Many social scientists argue that traditional approaches to reducing teen pregnancy rates—such as comprehensive sex education or abstinence-only sex education—have failed. They also maintain that new law-and-order approaches, such as enforcing statutory rape and fornication laws, are ineffective as well. Most teens who become pregnant, they contend, feel discouraged and lack healthy relationships with their families and strong connections with their communities. These critics assert that in order to lower the rates of teenage pregnancy, teens must develop a sense of connection and hope.

One program that works to bolster teens’ self-esteem and help them develop caring relationships with others is Teen Outreach. Some of the activities in which the teens participate—such as field trips to homes for crack babies, for example—are designed to give them a more realistic understanding of child...