Teenwise Minnesota Teen Pregnancy Puzzle ©

The Teen Pregnancy Puzzle graphically demonstrates the complexity of teen pregnancy prevention and the need for comprehensive solutions. Research has shown that addressing these twelve components is key to reducing teen pregnancy.

Teenwise Minnesota Teen Pregnancy Puzzle ©


  • Adolescent Health Services – Adolescents underutilize health services and often lack health insurance. Teens need access to confidential, comprehensive and affordable physical and mental health services provided by trained adolescent health practitioners.
  • Adolescent Parent Services – Teen parents and their children are at high-risk for school failure, poverty and future teen pregnancies. Academic, parenting and child care services are needed to ensure positive parenting skills and school success for teen parents and their children.
  • Academic Support – Youth with higher grade point averages are more likely to delay sexual involvement than lower-achieving youth. Students need tutors, mentors and support services to ensure academic success.
  • Chemical Abuse Prevention – Teens who experiment with sex also experiment with drugs and alcohol. Twenty-eight percent of sexually active high school students report having used alcohol or drugs at last intercourse. Communities need to make substances less accessible in homes and businesses.
  • Community Collaboration and Support – A multifaceted approach to teen pregnancy is the best method of prevention. All sectors must be included in a grassroots effort.
  • Comprehensive Sexual Health Education – Research shows positive knowledge and behavior changes result from comprehensive sexuality education. Schools, community organizations and religious congregations need to provide age-appropriate, medically accurate sexuality education for children, youth and parents.
  • Culturally Respectful Services – Programs must reflect and respect the values and practices of communities. Community members must be involved in developing culturally specific and multicultural programs.
  • Economic Security – Sixty percent of teens who become parents are living in poverty before they become pregnant. Seventy percent of unmarried teen mothers receive public assistance within five years of giving birth. Communities must provide affordable housing, living wage jobs, academic and career education and child care to all families in need.
  • Healthy Youth Development – Adolescents connected to and valued by family, schools and community are more likely to postpone sexual activity and delay pregnancy. Communities must provide opportunities for meaningful youth involvement.
  • Parent and Adult Involvement – Teens who feel connected with their parents are more likely to remain sexually abstinent, and use contraception consistently when they become sexually active. Communities must develop education programs giving parents and other caring adults skills in communicating about sexual health.
  • Responsible Media Messages – Prime time TV contains roughly three sexual acts per hour. Teach teens critical viewing skills and develop media campaigns that promote positive health messages.
  • Sexual Violence Prevention – Up to 70% of teen mothers have a history of sexual abuse. Sixty percent of women who reported having intercourse before age 15 report having had it involuntarily. Communities and schools must provide violence prevention and early intervention services.