In a recent study conducted by the University of Colorado, it was discovered that 65 percent of eighth and ninth graders who have been involved in some way with the child welfare system in the Denver area have never received education about birth control.
With our foster care system here in the United States already being so full of other problems, this is definitely not one that can be afforded to the mix. Proper sexual education and resources must be attainable by all young adults, but especially for those who are statistically more at risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, such as children who grow up in the foster care system.
Children who grow up in the foster care system report first having sex two years younger on average than other young people. Without having experienced proper sexual education, this is especially problematic. With proper sex education, these statistics will probably be lower. However, without the necessary education, the numbers will most likely continue to rise.
With 40 percent of children in foster care reported to be homeless within 18 months of leaving the system, and 97 percent of these young adults immediately enduring chronic poverty, the majority of children in the foster care system are unfortunately set up for a poor quality of life. Now, imagine these odds when considering a child who is born into the foster care system with a teen parent. Not only do these choices affect the young parent, but they affect the child as well.
This is sadly the case for about half of the women in the U.S. child welfare system. Young people in the system are 2.5 times more likely to get pregnant at an early age, and around half of the young women in foster care are pregnant by 19. These young mothers not only have to be in the system themselves but their children are typically put into the system as well, inevitably enduring the same hardships of their young parents before them.
Due to the severe financial, and traumatic circumstances that children who grow up in the foster care system face, this is incredibly concerning. With odds like this, there is a higher probability that these children will suffer even more consequences than those that are already extremely present within the foster care system if they become pregnant, or contract a sexually transmitted disease.
Around 65 percent of teens in foster care who were interviewed say that they have never been taught about family planning or birth control. Almost 40 percent say there is a high chance of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. Though almost half think there is a high chance of contracting an STD, these teens are still majorly at risk considering their lack of sexual education.
On average, girls were more likely to have received information about birth control, as well as be more concerned about the risks of having unprotected sex than boys. In order for these percentages to lower, it is essential that both girls and boys are educated on birth control, family planning and the risks of having unprotected sex.
With all this in mind, it is important to note that there have been efforts made to increase access to birth control and sex education within Colorado. However, with these statistics, it is safe to say that these efforts are not reaching everyone.
Though the efforts have reduced abortion rates, and access to contraception for teen girls has raised, this still isn’t enough progress in the right direction. Especially when considering the fact that birth control is free and accessible to women in Colorado, and the fact that state and federal funds provide free and low-cost IUDs, there is no reason why this should be happening.
I believe that we need to make more clear efforts to establish proper sexual education for both girls, and for boys within the U.S. child welfare system. Without this, we will continue to create a pattern of children who have to grow up in these already unfortunate circumstances. Accessibility to these basic human resources is essential for all, especially these children who are clearly at risk.
Not only do children who grow up in the foster care system already have traumatic circumstances that they must live with, but they also miss out on many opportunities that other children have. Birth control, access to it, and proper education on it is not something that should be added to this list. Ideally, we would like to see these children overcome their pasts. With their lack of accessibility and knowledge on birth control and sexual education, we are further establishing a pattern for these children to continue having a poor quality of life.
