By Kim Van Meter
February 19, 2003

Delhi resident Cynthia Martinez is the mother of three children, with a fourth on the way – and she’s 19 years old.

According to a recent study by the Public Policy Institute of California, stories like Martinez’s are not uncommon – in fact, they are on the rise in the San Joaquin Valley.

Although teen birth rates have fallen dramatically in California over the past decade, the PPIC found the San Joaquin Valley has the highest rates in California, with the Latina population leading the pack, followed closely by African-American teenage mothers in the 15-19 age range. Stanislaus County gained the distinction of having the lowest numbers of teen pregnancies in the region, but efforts to lower the numbers ever still are the main concern of many area agencies.

The Modesto Pregnancy Center, which is funded through faith-based organizations, is promoting abstinence to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

“We aren’t against sex, explained Lori Swanson, community education director, “but we try to teach that the safest place for sex is in a faithfully monogamous relationship, such as marriage.”

Though sensible, sometimes the message of abstinence falls on deaf ears, especially when coming from an environment that is rife with poverty, drugs, and alcohol – such as that of Martinez’s.

“My mom had me when she was 15, and she lost custody of me when I was born.” Said Martinez, who was born to a mother who abused heroin and was raised by her grandparents. “And I got pregnant the first time at 13.”

Martinez admits she didn’t know anything about sex or the consequences of sex until it was too late.

“I was only 13 and at that age you just want to go out and have fun.” She said.

In an attempt to reach kids at critical stages in their life, some agencies, such as the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency advocates education rather that abstinence.

“Kids are going to have sex,” Said Cleopathia Moore, assistant director of HSA. “We try to address the issue on multiple fronts, and we work with all the groups that have contact with young adults.”

Moore said one of the primary issues many young adults face is the lack of a role model at home who can help kids create goals for themselves.

“Role models are non-existent anymore,” she said. “Kids get up go to school and come home again, but there isn’t anyone around for them to ask questions. Most parents are uncomfortable with talking about their body parts.”

Maintaining open lines of communication between parents and their children rates as one of the most effective ways of curtailing the prevalence of teen pregnancy, said Moore, as she advised parents to resist “freaking” out over sexual topics.

“Seek out opportunities to talk with them.” She said.

Martinez agreed that education might have made a difference in her choice to become a mother when she was still only a child herself. When asked what advice she would offer to other young girls who think having a baby is fun, she shakes her head sadly. “It’s different when they are someone else’s – you can give them back. I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t old enough to work, but I had a baby.”

Moore said kids don’t realize when they decide to have a baby that the financial consequences are staggering.

Martinez can attest to the financial strain, and the emotional toll it takes to try to make ends meet on a stringent budget of $600.00 a month – the amount she receives from social services. Most of the money goes toward paying rent on the bedroom she shares with her children. Her 2-year old daughter Danielle was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis last year and her 5-year-old son Luiz has asthma.

“Kids automatically assume their kids are going to be fine when they are born, but each one of my kids has been to the emergency room at least once,” said Martinez, wiping at her eyes. “I was only 16 when I found out that my daughter has a life expectancy of 18. I stopped being a kid that day.”

Both camps, those advocating abstinence and those advocating education agree keeping the kids in school is paramount. Many kids, such as Martinez, drop out of school when they become pregnant.

“We need to keep emphasizing the need for these kids to go to college,” said Swanson.

“I wanted to go back to school, but I didn’t have anyone to watch Luiz,” said Martinez, who regrets only making it to the 11th grade. “It makes me feel dumb because I have a reading disability and I am learning things right along with my son.

According to Swanson, the Modesto Pregnancy Center talked with 4,000 teens all over Stanislaus County in different programs last year.

Moore said the HSA offers a program to the siblings of pregnant teens, which focuses on education as well as giving much needed attention to the ones in the background.

Each has a different philosophy but all agree – giving kids the chance to experience their childhood as children rather than parents is the most important goal

Reprinted by permission of the Turlock Journal.