ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 31, 1996 TAG: 9605310060
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETH MACY STAFF WRITER
NOTE: Above
After two years of arguing, analyzing and anguishing, the Roanoke City Manager's Task Force on Teen Pregnancy presented a 26-point list of recommendations for tackling the issue.
The proposal, unveiled at a town meeting Thursday night, featured some far-reaching - and divisive - elements, including providing teens with better access to birth control and stronger family-life education, and enhancing day-care opportunities for teen mothers.
No one spoke out at the meeting, which attracted just 40 residents.
"What I hope it means is that the community's ready to put personal feelings aside and say, `Let's help these kids,''' said task force co-chairwoman Debbie Henderson, a Roanoke social worker.
"We believe that abstinence is No.1, but we've also got to have a safety net for those who don't follow that," she said.
Roanoke had the highest teen pregnancy rate in Virginia in 1991 among 15-to 19-year-olds.
While it no longer bears that distinction, the city's rate is still twice the state average, with 437 teen pregnancies in 1994.
Among 10-to 14-year-olds in Roanoke, the trend has worsened with 19 pregnancies in 1994, a rate three times the state average.
Pulling some innovative ideas from other communities - and strengthening some of the local programs already shown to be effective - the task force suggested:
* Creating neighborhood centers where groups and agencies could provide services such as family planning, job training and food stamps.
"It will be a real challenge to rethink how we deliver services," said City Manager Bob Herbert, adding that public schools and other buildings already in existence could be used. "Having central locations may be a thing of the past."
* Developing an interjurisdictional council to oversee all prevention planning for youth, including teen pregnancy, school truancy and dropouts, substance abuse and other risk factors.
"The idea here is to study all the programs, identify gaps, and seek funding," said Kathy LaMotte, the city's teen pregnancy prevention coordinator.
* Changing evidence laws in statutory rape cases so fathers of children born to teens can be more easily identified. Nationally, more than half of the fathers of children born to teen mothers are older than 20.
* Making day care more available to children of teen moms to bridge the gap in services between school-based infant care and Head Start.
* Involving the business community in prevention programs, outlining the economic and social effects of teen pregnancy.
* Improving school attendance, academic achievement, peer-counseling programs and family-life education.
"The messages we have been hearing from the students is that they want and need to know more," said Ann Harman, the schools' executive for student services and alternative programs.
* Strengthening neighborhoods by working with religious and neighborhood groups to foster a greater sense of community.
Funding for the proposals was not detailed. But city officials said they hope to secure grants from the state and federal governments and foundations.
Deadlines for having the various strategies in place range from this fall to 1998.
The task force is inviting further public comment on the recommendations.
Feedback sessions have been scheduled for June 11 and June 25 at 7 p.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center Exhibit Hall.
To receive a copy of the full report, call the Office of Human Development at 981-2302.
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) LaMotte. color.by CNB