Gay in Bakersfield - wlwedd's Blog - Bakersfield.com

High Teen Pregnancy Rate in Kern

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:18:45 PST

I know we're supposed to be able to blog directly on Californian articles now, but I'm an idiot and couldn't figure out how, so here's the article I am interested in, and then I'll comment below.

<<<<Kern County had the highest teen birth rate in California in 2008 even as births to teen moms dropped to a record low in the state as a whole.

The statistics, released Monday by the California Department of Public Health, show the rate of births among teen mothers in Kern County was 64.9 for every 1,000 females, up from 63.8 the previous year.

In Kern, 2,285 babies were born to teen mothers in 2008.

Yet even as Kern's teen birth rate increased, California's fell from 37.1 births per 1,000 females in 2007 to 35.2 births per 1,000 in 2008 -- lower than ever before.

"This is a great day for California. Unfortunately, Kern County is missing out on the celebration," said Norman Constantine, a clinical professor of public health at UC Berkeley and the senior scientist at the Oakland-based Public Health Institute.

Constantine said poverty and ethnicity are often factors in high rates of teen pregnancy. But Kern County is a "mystery," he said.

Something else is happening "on the ground" here that cannot be explained by those other factors, Constantine noted.

Yes, it's true that Hispanic teens continued to have the highest birth rate in California at 56.9 per 1,000 while the rate for whites was 13.1 per 1,000.

But white teens in Kern gave birth at 2 1/2 times the rate of whites statewide, he added.

"You can't blame it on poverty either," he said, citing a higher unemployment rate in Fresno County and a significantly lower teen pregnancy rate of about 55 births per 1,000 females.

Kern's high rate of teen births carries costs to society as well as to taxpayers, said county Public Health Director Matt Constantine, who is not related to the Berkeley researcher. Those costs include higher medical costs for teen births, public assistance costs and costs for increased foster placement.

"Kern's high rate of teen pregnancy presents a significant and ongoing cost to our community," Constantine said. "There's also a cost to those newborns."

According to Denise Smith, Kern's assistant director of disease control, infants born to teen mothers have a higher incidence of complications due to premature birth.

"There's a higher chance those babies will not do well," she said. Which translates into a higher likelihood that costly intervention will become necessary.

One successful program the county has operated is the Nurse-Family Partnership, which offers education and pre-natal support to first-time mothers, Constantine said.

But it does not address the prevention of teen pregnancies.

That job -- if you can call it that -- falls to parents and schools.

At one time, California was the only state that rejected abstinence-only funding from the federal government, said Ken August, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Health. As a result, California has been able to present more comprehensive sex-education to the state's high school students.

And that is directly attributable to the state's dramatically declining teen birth rate, which has been cut in half since 1991 when it was more than 70 births per 1,000.

During the last 10 years, birth rates decreased among both younger and older teens, according to August. The decline was largest among younger teens.

When will Kern County be able to join in the celebration?

"I think we really need to be talking with the teens and the people closest to them, the parents, teachers, social workers and others," researcher Constantine said.

"I suspect local expectations and norms may be factors," he said. "I don't know how else to explain it." >>>>

Why No Email Link for Columnists?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:11:29 PST

I wanted to drop a note to Valerie Schultz about her column today, and I discovered that there is no email link with her article. There also appears to be no way to search for Valerie among the Californian's members in the PEOPLE section. A little investigation made me realize that Inga Barks likewise has no email link. Ralph Bailey does, but actually, several of the Californian's writers are seemingly off limits.

I understand that perhaps they simply do not want to be barraged with mail about the controversial things they print, but that's not fair. It isn't much of a debate if only one side gets to participate. Kudos to Ralph for braving the winds of honest debate.

Or, I am willing to entertain the idea that I just missed the link. Can someone SHOW me how to write to Valerie or Inga? (In that case, I submit my humble apology.)

Who's Going to Relay for Life?

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:26:23 PDT

Just wondering if any of our stalwart bloggers will be out this weekend for cancer prevention & research. This is one of the biggest events in kern County every year...will you be going?

Is it just me?

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:26:34 PST

It sure seems like today is dragging its feet. After all these months of watiing for this election, I am a little stir crazy, waiting for results, wondering which candidate will take the presidency, which way prop 8 will go. Is anyone else feeling a little edgy today?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE My Mother!

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:54:48 PDT

This letter appeared in today's Opinion Section. I am a lucky daughter!

The Bakersfield Californian | Thursday, Oct 30 2008 7:53 PM

Last Updated: Thursday, Oct 30 2008 7:55 PM

Much has been made of the current proposition that would eliminate gay couples' right to marry. I am the mother of not one, but two lesbian daughters. June 17 was the day I stood proudly with both of them as they married two fabulous women.

It was a kind of high to be there, very close to the amazing feelings of childbirth. I cannot imagine a finer moment. It would not have been a better moment had my girls married men. I was thrilled to watch my daughters legally solemnize relationships I know to be healthy and happy, and very good for them as people.

Some people say this wouldn't make me a very good Christian, to overlook this so-called "sin." I say, I don't think expressing love is a sin, and I am not trying to win the Christian-of-the-year contest. I just love my girls, as much as my two heterosexual daughters, and I wouldn't change them for the world!

One thing to think about: sexual orientation is an innate trait, something you're born with. It's religion that's actually a choice. Why would anyone allow that choice to put a wedge between them and their children?

I encourage all parents who truly love their children to vote no on Prop. 8.

DORIS M. WEDDELL

Bakersfield

YES on 8 Abandons America for China!

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:28:59 PDT

I got this via Myspace. It would be funny if it werren't so hypocritical. Where's the patriotic spirit of spending millions in China when it could have been spent here, supporting American jobs?

http://www. calitics. com/showDiary. do;jsessionid=11A5C85B3C7A421CCC5A180626FB320D?diaryId=7013

by: Julia Rosen
Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 13:50:27 PM PDT

This past weekend the Yes on 8 campaign had talked up passing out ONE MILLION lawn signs. It was going to be their big splash event, something big and bold to get a bunch of earned media.

To counter that push, the No on 8, Equality for All campaign organized a bunch of visibility events for the media and to raise the public face/profile of the campaign.
Then shuttled the the volunteers back inside to do the work that will bring this election home: calling undecided voters.

But a funny thing happened.... There were no lawn signs, no big events from the Yes side.

I started hearing rumors that they had trouble with their vendor. It turns out they were stuck in China. Yes, China. Here is an email from a one Gena Downey, producer of the cult hit Mormon film (I'm joking about the cult and hit thing) God's Army.

<<The YES on Prop 8 yard signs have been delayed in route from China.

We expect to distribute them within the next two weeks.
I will email you as soon as they arrive so we can make sure you have one immediately. In the interim, please continue to take note of any friends or family who would like one as well.>>>

So, the Yes campaign, rather than purchasing some good old fashioned union made in America lawn signs, they went to some cut rate producer ... What, they couldn't afford traditional American signs?

That seems to have worked out well. Karma does bring justice!

Why does the Yes on 8 campaign hate America?

Love America. Volunteer for the No on Prop 8 campaign.

Chad Vegas No Shows KHSD Candidate Forum

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:03:45 PDT

I was disappointed that Mr. Vegas did not see fit to attend the KHSD candidate forum last night at Temple Beth El. It was weird for the audience to see his name on a little card sitting at an empty seat. Apparently he had RSVP'ed that he would come, but then he didn't make it. I keep wondering: What does that say?

(OK, maybe he had a family emergency; I suppose that's possible. But apprently he did not phone organizers to tell them what happened, because they didn't seem to know why he wasn't there either.)

Disclaimer: I wasn't there either, due to a previous emngagement. This info provided by one who attended.

I'm glad to be gay in Bako!

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:20:58 PDT

I am often asked why I stay in Bakersfield. As a very out lesbian, why not re-locate to the Bay Area or LA where there is a raging, established community? There they have activities 24-7, and so much more diversity within the community itself. Plus, let's face it, in places like that, they win the political battles more often than they lose. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a place where having a gay Assemblyperson is not only possible, it's old news?

There may come a time when I am ready to get out of the trenches here in Bakersfield, when the constant battling for civil rights will have finally ended my joyful pursuit of happiness, but truthfully, I can't imagine that. I believe I am here for a very long time; if not forever, at least not in the scheduled future.

My roots in Bakersfield run deep, which might seem odd since my parents were transplants from No Cal. I attended all of my schooling here, learned to drive on the back streets when Ashe Road didn't even have a signal, (that was fun!) My teaching career has allowed me to touch and be touched by thousands of people who are also from here, and I have developed an abiding appreciation for the diversity of Bakersfield that cannot be defined simply as "redneck." I'd like to think I have learned a lot about what this city is about, who the people are, and what their real concerns are in day to day life. Now, I am not running for office, but all of this experience has made me who I am, and that's not a history from which I feel the need to run. I love living here, and I love these people.

But the bigger question remains, isn't it easier to be gay somewhere else? More fun? Perhaps. But I think that Bakersfield can grow, and much of the ultra-conservative reputation which keeps people in the closet is really an illusion. Ann Barnett and Chad Vegas don't really speak for that many people; in fact, very few. Most people here are welcoming, and more interested in what you have to offer as a person than to define you by your sexuality, at least, that's my experience. Even working with evangelical folks, I have found it fairly easy to be mutually friendly and respectful. I know there are pockets of people out there who are kneejerk types, who might not be willing to see a whole person in one they label "homosexual," and there may even be some who harbor violence. It's just that, that is SO not my experience that I refuse to believe that there are large numbers of people like that. A few, yes; many, no.

And the truth is, Bakersfield will never change unless we stay here and change it. Yes, that means work. Very rewarding work, I might add, most of the time. If everyone who's gay runs off to West Hollywood, this, their hometown, will always be the backward, (dare I say bigoted?) fantasy they imagine it to be. But if we who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender stay here, working together we can create positive change that will ultimately lead to more acceptance, and the things we long for: a center, restaurants, clubs, social groups, gay elected officials, etc.; these things will come to fruition. I absolutely believe it will happen, and in my lifetime.

I am staying here..