For Immediate ReleaseFor More Information, Contact
October 30, 2007
PIO# 271-07		Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer, 703.838.5078


City of Alexandria’s Adolescent Pregnancy Rate in Decline
City Programs Offer Variety of Outreach to Adolescents

The City of Alexandria’s latest adolescent pregnancy rate data indicates a sharp decline over the past 10 years, showing a 28 percent drop in the overall rate since 1995. The City has addressed this issue by providing ongoing support to the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), a coalition of interested citizens, agencies, and community groups engaged in an aggressive education and outreach program to promote the message that parents, families and adolescents themselves all play a critical role in preventing adolescent pregnancy.

In 1995, the adolescent pregnancy rate in Alexandria was 81.6 per 1,000 females aged 10 to 19; in 2005, the rate was 58.6 per 1,000 adolescents aged 10 to 19. This represents a 28% decrease in the adolescent pregnancy rate. ACAP’s current goal is to see the adolescent pregnancy rate decrease to 51 per 1,000 females ages 10 to 19 by 2010.

ACAP has implemented a number of unique outreach tools to provide information about adolescent pregnancy prevention to the community. ACAP offers a text messaging line for teens to submit questions and get the facts they need to make healthy, safe decisions about their relationships and choices. A recently launched web site, www.alexgetreal.com, includes helpful tips and information for both parents and teens, and contains interactive features such as streaming videos, podcasts, and monthly surveys. In addition, Get Real, a magazine developed for teens and by teens that focuses on important youth issues, will be available in November from www.alexgetreal.com and in hard copies.

I am pleased with the progress that the City has made in reducing adolescent pregnancy,” said Mayor Euille. “I know that ACAP’s innovative outreach programs will continue to build on our success.” Mayor Euille serves as the co-chair of ACAP along with John Porter, Assistant Superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools.

For more information, please contact the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy at 703.684.ACAP (2227), or visit www.alexgetreal.com.

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