BABIES HAVING BABIES
CIS taking steps to help change disturbing teen pregnancy stats
By JOE L. HUGHES II Ledger Staff Writer joe@gaffneyledger.com

In hopes of making the future brighter for children in Cherokee County, a local organization is taking a stand against the area's troubling teenage pregnancy statistics.

As part of a $4,600 mini-grant provided by the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, Communities In Schools (CIS) of Cherokee County is providing classes for all ages aimed at preventing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases or infections.

"We are trying to educate people and let them know about an issue that is running rampant in our community," Cherokee County Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Project Director Edward Surratt said. "For many this is a taboo subject, with many believing their kids are not having sex. But in this class we are trying to expose this to families and help them know having sex is a choice."

A study by the campaign estimates youths between the ages of 10-19 accounted for close to 10,000 pregnancies statewide last year.

Cherokee County is ranked 22nd in comparison with other counties across the state, but is third in pregnancies among teens between 15 to 17 years of age. There is also a concern about the volume of gonnorhea infections here for residents of all ages. The county ranks seventh among the state's 46 counties.

"The statistics definitely do not lie," Surratt said. "People have to wake up to these issues before they possibly end up at their front door."

The class delves deep into the heart of the issue of teen pregnancy.

"In our classes, we stress abstinence is the only way to be 100 percent sure you do not have a STD or have a baby," Surratt said. "But we know everyone will not choose to abstain from sex. That is why we give them strategies to help them when making decisions."

Surratt's primary target audience is middle school-aged children. He hopes to positively influence the children before they are forced to decide on whether or not to have sex.

"More kids are having sex and it seems they keep getting younger," Surratt said. "Walking through the middle and high schools, I see a lot of pregnant teens... kids having kids."

There are currently afterschool programs at Gaffney, Granard and Blacksburg middle schools. Another program was recently launched at the Limestone Courts subdivision.

Surratt hopes to continue spreading the message by going to churches, businesses, clubs and organizations throughout the county.

"This is a good way for our children as well as our adults to be informed and educated about something going on in our backyard," Surratt said. "It is a scary subject to talk about, but in the end it could give them goals helping them and others later in life."