The Director of Teen Services spoke about some of the programmes and issues in the agency yesterday at the weekly Hamilton Rotary Club meeting.

Michelle Wade gave a talk about the agency celebrating its 40th anniversary later this year and she gave a background history of Teen Services as well as a detailed explanation of the programmes it offers including the Continuation School, Teen Haven and counselling.

The agency began in 1967 with Olga Scott as the founder providing teen mothers with rehabilitative, preventative and counselling services. By the end of the first year, the programme had 85 girls.

A major part of the programme was the Continuation School which was opened in 1970 with a grant from the Department of Education, Health & Welfare.

This programme allows pregnant girls, young mothers and teens who aren't pregnant or a mother to get an education.

Ms Wade said: "Some 17-year olds come to Teen Services at a grade three level. Seventeen and grade three? What happened?"

"Unfortunately, we have girls who are not up to par in their reading comprehension and they are going to be raising babies."

She continued: "We think outside the box to make sure all young people, not just pregnant or mothers, get a high school diploma."

Another programme is Teen Haven founded in 1975 by Millie Neverson. This serves as a place where ten to 12 young mothers and their children can live temporarily. The facility has 24-hour staff who aid the girls in getting back into the community.

"We have a problem in Bermuda with affordable housing. We have families who have nowhere to go. Not just because the girl is pregnant, but because her mother didn't have anywhere to go", Ms Wade said.

She also explained sometimes they take girls who don't fit the criteria.

"Sometimes we have to take those people in despite the financial crunch. We can't have mothers and children sleeping on the street. I don't have the answer, but our young families are in trouble", she added.

The final programme Ms Wade discussed was counselling.

She said in the past two years, about 20 percent of people who enter the agency needed counselling for various social and psychological problems. The problems included acting out at home or school, drug usage, sexual identity issues, at-risk sexual behaviour, poor school performance and violence.

One thing that might surprise people is teen pregnancy is not on the rise.

"It must be noted that the teen pregnancy rate in Bermuda has not risen, but instead remained at a steady pace. The teen pregnancy rate appears to be in a state of crisis, but in fact, other social problems have been spiralling out of control including lack of housing, drugs, crime, violence, poverty, and lack of education which gives the illusion that the rate has increased", Ms Wade explained.

Ms Wade said even though Teen Services does a great deal of work for young mothers, they need a lot more money to do their job.

She explained they get a grant from the Department of Education for the Continuation School, but it has been cut down over the years.

"We are thankful for what we have received, but it has been difficult since it has been cut. We don't have enough money to create new programmes. It always seems that we need more. We are on a tightrope", she said.

Ms Wade also said they have asked the Department of Education to help pay for textbooks but were waiting for a response.

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