In addition, only half of teen mothers receive high school diplomas, and about 60 percent of teen mothers live in poverty, she said.

For these reasons and others, “we have to make sure we keep it (the teen birth rate) at the lowest rate we possibly can,” Leon said.

Schutz said lowering the teen birth rate propels the community and its economy forward.

“It has a big impact for everyone,” she said. “It has a big impact for the community.”

Schutz said prevention programs are best, and she encouraged people to be vocal about their support for such programs and for comprehensive sex education.

Several local organizations are working to keep teen pregnancy numbers down, including the Tulsa City-County Health Department, Youth Services of Tulsa, Tulsa Public Schools and Union Public Schools, Schutz said.

“Tulsans have come together on this issue and started to put some attention and focus on resources,” she said.

Community groups need to continue their work to keep the rate as low as possible, Schutz said.