from Principal
• Contact School Nurse
• Develop letter to send home
• Get approval from parents
• Take advantage of community
resources

20. Starting a Group
• Meet with interested group
members
• Notify teachers
• Review attendance and academic
performance

21. Group Activities
• Goals – Long Term and Short
Term
• Weekly Reflection
• Building Confidence

22. Group Activities
• Healthy Relationships- parents,
child’s father, classmates
• Stress Management – school, job,
baby
• What Does the Future Look Like?
College? Work? Etc??

23. Group Resources
• Take advantage of community resources –
SAFEchild
• County Health Department
• School Nurse
• Child Development Class
• Grandparent volunteer
• Local Library

24. Now What?
• Email or contact School Nurse to identify
students in case load.
• Meet students. Ask them how they are doing.
• Check in with teachers.
• Check in with parents.

25. Becoming Better Mom/Teen Parent
Group
• Group held in May
• Six girls participated in group
• Children ranged in age

26. Becoming Better Mom/Teen Parent
Group
• Students knew each other
• Provided Support
• Outcome- teachers reactions, attendance,
outcome

27. Your Stories
• How does the school counselor assist
pregnant teens/teen mothers?
• Have you had a unique experience assisting a
pregnant teen/teen mom?
• Was it difficult or rewarding?
• What else can we do?

28. Resources
Great Websites
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North
Carolina
http://www.appcnc.org/
North Carolina Department of Health and
Human Services
http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/local

29. Websites
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition
of North Carolina
www.appcnc.org
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
www.teenpregnancy.org

30. The End!
Thank You!!!!
Please contact if you have any
questions!
Natalie Spencer
nspencer@wcpss.net