According to Texas Department of State Health Services, every 10 minutes a teen in Texas gets pregnant, and, every 10 hours, a 14-year-old teen conceives a child. Texas’ former schoolgirl who was in an arranged marriage by the age of fourteen returns to equip teenagers in Dallas. Does sex education work? Texas’ former childbride/teenage mother, Trevicia Williams, Ph.D. (now psychologist), returns to Dallas armed with inspiration and education as she responds to some tough questions about sexuality, tough choices, and higher education beginning at Alley’s House, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering teen mothers in Dallas, Texas, on November 12, 2009.
Dr. Trevicia Williams’ extraordinary ordeal as a 14 year old African American girl in an arranged marriage in Houston, Texas to a man 12 years her senior from Germany capacitates her to inspire other young girls and women. She credits her titanium faith, tuff choices, education, and determination for getting her through potentially life pulverizing experiences. “Education helps stimulate awareness, raise living standards, and increases knowledge based choices,” says Dr. Trevicia Williams. Teenage parenting often averts or postpones education for both girls and boys. While 7 out of 10 teen mothers eventually complete high school or receive a GED, they are less likely than girls who delay childbearing to go on to college.
There can also be serious consequences for the children of teen mothers. Research sponsored by the Robin Hood Foundation compared children whose mothers were 17 or younger with children whose mothers were 20-21 when they gave birth. The research indicates that children born to teen mothers tend to have:
•lower cognitive test scores and more difficulty in school
•poorer health yet receive less health care
•less stimulating and supportive home environments
•higher levels of incarceration
•higher rates of adolescent childbearing themselves
Dr. Trevicia Williams will address the difficulties teens face such as being a child while being a responsible parent to a child and having to create a support system. “It’s about faith and adversity and her use of inner strengths,” says Dr. Trevicia Williams. Dr. Williams’ goal of mentoring and educating girls across the U.S. and equipping them with a strategy for realizing their fullest potentials by including them in activities and discussions about tough choices, self-worth, sexuality, body image and self-confidence is part of her commitment to inspire and mission to support the valuable work of community based programs designed to break the generational, economic and social impact of teen pregnancy in the community. “Education and strong role models increases the likelihood that girls and women will pursue their dreams or become leaders,” says Dr. Trevicia Williams. She is passionate about comprehensive educational workshops/presentations that provide education for girls and young women ages 16-35.
Dr. Trevicia Williams is a psychologist, author and change management/adversity expert. Her life experiences and accomplishments are crucial aspects of the educational workshops. Dr. Trevicia Williams earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston-Downtown, Master’s degree from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and Doctorate degree from Walden University
(Details at: https://www.treviciawilliams.com and http://www.dallasweekly.com/health/Texas_former_childbride_returns_to_Dallas_armed.php)
Recent Comments