Budget cuts could end Sex Ed for teens

"Sex," an issue many parents of teenagers have trouble talking to their kids about. Now, a local program that teaches hundreds of young people pregnancy prevention could close and put people out of work. Nbc 6, reporter Karen Hopkins, spoke with teens fighting to save what they call a life saving program. Sophomore Rahji Baskerville knows a thing or two about sex. In Caddo parish, 20 percent of babies are born to moms under 19 years old; one is his friend. “He had sex with one girl and had twins, she was only 14. He felt like it was the biggest mistake of his life.” But these children are learning to make good decisions in the becoming a responsible teen or Bart program. It teaches pregnancy prevention. “Most people cant talk to parents about stuff like that, but our teachers theyre open," student Lesheedeonia Prude said. One of those teachers is Lakeshia Mosley. She knows from experience. When she was just 15, she became pregnant. “Theres a misconception that its easy. Its not easy. If I had to do it all over again, I wish there was programs like this available to me." The Bart program meets three times a week from 5 to 7 at night. It started two years ago, and out of the 400 children that have gone through, Mosley said just two became pregnant. “We feel comfortable and we can listen and get good advice." But that could change. With state budget cuts, the Bart program is scheduled to end December 31st. “We need to keep the program, it really helps us," Prude says. If the Bart program ends, it would put the people who run it out of a job. “This is how I feed my family, how I keep my lights on, pay my mortgage, it would be devastating,” Mosley says. The Bart director says theres still a chance to get last minute state funding. It’s also seeking private donations. The program cost about $115,000 per year to run.