By Susie Jones, NewsRadio 830 WCCO

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Minnesota’s birthrate among teenagers is at the lowest point in 40 years according to a report just released by Teen Wise.

Brigid Riley is Executive Director of the group and said there are a couple of reasons for the drop.

WCCO’s Susie Jones Interviews Brigid Riley

“The thing that we know the most is that there is better use of contraceptives by teenagers who are sexually active and teenagers are waiting longer,” she said.

Riley says Minnesota’s rates were higher than the national averages however, for minorities.

“And they are two to five times higher pregnancy and birthrates for girls from populations of color,” she said.

Riley says there is still work to be done.

“We know STD rates are still climbing in our state, and young people are also hungry for information about healthy relationships,” she said. “There’s a new crop of 13-year-olds every year we really can’t stop our work.”

Riley added, parents are still the most important player in keeping the birthrates low. She says keep talking to those young people in your lives.