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Teen pregnancy prevention programs in North Carolina take a wide variety of approaches toward lowering adolescent pregnancy rates. Outdoor recreation, theater groups, individual mentoring and free classes are only a handful of the avenues prevention programs have taken in recent years.
Many teen mothers, however, have their own ideas about what types of prevention tactics would be most effective.

Megan Lambert, 17, says that if she could start any school prevention program, she would offer a sex ed class where teens would experience a virtual pregnancy for a week.

Girls would wear nine-month-pregnant fake bellies during the school day and watch a video of labor, while boys would be given jobs around the school such as picking up trash or running errands for teachers.

"I'd have them actually feel what it was like to be pregnant," Megan says.

Brittany O'Daniel, 17, suggests offering free birth control and increasing the amount of advertising for contraceptives, while Kaya Lambert, 17, offers the idea of walk-in clinics where teens could receive birth control and pregnancy help without having to make an appointment.

Ashleigh Graham, 15, says that a peer mentoring program would be most effective; teen mothers could talk to other teens individually and share with them the realities of teen parenthood.

"I'd rather talk to a girl one-on-one," Ashleigh says. "She would relate to me because I've been through a lot of stuff in my life."

Thomasville High School officials have integrated a peer education program known as Teen PEP into the academic curriculum.

The program consists of 15-20 students each year who take a class that allows them to meet daily and learn how to lead group discussions, be positive role models for other youth, and carry out prevention workshops with their peers.

The class performs skits and talks to the rest of the student body about pregnancy prevention.

Many teen mothers know what guidance they would give other girls their age.

"Wait until you get stable in your own home, until you finish school," Ashleigh says. "Just wait, basically. Once the baby comes, you're not going to be able to do what you used to do."

"Don't trust anybody but yourself," Kaya says. "If I had listened to myself, I probably wouldn't be in this situation. Respect your body. Most girls don't."

Peer mentoring can serve as more than just a prevention strategy.

Support groups like the Adolescent Parenting Program (APP) can help teens who are pregnant or have already had children learn effective parenting techniques, avoid repeat pregnancies and stay in high school.

In this kind of peer-mentoring environment, teen mothers can share their stories with one another and help each other through the same problems they all face.

For teen mothers, Megan says, believing in oneself is key.

"No matter what anybody tells you or says about you, know in yourself that you can do this," Megan says.

"You can go and get your high school diploma and take care of that baby. Don't let those little things get to you. Just brush them off your shoulder."

Prevention Programs

* Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina, (919) 932-9885
* Alamance County Health Department, 319 N. Graham-Hopedale Road, Burlington, NC 27217, (336) 227-0101
* Guilford Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, 122 N. Elm St., Suite 809, Greensboro, NC 27401, 274-2217
* Women's Resource Center, 1343 S. Main St., Burlington, NC 27215, (336) 227-6900
* Smart Girls. A Guilford County program that attempts to reduce teen pregnancy risk by building self-esteem in young girls and teaching them valuable life skills and values. Integrated into after-school programs, church organizations, and community youth programs. For girls ages 12-14. 845-7720.
* Teen to Teen Theatre. A Burlington theater group composed of 13- to 18 year-olds raising awareness and spreading knowledge among teens about high-risk behaviors such as substance abuse and teen pregnancy. (336) 438-2052.

Teen pregnancy support programs

* Adolescent Parenting Program, 711 Hermitage Road, Burlington, NC 27215, 438-2072
* Women's Hospital of Greensboro, 832-6500
* Planned Parenthood Health Systems, Inc., (800) 230-PLAN
* YWCA of Greensboro, 273-3461
* Guilford Child Development, 378-7700
* Greensboro Pregnancy Care Center, 274-4881
* High Point YWCA Adolescent Parenting Program, 882-4126, Ext. 25.FastFaxn Adolescent Parenting Program, 711 Hermitage Road, Burlington, NC 27215, 438-2072
* Women's Hospital of Greensboro, 832-6500
* Planned Parenthood Health Systems, (800) 230-PLAN
* YWCA of Greensboro, 273-3461
* Guilford Child Development, 378-7700
* Greensboro Pregnancy Care Center, 274-4881
* High Point YWCA Adolescent Parenting Program,
882-4126, Ext. 25.