programs. Given recent evidence that high-quality programs can 27 reduce the teen pregnancy rate, this emphasis should continue. Poverty is a cause as well as a consequence of early childbearing. Continuing to reduce teen pregnancy among teenagers nationwide can help sustain the recent decreases in welfare dependency and poverty, although some impoverished young mothers may end up faring poorly no matter when they are born. While most experts agree that disadvantaged backgrounds account for much of the burden teens carry, having a baby during adolescence only exacerbates the situation (Bridgeland, et al., 2006). Research indicates that the children of teen mothers bear the greatest burden of teen pregnancy and childbearing and are at significantly increased risk for a number of economic, social, and health problems. A reduction in teenage pregnancy, especially through pregnancy prevention programs, is beneficial to society as it can strengthen the future workforce (Brace, 2009). As noted by Kerby (2007) and Mangino (2008), today's economy demands a sophisticated and educated workforce, but pregnancy often causes girls to terminate their education prematurely, and is also a factor preventing adolescents from preparing themselves for employment and becoming established in the labor force. Opportunities significantly decrease when children have children, and their future is often one of continual poverty. Society should be concerned about preventing teen pregnancy in order to enhance future earning power and education in the work force. If teens have appropriate relationships, which do not include premarital relations and/or teen pregnancy, they will have a better chance of finishing their education and obtaining employment training (Mangino, 2008). Preventing the interruption of pregnant teens’ education is crucial to a productive workforce as well as to the teens’ own benefit. 28 Environmental, cultural, and social factors. While most prevention programs seek to change adolescents’ attitudes and perspectives, improve adolescent decisionmaking, and reduce risky behavior, reducing teen pregnancy rates also requires attention to broad social and environmental factors. While it is true that teen pregnancy occurs in all types of communities, teenagers who give birth are more likely to come from economically disadvantaged families and neighborhoods (Gallagher, 1999; Meade et al., 2008; Santelli et al., 2009). Thus, socioeconomic environment is an important factor in whether or not teenagers become pregnant. However, some researchers such as Bridgeland et al., (2006), Hardy and Landry (2000) and Meade et al., (2008) believe factors associated with low-income households, including low educational attainment, lack of employment in the community and neighborhood, and single parenthood are more influential than poverty itself. It may therefore be concluded that a teen’s chances of becoming pregnant are not simply related to being poor. The probability that the teen will become pregnant also relates to poverty's persistence and concentration in the community, and its far-reaching effects on the culture and the social network of which the teen is a part. This is because strong social networks and institutions can buffer teens from the effects of poverty (Portman, 2009). Reinforcing community ties and friendship networks can help to battle teen pregnancy, especially in low socioeconomic neighborhoods. Immigrant communities with strong family bonds and a solid cultural orientation appear to be factors helping to prevent teenage pregnancy. High-risk behaviors such as early unprotected premarital relations increase among foreign-born adolescents with the length of residence in the United States or from one generation to the next (Portman, 2009). 29 According to Brace (2009), parents, as well as the community and society, need to do all they can to develop positive attributes in their children. They should not only encourage them, but also educate their teenagers about premarital relations and its consequences, especially as it pertains to engaging in inappropriate behavior at an early age. In addition, reducing teen pregnancy contributes significantly to the goal of promoting responsible fatherhood. Brace (2009) stated that involved and committed fathers are important to the wellbeing of their children. However, children who are born to teen parents often consistently lack any close connection with the father because the relationship between their parents is more likely to dissolve over time. Brace (2009) reported that home life situation, household economic standing, low education levels of parents, friends that are sexually active, and problems at home may contribute to teenage pregnancy: Additionally, teens may pursue motherhood to fill a void that they are experiencing at home. Studies indicate that some teens have babies so that they will have someone who loves them... Additionally, some teenagers state that they want something to possess, or that they don’t recognize any of the disadvantages associated with teen motherhood. [However] there are multiple protective factors that can reduce the rate of teen pregnancy. Engaging teens in school, church or religious activities reduces idle time and promotes the