Why are parental notification laws dangerous?

Because they actually do the opposite of what they intend. Instead of helping families communicate, these laws place some teens in danger of emotional or even physical harm. This is especially true in abusive homes. If a family is already communicating well, these laws offer no benefit. If communication is absent or poor, these laws unnecessarily threaten a pregnant teen’s health without offering her family help.

As a society, we must come together to find the real answer to teen pregnancy. Government mandates about family communication only punish the most vulnerable teens.

What is the answer?

Healthy family communication and comprehensive, age-appropriate sex ed that includes abstinence. We’ve shown this in California. Through education and information, we’ve led the nation in reducing teen pregnancy rates.

What’s ahead in California?

California’s reproductive rights movement grows stronger with every campaign we mount to defeat these dangerous initiatives. We’ll use that energy to advance our important public policy work. And we’ll redouble our efforts to protect the health and reproductive rights of women, men, and teens throughout the country.