Nancy S. James
ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Parents must provide for their children such necessities of life as food, clothing, shelters education and medical care. If they cannot or will note state laws authorize intervention by designated authorities to ensure that children’s needs are met. Laws require a father to support his minor children if he is able to do so. The “Adolescent Health, Services, and Pregnancy Prevention Act of 1978” tried to address concern of teen pregnancy - with some thought given to teen father’s responsibilities. In 1981 the “Adolescent Family Life Program of 1981” was debated in the Senate. As usual the main centered of female issues but the male was included (even if only in a financial capacity). (Vinovskis 27) Therefore failure to provide support may result in civil or criminal proceeding against him, if paternity has been admitted or established.
In many communities there is an informal acknowledgment of the child by the teen-age father. Thin can range from simple public acknowledgment, to financial support and a sharing of child care responsibilities with the mother. Limited employment opportunities also play a key factor in a teen-age father’s ability willingness to conform to society’s image of a responsible parent. “Teen fathers run an especially high risk of- unemployment and disproportionately lack the educational credentials basic academic skills, and employment experience needed to secure steady well paying jobs.” (O’ Brian 227}
Unfortunately many of the children of teenage parents wind up being supported by AFDC. Originally set up in 1935 to assist widows, today many feel it is out of control. Many states are attempting to put restrictions such as: time limits, limit the amount of children being supported work fare etc.
“The Arkansas Legislature has even given money for Norplant. They wanted to reduce the number of young women and babies on welfare and Medicaid. I was thinking about the bright young people who were being lost because they are the products of unplanned pregnancies.” according to Joycelyn Elders, U.S. Surgeon General. (Todd 15)