$1 a Day Not to Get Pregnant?

A program in North Carolina offers girls between 12-18 years old $1 a day not to get pregnant. The girls have to attend weekly meetings, and the program called College-Bound Sisters then deposits $7 per week into an interest-bearing college fund account. They get the money once they graduate from high school.

Obviously teen pregnancy is an issue. Television shows and after-school specials have focused on it for decades. Scandals cover the front pages of magazines and newspapers when teens like Bristol Palin and Jamie Lynn Spears found themselves pregnant. But paying teens to not get pregnant?

As Christian teens there are other issues in remaining pregnancy free. Most Christians adhere to the belief that pre-marital sex is pretty much a no-no. Yet, not many churches are offering teens money to not get pregnant. Instead they encourage teens in their faith to remain abstinent.

Still, this money is being deposited in a college fund for girls that might not otherwise have money for college. The program does give girls inspiration and encourages them to graduate from high school, which today is becoming incredibly important as dropout rates go up.

So, what do you think? Do you think more states need to offer grants like these to help decrease teen pregnancy and increase high school graduation, or do you think we need to find other ways besides monetary rewards to prevent pregnancy?