What is the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy?

The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy (Alliance) advocates and lobbies for legislation “…to ensure that Massachusetts youth have access to comprehensive pregnancy-prevention services….” Prevention services include access to contraception and comprehensive health education programs in the schools.

The Alliance has joined with the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM) and NARAL Pro-Choice of Massachusetts (NARAL Pro-Choice) as well many other organizations in its legislative efforts to make emergency contraception available and eliminate funding for abstinence-only programs, which it views as unsuccessful and even unhealthy.

Their website is: http://www.massteenpregnancy.org/

 

Who is Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice?

Planned Parenthood and its state affiliates are the largest providers in the United States of abortions with over 260,000 abortion procedures conducted in 2005. (Source: Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. Annual Report 2005-2006, p. 4) NARAL Pro-Choice America and its Massachusetts affiliate are leading advocates of the pro-choice movement in the United States. NARAL Pro-Choice, when it first started, was called The National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws. This was subsequently shortened to NARAL and it’s stated mission is to “…guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions…, including …legal and accessible abortion.”

 

How are Planned Parenthood and NARAL connected with the seminar on Oct 24th at Holy Cross College?

The Alliance lists Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts and NARAL Pro-Choice as seminar leaders in its 2007 Teen Pregnancy Institute as workshop leaders. Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts is scheduled to conduct three 3 workshops and NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts is scheduled to conduct one 1 workshop at the seminar.

Does the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy support emergency contraception or what is called the “morning after pill?”

“…Massachusetts policymakers supported the right of all women, regardless of age, to have access to EC (emergency contraception) directly from pharmacies. The Alliance worked as part of the “Prevention First” Coalition with Mass NARAL and Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts to achieve this significant result.”

(Source: Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy, Annual Report 2005-2006, page 4)

 

What does the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy believe is the best way for teens to reduce pregnancy?

“Mission: The goal of the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy is to promote effective, comprehensive teen pregnancy prevention strategies….

“Message: To prevent pregnancy, teens need:

· Support for their healthy choices, including abstinence and condom and contraceptive use.

· Access to condoms and other contraception.

Method: Become a voice for comprehensive teen pregnancy prevention in your community.”

(Source: http://massteenpregnancy.org/advocacy/pregnancy.html)

“In 2002, the Alliance embarked on a bold effort to counteract recent trends towards federal funding of abstinence-only-until-marriage…. These programs have proven to be not only inadequate, but in fact detrimental to the health of sexually active youth and the majority of young people.”

(Source: http://massteenpregnancy.org/about/who.html)

 

What organizations does the Alliance associate with?

Membership (see below) of Prevention First and CARE for Youth coalitions in which the Alliance is a member. These coalitions advocate legislative passage of bills supporting comprehensive health education in Massachusetts.

Other Coalition members of “Prevention First” and “CARE for Youth”:

· Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy

· Massachusetts Coalition for Choice

· Massachusetts Family Planning Association

· NARAL Pro Choice of Massachusetts

· Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts

(Source: http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0199-5389714_ITM, http://www.careforyouth.org, http://www.careforyouthma.org/home/whoweare)