Reduction in Teen Pregnancy Sought

To reduce teen pregnancy and cultivate parenting skills among teens who already have children, Olive Crest Homes & Services for Abused Children, in partnership with the city, will launch a new program Feb. 1 called “Pathways to Responsibility.”

Officials said three Anaheim neighborhoods have an alarmingly high rate of teen pregnancy, and statistics show the problem to be bigger in the city than in other parts of Orange County.

“Kids are having kids, and we need to do something about it,” said Debbie Moore, Anaheim’s community services supervisor.

Moore said the program will be a partnership of 19 agencies, including the city, Anaheim Union High School District, the county Probation Department and a number of private groups.

“It’s the first time the city is partnering with a nonprofit to promote pregnancy prevention,” Moore said.

Kathy Theemling, Olive Crest’s director of Family Preservation, said the program “is key to the reduction of future domestic violence in our community.”

Theemling said she views the collaboration with “other strong community agencies as a real benefit.”

The three-year program is being funded by a $458,000 state grant to Olive Crest, a nonprofit agency that provides prevention, intervention and family services for children at risk of child abuse and neglect.

All of the services will be provided in Anaheim. The program will be based at George Washington Community Center, with services also provided at Manzanita Park Neighborhood Center, Jeffrey-Lynne Neighborhood Center and Ponderosa Park.

The city’s Community Services Department, Moore said, will set up and operate a mentoring program, education and health services.

“This program is focused on preventing the pregnancy, but it’s also for kids who already are parents,” Moore said.