Economy
School For Pregnant Teens Cheaper Than Welfare?
March 9, 2010 
We’re going to take a big step and post the following information which comes from Andy Hedden-Nicely, a one time Democrat politico for the U.S. senate, and one time founder of the Boise WEEKLY. As with any one-sided post from outside the GUARDIAN fold, we will gladly accept opposing views of approximately the same length.
Hedden-Nicely noted state budget cuts to education and says, “Debi is the Head Teacher at the Marian Pritchard School for Pregnant Teens. This school is a Boise Public High School and its fate will be determined by the Trustees of the Boise Public Schools.”
“Teen Pregnancy and Parenting Fact Sheet”
- About 50% of our students come from outside the Boise School District each year;
- We serve between 65 and 90 students per year;
- Without our school, students would have to drop out of school one to two semesters due to maternity leave and not being able to place a child in day care prior to 6 week immunizations;
- Generally after being gone as short a time as three weeks post partum, students will drop out, whereas if they return in 2 weeks as we do, they are more likely to stay in school;
- Without an on campus day care facility, students cannot immediately return to school, the drop out rate goes up;
- Teens who choose to parent will not get the parenting education needed to be a successful parent at a traditional school;
- Our school can offer bed rest options, otherwise students have to dropout during a extra complicated pregnancy;
- Teen pregnancies are considered medically high risk;
- We can house students 18 to 21 years old for 90 days, and by April 1, 2010 can house them up to 2 years;
- This is a non judgmental environment, students who try to re-enter regular high school end up coming back;
- We have students who attend 3-4 years up to graduation;
- Peer mentoring occurs;
- When post partum depression triggers non attendance, we can track this and the social worker can assist family with mental health care;
- In the smaller “program” model, the school and parents are more closely allied in making sure the student attends and stays in school;
- Teen pregnancy and parenting: 50% dropout rate, 80% chance will live in poverty without education–http://www.sdhdidaho.org/hpro/app_risk.php
- 85% to 87% graduation rate, 95% of our seniors have post secondary plans;
- Comprehensive approach to teen pregnancy/parenting is best educational practices;
Total welfare package for 1 year: $986,940; times, on average 10 years of Welfare Benefits or more = $ 9,869,400
- TAFI (Cash assistance) – $309/month X 45 persons X 12 months = $166,860
- Medicaid – $8,000 X 45 persons = $360,000 (not including complicated neonatal care)
- Food Stamps – Average family of three, $300/month X 45 persons X 12 months = $162,000
- Idaho Child Care Program (Day care assistance) – $552/month X 45 persons X 12 = $298,080
Each year it costs the Idaho Legislature just $525,000 to educate up to 90 students versus the almost $1 million it costs to have them on welfare. And, the students are finished with school in half the time that they will probably be on welfare.
EDITOR NOTE–We haven’t checked the author’s numbers, but on the face of it, we are disappointed to see the facility close–if it does.
To insure more advertising-free Boise Guardian news, please consider financial support.
Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Mar 10, 2010, 9:33 am
I had a huge ‘ol rant typed up about sex-ed in this State, but it was getting pretty long-winded and off topic, so I scrapped it for this: Providing access to quality education, regardless of circumstances, is one of the biggest things a government can do improve lives. Like it or not, people are sexually mature (physiologically speaking) by about age 16 or so, and regardless of what kind of sex-ed they get, at least some teen-age girls are going to end up pregnant. We can either shame them, shun them, and essentially condemn them and their unborn children to a life of poverty, or we can support them and do what we’re able to help them succeed. The Booth School is a vital resource and I would hate to see it closed or scaled back.
Mar 10, 2010, 10:23 am
It seems a very innovative program.
Mar 10, 2010, 12:40 pm
Timm makes good points. But no mention of the adoption alternative.
My dad was an ob/gyn here in Boise for many years, and did a lot of volunteer work at this facility; back then it was the Booth Memorial Hospital. There used to be a stigma attached to unwed motherhood (I’d say parenthood, but the male contributor to the situation doesn’t get the “credit” he deserves). That stigma was a motivating factor in a lot of girls in bad situations giving up their children for adoption into loving and financially-secure families.
It may or may not be a good thing that the stigma is no longer there in many cases… but a child being raised by an uneducated single welfare mom is not a good situation in anybody’s book.
Mar 10, 2010, 5:54 pm
Thank you BikeBoy for the mention of the male contributor. To read about these unplanned pregnancies one would think they are all immaculate conceptions. What ever happens to the babies – kept by the mother, or adopted – the father should have to take some financial responsibility for costs to the mother, or the state or county.
Mar 10, 2010, 8:06 pm
I would call everyone’s attention to the article in today’s DAILY entitled: “Lawmakers advance bill to ease statutory rape law.” Link: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/03/10/1112808/lawmakers-advance-bill-to-ease.html
This bill sponsored by Rep. Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, would lower the statutory rape laws for adolescent males accused of having sex with girls younger than 18 years old (16 would be the new standard.) The Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association opposes the change.
I think this bill bears discussion and comments to Rep. Hill. It is germane to the above discussion.
These are my questions:
1. Where is parental responsibilty for ensuring the safety of children, including teenagers?
2. How will law enforcement officers determine if a 16-year-old female is just crying rape or gave consent to an adult male (happens.)
3. Will the law apply to 16-year-old boys who are raped or have consensual sex with adolescent males or adult males?
4. Since Rep. Hill seems to think 16-year-old girls are of the age of consent for sex, will he next introduce a bill to lower the age of consent for drinkin’ and smokin’ and carousing and textin’ and shootin’ arrows in cats and dogs and ducks heads, etc., ad nausem.
I would propose a new law to raise the bar for legislative seats in the “people’s house.”
I am restraining myself from using any language that would be construed as BAD in another stellar law under consideration.
Oh, BTW, Where are the jobs? Go home solons and sleep on it!
Mar 10, 2010, 11:16 pm
Ok, the “cry rape” thing? Doesn’t happen anywhere near the level people assume it does. What we actually have is a “not crying rape” problem. According to research by David Lisak (U Mass-Boston) “Approximately 85% of rape victims do not report their victimization to criminal justice authorities. Of the 15% who do report, it is estimated that perhaps 10% result in the filing of charges, and perhaps 40% of those cases result in some sort of conviction.” So out of 1000 rapes, we have about 150 reports resulting in charges against 15 people and maybe 6 of them actually getting convicted of something (tho not necessarily rape or an equivalent charge). So let’s put concerns of people “crying rape” out of our minds; it’s not the epidemic here.
Second, this bill I have mixed feelings about. One the one hand, I think laws recognizing the simple fact the teens have sex and not criminalizing them for it is good. On the other hand I’m disappointed (tho not surprised) that Hill’s rationale behind the reform was less “We need to seriously reexamine the law and how it relates to sex, sexuality and sexual development” and more “But what about the mens?!” Way to champion the underdog, jackass.
Now, Kappa’s questions in turn.
1. The decision of when and with whom a person first has sex with is one of the very first truly adult decisions that children will make completely on their own; they’re probably not going to discuss their choice of sexual partners with their parents. As such parents need to ensure that their children have all the information they need to make safe sexual decisions even if those decisions are not what the parent would choose for them! This includes things like discussing waiting until marriage or you’re with partner who loves and respects you, discussing not having sex because your peers or your partner are pressuring you into it, what to do if you find yourself in a sexually unsafe situation or relationship, what to do should you be sexually assaulted in some way, to know their own bodies and boundaries and to respect the boundaries of others. They need to teach their sons not to rape women. To not be afraid to assert and be proud of their sexual choices, to not allow themselves to shamed for their choices (there’s a lot of shame both ways, especially for girls; you’re either a slut or a prude) If they decide to engage in consensual sex, then they need to know about safer-sex options, such as oral sex or mutual masturbation (recognizing that these and other acts still have their own risks), if they decide to engage in penetrative sex, they need to know about condoms (male and female) how to properly apply them for maximum efficacy, their risks and limits and that it’s not illegal for minors to buy them. They need to know about dental dams and hormonal birth control options, how they work and what their limits are, what their options are should birth control fail or they have a lapse in use of birth control. Where to get testing should they think they’re pregnant or have a disease or infection. They need to know the biology and physiology of sex, not just being able to name the parts but know their function and how they interact, both within a person and between people. Above all, a parent’s responsibility is to make certain that their kids know they can bring any question, concern, worry, thought, whatever about sex to their parents and that they will get straight, honest, factual answers and not punished or made to suffer for their curiosity or choices.
2. First of all, see my point about crying rape, above. Second, this is an asinine question. They would determine this they same way they determine any potential crime where there is conflicting stories: they would conduct an investigation! They speak to the parties involved, collect and examine evidence, talk to witnesses, see where this all leads them and then make a decision. And part of conducting an impartial is suspending judgement until you see where the evidence leads, not by starting out thinking “How can I determine she’s crying rape?” Seriously, Kappa, would you even considering asking this question in any other context? “How will law enforcement officers determine if vandalism has occurred or if a homeowner is trying to scam their insurance company?” or “How will law enforcement officers determine who’s at fault in a physical assault when both parties claim self defense?”
3. I don’t know but would certainly hope so!
4. You should be careful on that slope; it’s slippery.
Mar 11, 2010, 5:45 pm
Interesting topic. First off, I would like to remind all you arm chair patriots the the age of consent at the time our Founding Fathers were putting pen to treasonous paper, was 11 yrs old. God love em. This only applied if you were not a slave or indentured servant.
Also I believe, if a unwed mother files a paternity suit with the state,the biological father is on the hook for child support until the child is 21. This helps keep the mom off welfare.
If boys were taught in the schools what the consequences are for them financially, I think along with good sex ed w/o the B.S. we might get somewhere. Kids can smell the moralist ed crap a mile away. We need to be honest with kids.
Mar 12, 2010, 2:51 pm
Good blog, Dog…
When I was young underage women (I don’t remember the age – this was in the sixties) were called “jail bait.”
Filing a paternity suit is a great idea. Now that we have DNA testing we shouldn’t have false claims.