State leaders announce 10-year goal to reduce N.C. teen pregnancies by 30%

Health and education leaders met Wednesday, Jan. 18, in Chapel Hill to announce a state goal to reduce North Carolina teen pregnancies. The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina released the target of reducing the state’s teen pregnancy rate 30 percent by 2020.
North Carolina’s teen pregnancy rate has declined more than 50 percent since 1990 and experienced the biggest single year-to-year drop last year, according to recently released 2010 data. Despite significant improvements, North Carolina still holds the 14th highest teen pregnancy rate in the United States.
“Oh the heels of such great success, North Carolina needs to keep momentum in reducing teen pregnancy,” said Kay Phillips, executive director of APPCNC. “This goal is intended to help inspire and challenge people to keep working toward effective solutions.”
The state goal has been endorsed by more than 40 organizations, including the North Carolina Pediatric Society, the North Carolina School Boards Association, Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina, the Institute for Emerging Issues and the North Carolina Institute of Medicine.
In addition to announcing the state goal, APPCNC released a report called the North Carolina State of Adolescent Sexual Health and Action Plan. The report details the current extent of health issues in North Carolina as well as concrete steps parents, community leaders, schools and medical professionals can take to make North Carolina’s adolescents healthier.


The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina is a North Carolina nonprofit leader in preventing adolescent pregnancy through advocacy, collaboration and education.
Learn more at www.appcnc.org.