TEXAS ASSOCIATION CONCERNED WITH SCHOOL AGE PARENTHOOD The mission of this corporation is to increase public awareness about issues related to school age pregnancy and parenthood and to facilitate networking among health care, education and social service professionals as well as elected officials, community leaders, religious leaders and other individuals and groups who share this concern. This corporation will provide a forum in which people will come together to share ideas and develop strategies for both the prevention of school age pregnancy and for greater coordination of state and local support services for pregnant and parenting youths in Texas. It shall be the policy of this corporation to support and strengthen the family as a Social Institution and to develop and foster the necessary support systems for solving the problems and meeting the needs related to school age parenthood.

Addressing Issues of School Age Parenthood for 30 Years 2007 TACSAP Conference Thank you for making the 2007 TACSAP conference a success. This year’s TACSAP conference, Putting the Pieces Together, was held November 4-6 at the Doubletree hotel in San Antonio. The conference gathered 200 PEP coordinators, school counselors, school administrators, and direct service providers to discuss the research, best practices, and current issues effecting teenage pregnancy and parenting in Texas. The evaluation of the event has been very positive and the TACSAP board has already begun the planning for next year’s conference. Putting the Pieces Together would not have been possible without the support of the Bexar County School Age Parenting Network, Norwood Industries, and all the speakers who so generously gave of their time and energy to make this year’s conference a success. For information on the 2008 conference Click Here Bexar County School Age Parenting Network For additional conference photos Click Here Teen Birth Rates Since 1991, the teen birth rate has been on a steady decline; however a recent report by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows that there was a 3% increase in the U.S teen birth rates for 2006, and as you might be able to guess, Texas was at the top of that list. This is of course highlighted by the other dubious Texas statistic-- 24% of all children born to teens in Texas were a second child--the highest rates of secondary births to teens in the US. Many of you have been touting these birth rate changes through your experience in the field; having seen an increase in the number of teens seeking your services while being asked to do so with less funding. TACSAP recognizes the importance of your front line efforts of teen parenting services can change the direction that Texas is heading. In response to this pressing social issue, TACSAP, in the upcoming year will provide you, its members, with information on programs that work, champion the crucial role you play, leverage our statewide representation to be a voice of change, and find new ways to support the work you do. Resources: USA Today Article, CDC Report, Healthy Teen Network, National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy