Teenage pregnancy: the need for multiple casework services.

The article reports on a multiple casework services approach to understanding and preventing the serious consequences of teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancy is associated with social and psychological problems. A multiple casework services approach can better address the social problems raised by teenage pregnancy, childbearing, and parenthood. Such an approach puts attention on three opportunities for social casework: primary prevention, early intervention, and aftermath services. Primary prevention is the single most important opportunity for casework services with teenagers at risk for pregnancy. Clearly, the only time social workers or other professionals can help prevent an unwanted teenage pregnancy is before conception. The scope and associated problems of teenage pregnancy clearly warrant this widespread attention given this social phenomenon. Unfortunately, most programs dealing with adolescent pregnancy have yielded disappointing results. These failures stem from the inadequacy of a single cause perspective.