State Committee Hears Tales of Teen Pregnancy : Social issues: Youths tell of juggling school, jobs and parenthood and discuss other problems in child-rearing.

A state Senate committee studying the problem of teen pregnancy heard Saturday from local high school students who told of juggling parenthood and homework while, in some cases, holding jobs.

The one-day hearing at Cesar Chavez Alternative High School, chaired by state Sen. Teresa Hughes (D-Inglewood), also included testimony from experts, as committee members grappled for answers to the problem, which is growing in Orange County and California.

With approximately 69 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19, California has the highest teen birth rate in the nation. In Orange County, records show that about 59 of every 1,000 teen-age girls give birth.

Calling teen births “a tremendous problem,” Hughes said the hearing will help the Senate Select Committee on Family Preservation and Teen-age Pregnancy Prevention determine “what kind of legislation is going to come out of this.”

Hughes and two other committee members heard young mothers and fathers discuss child care and birth control.

Studies by Mike Males, a researcher at UC Irvine, show that males older than 18 are the fathers in a “significant number” of births to teen-age girls and that only about half the fathers in teen pregnancies ever provide child support.

Several who testified Saturday said the fathers of their babies were not providing child support or helping them rear the children. Carmen Nava, 18, was typical of these young mothers. The baby’s father is 21.

“I’m glad my mom is able to help me out. The (baby’s) father doesn’t help me with anything. He kept putting his friends first,” Nava said.

However, a few of the parents said they are rearing the children with their partners while continuing school and holding jobs.

A 17-year-old high school junior testified working at night to help support the child he had with a 16-year-old girl. Although the parents live apart, they said they are rearing the child together. The girl plans to finish high school and attend college. “It’s been very hard, but I’ve been able to count on my parents,” she said.

But some mothers said they were ostracized by one or both of their parents. One teen-ager said she fears her alcoholic father will hurt her or her baby in a drunken rage.

“He blames both my mom and I for my pregnancy. I’m afraid one day he’s going to come home drunk and do something to me or my baby,” she said.