Science Says
Foster Care Youth
Lucy Mackey Bilaver, Mark E. Courtney
2006
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy asked Chapin Hall to drill down into its ongoing study of youth aging out of foster care to examine the pregnancy, birth rates, and sexual behavior of youth in the child welfare system. The analysis reveals disproportionately high rates of sexual activity, pregnancy, and parenthood among these youth when compared to all teens, and those who age out of the child welfare system experience higher rates of pregnancy than older adolescents who remain in care.