NOVEMBER 22, 2000

TODAY, THE MARION COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR REQUESTED APPROVAL TO RECEIVE A GRANT FOR $12,663 FOR BIRTH CONTROL FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG GIRLS, IN MARION COUNTY DETENTION.  THESE ARE GIRLS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF MARION COUNTY JUVENILE DEPARTMENT. 

THE MONEY WILL FUND 49 GIRLS WITH BIRTH CONTROL.  THE HEALTH DIRECTOR SAYS THESE GIRLS ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING PREGNANT.

IF THESE 49 GIRLS ARE UNDER JUVENILE SUPERVISION, WHY ARE THEY AT RISK?  IS SUPERVISION INADEQUATE?

THIS RAISES A LOT OF INTERESTING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW OUR JUVENILE DEPARTMENT SUPERVISES, COUNSELS AND EDUCATES YOUNG GIRLS, BUT THE REAL CONCERN OVER THIS ISSUE GOES DEEPER. 

GOVERNMENT WILL INJECT (THE BIRTH CONTROL MANY OF THESE GIRLS RECEIVE IS BY INJECTION) THESE GIRLS WITH DRUGS TO CONTROL THEIR LIVES!

WHAT ARE WE DOING, WHAT ARE WE ALLOWING OUR GOVERNMENT TO DO TO OUR CHILDREN?!

I VOTED NOT TO APPROVE THIS GRANT MONEY WHICH IS ACTUALLY A RENEWAL OF GRANT DOLLARS WE HAVE RECEIVED IN YEARS PREVIOUS FOR THIS SAME “PROGRAM.”  LAST YEAR I VOTED NO AS WELL.  MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS VOTED TO APPROVE IT, SO THE PROGRAM OF PROVIDING BIRTH CONTROL TO YOUNG GIRLS CONTINUES IN MARION COUNTY JUVENILE DEPARTMENT.

NOW, ASIDE FROM THIS GRANT AND OUR JUVENILE DETENTION PROGRAM, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE ISSUE OF TEEN PREGNANCY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.  WE HAVE GAINED TREMENDOUS COMMON GROUND IN THE AREA OF TEEN PREGNANCY.  THERE IS A MUCH GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT BRINGS YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS. 

THROUGH THE TEEN PREGNANCY FORUMS I HAVE CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT MARION COUNTY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS TRULY A COMMUNITY CONCERN.  AND, I APPRECIATE THE FAITHFUL ATTENDANCE OF THE MARION COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL.  WE ARE ALL HEARING THE SAME MESSAGE. 

I BELIEVE WE ALL AGREE THAT CHILDREN HAVING BABIES IS WRONG.  IT IS DESTRUCTIVE TO THE LIVES OF  THESE YOUNG PARENTS.  IT IS DESTRUCTIVE MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY.   BUT THE INDIVIDUAL WITH THE MOST TO LOSE, IS THE BABY.

PROVIDING BIRTH CONTROL TO CHILDREN CAN PREVENT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE CHILDREN FROM HAVING BABIES.  BUT, DOES IT PREVENT THE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND, YES, PHYSICAL HARM THESE CHILDREN EXPERIENCE WHILE CONTINUING SEXUAL ACTIVITY?

THE REAL SOLUTION MUST BE TO REDUCE SEXUAL ACTIVITY. 

WHILE EACH STORY IS DIFFERENT, WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IS THAT THERE IS ONE CONSISTENT THREAD WOVEN THROUGHOUT THESE YOUNG PEOPLES’ STORIES.  THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-ESTEEM. 

THERE IS RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF CARE IN THE PREVENTION TEEN PREGNANCIES AND FOR THE CARE OF BABIES BORN TO TEEN PARENTS.

WE CANNOT GIVE OUR CHILDREN – GIRLS AND BOYS ALIKE – SELF ESTEEM, BUT WE CAN GIVE THEM THE TOOLS TO BUILD IT FOR THEMSELVES.  TEACHING SKILLS THAT HELP THEM BUILD SELF CONFIDENCE.  SKILLS THAT HELP THEM FEEL HOPE FOR THEIR FUTURE. THESE SKILLS GO A LONG WAY TO GIVING THEM THE ABILITY TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS IN THEIR LIVES.  HOPEFULLY, THOSE POSITIVE DECISIONS WILL MEAN WAITING UNTIL THEY ARE TRULY MATURE ENOUGH TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING SEXUALLY ACTIVE. 

MARION COUNTY HAS A PLACE ALONG THE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND RESPONSIBILITY, BUT I DO NOT SUPPORT THE COUNTY’S ROLE IN PROVIDING BIRTH CONTROL TO ANY TEENAGER WHO ASKS FOR IT, WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR PARENTS.  NOR DO I SUPPORT GOVERNMENT GIVING OUR DAUGHTERS DRUGS.   I FEEL VERY STRONGLY AS A PARENT THAT I, AND NOT GOVERNMENT, SHOULD HAVE THE ULTIMATE SAY IN MY CHILD’S LIFE.

SO, WHILE I DO NOT AGREE THAT MARION COUNTY SHOULD BE IN THE BUSINESS OF FAMILY PLANNING, I DO VERY STRONGLY ADVOCATE THE COUNTY’S ROLE IN STRENGTHENING FAMILES.  THE COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES DOES EXACTLY THAT, WORKING WITH MARION COUNTY COMMUNIITES TO RECOGNIZE AND FOCUS ON THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.

WHETHER IT IS HELPING COMMUNITY PROGRESS TEAMS TO OBTAIN GRANTS FOR DAYCARE AND AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, OR IN SPONSORING PARENTING CLASSES, OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS, THESE ARE IMPORTANT WAYS FOR THE COUNTY TO FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING THE FAMILY.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PLAYS A ROLE IN SPONSORING ABSTIENCE AND OTHER HEALTH RELATED PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.

ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE OF TEEN PREGNANCY CAN BE SOCIALLY AND POLITICALLY DIVISIVE, WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED THAT OUR COMMUNITIES RECOGNIZE, AND IN MANY CASES, ARE ACTING ON THE COMMON GOALS. IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT FAMILIES, CHURCHES AND COMMUNITIES KNOW BEST.  NOT GOVERNEMNT.