Here's just a tiny snapshot of only a few of the issues surrounding birth - hopefully enough for you to look deeper into how a low birth-weight baby born to a teenage mother with no insurance will start its life and how that child may become a youth-in-need of care and in need of a CASA guardian ad litem.

In an average week in Montana:
241 babies are born
25 babies are born to mothers age 15-19
29 babies are born pre-term (prior to the 37th week of pregnancy)
18 babies are born with low birth-rate (less than 5 1/2 pounds)
2 babies die before their first birthday

See map below:
Montana 2003-2006 Birthrate Average 
All statistics courtesy of the March of Dimes

Issues may be compounded by inadequate or no maternal health insurance:

by Lisa Goff