State initiative seeks to cut Nevada’s teen pregnancy rate by a third

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000 | 10:48 a.m.

Human Resources Director Charlotte Crawford says the plan follows a 1996 effort to cut the rate from 63 per 1,000 teens to 50 by 2000. The rate actually dropped to 48 pregnancies per 1,000.

But Crawford said Nevada continues to have the nation's highest teen pregnancy rate, and the goal for the new program is a rate of no more than 35 per 1,000 adolescent females.

In a recent report, state officials pledged to continue the effort to prevent teen pregnancy.

"This goal will be accomplished through efforts conducted at multiple levels - state, county and community - with the assistance of youth," said HRD spokeswoman Heidi Sakelarios.

She added that developing a support network is part of a five-year plan to "get in touch with what the kids are like in the community."

"Additionally, the family must get involved and get the parents to talk to their kids, and talking with their kids about sexuality," she said.

Sakelarios noted the governor's youth council was started in 1996, and helped get ideas from teenagers.

"They've been a help and a tremendous resource," Sakelarios said. "They've given us feedback on the radio and television spots that have been developed."