The District has among the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the nation, with some 60 out of every 1,000 teen girls becoming mothers each year.

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One local group is kicking off a campaign to show the consequences of those teen pregnancies.

“We're not doing right by our young people and we've gotta do a better job,” said Brenda Rhodes Miller of the D.C. campaign to prevent teen pregnancy.

Along with the campaign, city leaders are advising District youth that teen pregnancy is in no one's best interest. The goal is to encourage teens to act responsibly, live healthy and make informed choices.

“We have to engage young people, we have to put money so folk understand if people need other counseling -- and parenting, but not just parenting your own kids, but the community as well,” said councilmember Michael Brown.

Data shows much of the burden of teen pregnancies falls on taxpayers: More than 50 percent of people who receive temporary assistance for needy families -- or TANF -- started families when they were teens.

More than three-quarters of children placed in foster care were born to teen parents, and sons of teen mothers are three times more likely to enter the criminal justice system.

“People look at the one teen boy or girl and the baby and go ‘oh.’ But in fact this isn’t an individual problem, it one that affects the whole community and it's a problem that reflects the social and economical health of our city,” Rhodes Miller said.

The D.C. campaign to cut teen pregnancy is focused on cutting the city's teen pregnancy rate in half by 2015. They insist it's a crucial step in ensuring a better future for the city's teens and the city itself.

“You’ll see young people living better jobs. They'll attend school instead of working a night job. They'll go on to college instead of staying here and taking care of a child. They'll be better more productive citizens and then go on to have a better and healthier family,” the campaign’s Jay Cooper said.