Prevention of teenage pregnancy | Local News

She looked young and scared when she called and said, “I think I'm pregnant.” I need to see where I stand. How much does an appointment cost?

Hundreds of calls start this way each year at Raffa. Located in downtown Greenville, the Raffa Clinic provides free and confidential services that allow a woman to feel safe confirming her pregnancy, seeing her baby during an ultrasound, and getting support, education, and resources specific to help his situation.

Texas ranks eighth in the nation for teen pregnancies. Texas also has the second highest rate of repeat births. Hunt County has a high teen birth rate compared to other counties in the state.

Teenage mothers are often at risk of having low birth weight babies and are at increased risk of infant mortality. Access to prenatal care early in pregnancy is essential to prevent such situations from occurring.

Fear of people judging teen parents and lack of financial resources are the most commonly cited barriers to initiating prenatal care during the first trimester of pregnancy for teen mothers.

The Raffa Clinic strives to help teen mothers during their first trimester of pregnancy by providing free initial prenatal care and Medicaid enrollment. Early care greatly increases the chances of a healthy pregnancy for mother and baby.

Raffa's clinical staff also raise awareness about the importance of good nutrition and help mom (and dad) prepare for birth and baby's arrival, while providing free material items such as diapers and car seats.

Teenage parents are also often at high risk of dropping out of school. This doesn't have to be the case.

Students can work with their school district to successfully complete high school and earn their diploma or GED while being parents. Raffa works one-on-one with teen parents and local schools to help the student succeed in high school while being a parent by providing life skills and parenting classes at the Raffa Family Center in Greenville.

A young mother said this about her recent visit to the Raffa clinic. “I absolutely love everything about this clinic, the staff are so genuine! I am a young pregnant woman and everywhere I went I felt judged, but not here.

“The second I walked in the door, I felt like everyone had my back,” she continued. “I love the emotional and spiritual support. The nurses also do everything they can to make sure you are informed and comfortable.