TEENAGE CHILDBEARING AND WELFARE-REFORM - LESSONS FROM A DECADE OF DEMONSTRATION AND EVALUATION RESEARCH

This paper discusses the causes and consequences of teenage childbearing. It also describes those teenage parents on welfare and their life circumstances that facilitate or impede their success as young parents. The third section describes a major federal demonstration of a mandatory JOBS-type program for teenage parents and its effectiveness in promoting self-sufficiency among this population. The fourth section discusses other initiatives aimed at preventing teenage pregnancy and parenting and promoting improved outcomes for those who do become parents. The final two sections discuss the implications of the research findings for welfare reform.