Inside September 28, 2004's Issue

No Teen Plus center--a minus for everyone

State budget cuts for the 2005 fiscal year came as a swift punch in the reproductive organs for many of Georgia's young people. With the $100 million state budget cuts, the Department of Human Resources saw all but five of its 39 teen resource clinics close throughout the state.

As of July 1, more than 200,000 Georgia teenagers were left uninsured and unprotected against pregnancy and disease. Pregnancy and disease will not go away with the funding.

The Bartow County center was one of the lucky five clinics to remain open on state funding. Floyd County's center remains open indefinitely relying on donations and private funding.

The Teen Plus clinics supply reproductive services, including HIV screening, STD testing and treatment, pap smears, pregnancy tests and various forms of contraception, all to teens for a surprisingly low cost. The centers also provide counseling, information about nutrition, substance abuse and domestic violence.

Though the centers do advocate abstinence, they face reality and work with it, which is more than we can say about most squeamish adults.

Ironically, it seems that for the most part, people on both sides of this issue have the same goals: less abortion and STDs. And, ironically, the legislators (primarily of the Republican persuasion) who have taken the funding from this project, are acting themselves like teenagers in heat: They do not think of the consequences of their actions.

According to the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, 16,581 babies were born to girls aged 10-19 in Georgia during 2002. Georgia had the seventh highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation in 2003. Since the centers' induction in 1997, teen pregnancy rates have dropped by as much as a third, varying by county.

Some tax payers do not want to pay the $6 million to fund the centers, but over $550 million will be necessary to pay for the consequences of not having early intervention programs: Medicaid to pay for medical bills during childbirth and infant care, welfare to assist unwed teenage mothers, as well as costs associated with DFCS custody of unwanted babies and foster care.

People argue that since the centers give their patrons, ages 12 to 25, access to emergency contraception, or the �morning after pill,� they are promoting abortion. Not true. The morning after pill is a precautionary measure in the state of, well, emergencies: rape, a condom break, and so on. There is no guarantee that an egg has been fertilized. Pregnancies cause abortion, protected sex does not.

Yes, one can receive reproductive services at the county health departments, but it can sometimes take over a month to get an appointment. When you need a �morning after pill,� you don't have months.

Private practices also offer OB-GYN services. Usually practices can get you an appointment within weeks, but it costs about $150 for the visit, plus additional lab fees for testing. The Teen Plus centers offer pap smears and STD testing for $25 each.

Even if you've never been to any Teen Plus center, this is still your problem. It is your tax money that will pay for foster care for unwanted and unplanned babies. Sexually transmitted diseases spread like a rumor in church. They are not picky, they are not exclusive and they are out to get you.

Front Page | News | Features | Editorials | Opinions | Entertainment | Sports | Poll | Travel Archives | Our Staff | Application | History | F.A.Q.'s

"Notwithstanding any language to the contrary, nothing contained herein constitutes nor is inteded to constitute an offer, inducement, promise, or contract of any kind. The data contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not represented to be wholly accurate.