Why We Are Needed

H.E.A.R.T.S. is based in and serving the community of Durham, NC.   

22.4%

Per the most recent NC State Center for Health Statistics from 2020, the teen pregnancy rate in Durham County in women ages 15-19 is 22.4%.

50%

*Only about 50% of teen mothers receive a high school diploma by 22 years of age, whereas approximately 90% of women who do not give birth during adolescence graduate from high school. *From CDC website

28.5%

Per the most recent NC State Center for Health Statistics from 2020, of pregnancies in women ages 15-19, 28.5% of these were repeat pregnancies.

8,000+adolescent parents residing in the state of North Carolina.

The high rates of repeat teenage pregnancy paired with the growing gap in resources for minority populations create a need for H.E.A.R.T.S. in Durham, where there is currently no state-funded teen pregnancy support program.

H.E.A.R.T.S. exists to cultivate the development and success of adolescent parents, helping them transition from poverty to sustainability.  To do this, we address the risk factors associated with teen parenting through social, psychological, and academic development programs.  We help provide stability by providing resources and referrals to participants to fill their unmet needs. 

H.E.A.R.T.S. is the only documented non-profit in the Durham area that is currently addressing these needs and implementing programming aimed at supporting adolescent parents.

We provide educational experiences to expose participants to community events that they would not normally have access to as a teen parent. Through these experiences, participants can engage in events that encourage self-discovery and lead participants to identify new interests and talents.