The United States is in a state of emergency with the teenage population;
children are having babies and are dealing with the side effects of sexually
transmitted infections, abortions, depression and self- esteem issues, bullying,
and suicide. Youth who have been in foster care are also more likely to have sex
at a young age and to experience forced sex, an unintended or non-martial
birth, and a sexually transmitted infection (STI).4

Helping youth in foster care avoid early pregnancy and parenthood can improve
their likelihood for a successful transition from the foster care system,
educational attainment, and acquiring stable employment. Youth in foster care
face unique circumstances that must be taken into account in developing
strategies to help them delay early pregnancy and childbearing. 4

Crossroad House Girls provides prevention and outreach services that raise
awareness associated with the consequences of teens engaging in early sexual
activity and empower teens to make good decisions to help promote positive
outcomes in their lives. A supportive, secure living environment is the second
component of the program; this component provides housing for pregnant or
parenting teens in the foster care system and give them guidance, stability, and
support. Crossroad House Girls provides specific services that can help teen
moms thrive; services include: parenting skills trainings, childcare, career
planning, health and nutritional counseling, and assistance with applications for
transitional housing.  Parenting or pregnant foster care teens need the
opportunity to establish interpersonal skills and educational / career paths,
which will help them, transition into and successfully manage adult/ parenthood. 3

There are very few housing options for pregnant and parenting teens; foster
care workers cannot ensure that the teen mother and her child will be placed
together in a foster home. 2 Crossroad House Girls is one of a few homes in
Arkansas that are physically able to accommodate the teen mom and child.
Because of this, many teen moms are separated from their children for months
at a time and later expected to bond with their child. It is not a perfect system,
but Crossroad House Girls offers a healthy solution. Pregnancy rates are higher
among teens in foster care compared to teens not in the foster care system;
consequently, teens in foster care are more likely to engage in unprotected sex
compared to teens that are not in foster care. 1
Prevention & Outreach Program
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1 Carpenter, S., & Clyman, R., Davidson, A., & Steiner, J. (2001). The association of foster and kinship care
with adolescent sexual behavior and pregnancy, Pediatrics, 108(3), 46.

2 Hulsey, L. K., Wood, R. G., Rangarajan, A. (2005). The implementation of maternity group home programs:
Serving pregnant and parenting teens in a residential setting final report. Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy
Research.

3 Richardson, N. M. (2009). Pregnant and parenting teens in foster care in Fresno County California: Who are
they and how can we help? Fresno, CA: Fresno County Department of Children and Family Services.

4 The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. (2009, July). Fast facts: Reproductive
health outcomes of youth who ever lived in foster care. Retrieved February 27, 2012, from
http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/FastFacts_FosterCare_Reproductive_ Outcomes. pdf.
Ruth's Room of Loyalty
Elizabeth's Nursery
Dr. Dale Fuller, Ob/Gyn, Resource Room
Our foster home accepts pregnant or parenting
teens (ages 12-16) who are in the foster care
system with children ages 0-6 months.