Teenage pregnancy is a social issue and is significant to the practice of social work. One of the main goals of social work is to help individuals, groups, or communities enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and creating societal conditions favorable to this goal (Benson, 2004). It is important for social workers that those of them in practice understand the complexity of teenage pregnancy and the effects it has on the family as a whole. Social workers should be equipped with the knowledge and education to intervene in the lives of pregnant teens and their families whom they may encounter.
Social workers play a vital role in the area of teenage pregnancy. Most social workers will encounter a pregnant or parenting teenager and their family during their social work career and practice. Social workers will counsel or aid teens in a variety of service settings, such as schools, child welfare agencies, and clinics. These workers will play a very important role in the lives of these teens as the point persons to help them make decisions regarding preventative methods or assist with resources after they become a parent (Benson, 2004).
Social Work Education
It is important that social workers who intervene in the lives of teens and their families be informed and educated on …show more content…
Policies should encourage teaching on teenage pregnancy as well as social and health consequences that result from it. These policies should be uniform across all of Mississippi’s school systems so that all students will obtain the same information. Parents may need to lobby the legislature to revisit the existing policies and programs and in concert with social workers advocate a change in policy and programs so that they can be tailored to meet the current needs of parents and their teenage