Congresswoman Fudge denounces cuts by President Trump to funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs nationwide and in 7 largely Black school districts of Cuyahoga County.....The school districts are Cleveland Heights-University Heights, Euclid, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, Richmond Heights, Warrensville Heights and East Cleveland....Fudge, whose largely Black 11th congressional district also includes Cleveland, said that the Trump administration cuts to the programs "will have devastating effects on our region."....Some 10,000 babies are born annually to teens in Ohio....A 2016 CDC report found that nationally teen pregnancies of Black girls have dropped by 44 percent since 2006, and partly due to prevention programs....By editor Kathy Wray Coleman of Clevelandurbannews.com, Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, and Imperialwomencoalition.com, Ohio's Black digital news leaders
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| Ohio 11th Congressional District Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge, a Warrensville Heights Democrat whose largely Black congressional district includes Cleveland and several of its eastern suburbs |
"I am deeply concerned about recent cuts made to 80 teen pregnancy prevention programs nationwide, including one administered by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health," said Fudge in a press release to Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenews
The seven east side suburban districts impacted by Trump-initiated cuts of some $2 million of $4.8 million in federal grant monies stripped from the Department of Heath and Human are largely Black and are Cleveland Heights-University Heights, Euclid, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, Richmond Heights, Warrensville Heights and East Cleveland, all of which have significant Black populations.
The seven east side suburban districts impacted by Trump-initiated cuts of some $2 million of $4.8 million in federal grant monies stripped from the Department of Heath and Human are largely Black and are Cleveland Heights-University Heights, Euclid, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, Richmond Heights, Warrensville Heights and East Cleveland, all of which have significant Black populations.
At the high school level where most teen pregnancies occur, Maple Heights is 92 percent Black, Garfield Hts, 63 percent, Richmond Heights, 62 percent, Warrensville Heights, 98 percent, Cleveland Heights-University Heights, 77 percent, Euclid, 80 percent, and East Cleveland 95 percent.
A Democratic stronghold, Cuyahoga County, the second largest of 88 counties statewide, and behind the capital city of Columbus, is roughly 29 percent Black, and includes the majority Black major metropolitan city of Cleveland.
A Warrensville Heights Democrat whose largely Black congressional district includes parts of Cleveland and several of its eastern suburbs, Fudge said that the president's "cuts will have devastating effects on our region."
The federal lawmaker and one of only two Blacks in congress from Ohio said that it is unconscionable to take resources away from schools and students that need them most.
"Taking funding away from the schools which need it the most is mean, detrimental to our students, and could endanger our youth for generations to come," said Fudge.
Data show that some 10,000 children are born annually to teens in Ohio, 74 percent of them to young women 18 or 19 years old, and 89 percent of them unmarried.
Data show that some 10,000 children are born annually to teens in Ohio, 74 percent of them to young women 18 or 19 years old, and 89 percent of them unmarried.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some 228,000 babies are born annually to young women 15-19 years old, though teen pregnancy rates nationally have been reduced since 2014 by some nine percent to some 26 teen pregnancies per 1000.
And pregnancy rates have continually dropped over a 20 year period in the United States, particularly among Blacks.
A 2016 CDC report found that nationally, teen pregnancies of Black girls have dropped by 44 percent since 2006, and partly due to prevention programs.
Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenews
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