IOWA COUNTY- Despite declines in recent years, the US teen pregnancy rate continues to be one of the highest in the developed world. To put it in perspective, it's more than twice as high as Canada. The decline in teen pregnancy rates in the US is due primarily to teens' improved contraceptive use. But still one out of every three teen girls will become pregnant at least once before the age of 20. A new teaching method at Adams-Friendship High School is showing what every day life will be like being a teen mom or dad; and it's working.

"With the guys, you always have pressure. All the guys show off," said student Austin Kogle. Seniors Austin Kogle and Morgan Holt know first-hand the struggles that can come with being teenagers. And now they are learning even more. Holt added, "I guess before I never realized how much goes into raising a child and the money that goes into it; all the struggles you face."

But thanks to the Teen Pregnancy and Child Support Program, every student in the district gets a taste of what it could be like when having a child at a very young age. "You have to really work hard to raise a child. And in order to make enough money to raise a child the way you would like to be raised, you really need to go out and get that education and get that job before you decide to have that baby," said Janet Leja, Director of Adams County Child Support Agency.

By using examples of child support payments and typical monthly expenses, students get a look first-hand at how their choices now, could affect them for years to come. The results are showing promise. When the program began in 2008, the Adams County Child Support Agency had the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in the state. That number continues to drop, the most recent data putting the county at 14th. Now these teens, have a few words of advice. Holt adds, "it's scary having a baby, especially young. If you have time to prepare for it; there's definitely a time for it, but not when you're a teen."