Program paying girls not to get pregnant

GREENSBORO, N.C., June 24 (UPI) -- A Greensboro, N.C., organization is paying girls between the ages of 12 and 18 $1 a day not to get pregnant.

College-Bound Sisters founder Hazel Brown said her program, which was started in 1996 at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, is focused on keeping the young women focused on education rather than early motherhood, WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, N.C., reported Wednesday.

"Our three goals are that they avoid pregnancy, graduate from high school and enroll in college," Brown said.

Female participants in the program, which is funded through a four-year state grant, are also required to attend weekly meetings to receive their financial incentives.

Any program member who becomes pregnant or leaves the program has her funds split among all remaining members, WXII reported.

Program director Laurie Smith told the TV station nearly all members who complete the program also graduate college.