News from the SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people are at elevated risk for a variety of health and mental health problems, including increased emotional distress, more frequent and heavier use of alcohol and drugs, earlier sexual debut, and increased sexual risk taking. This is a brand new training designed to help you gain knowledge, skills and strategies that will enable you to initiate or improve programs and services for LGBTQ youth.

Presenters:

Carolyn Greer
Consultant, American Psychological Association

Al Toney
Consultant, American Psychological Association

REGISTER NOW!

For more registration information please contact Bernetta Cooper at (803) 771-7700.

Celebrate National Philanthropy Day

Dear Friends of the SC Campaign:

Thank you for your commitment to the youth of South Carolina. At the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy we are dedicated to the reduction of teen pregnancy through creating a culture of change in our state - a change that views youth as assets; a change that recognizes youth as part of the solution, not the problem. But we can't accomplish all that we need to alone. As we celebrate, National Philanthropy day on November 15th, remember the spirit in which we continue to give and reinforce our commitment to ensure a brighter future for our greatest asset - our youth.

National Philanthropy Day serves as a moment to stop and appreciate the great contributions that charitable supporters, like you, make to sustain our mission, our community and our world. In the spirit of National Philanthropy Day, you can celebrate by getting involved in many ways.

Visit us Today and make your annual contribution
Participate in your local National Philanthropy Day events
Call or email Greer at the Campaign to inquire about volunteer opportunities 803-771-7700 or gpickett@teenpregnancysc.org

Sincerely,

Forrest L. Alton, MSPH, CHES
Executive Director

The Buzz: iPlan: Tips from Teens for Teens about Life, Love, and Not Getting Pregnant 100 Questions Book

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy recently asked teens from all over the country what they thought about relationships, sex, and pregnancy.

Click here to find out what teens had to say.

Check Out Our Latest Blog: Payment for Pregnancy Prevention?
I come from a long line of educators. In my house growing up, graduating from high school was the norm, going to college was expected, and education even beyond that was encouraged. I also lived in a two-parent household (my parents recently celebrated their 40th anniversary), had the ability and opportunity to be involved in sports and other extracurricular activities, and received a strong, consistent message that having children was what you did after college and marriage. I know that by today's standards, my teen years were fairly ideal and the clear exception to the rule. But have we taken the quest to motivate today's young people too far?

Click here to read more

What Can School Counselors Do?
A new fact sheet in the What Can You Do Series has just been released. As a school counselor, you have a unique opportunity to equip students with the information they need to make informed decisions about their futures so they can prevent pregnancy, excel in school and become successful adults.

Click here to view the fact sheet

Research Corner
Prevention of HIV/AIDS, other STIs and Pregnancy: Group-based Comprehensive Risk Reduction Interventions for Adolescents
The Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommends group-based comprehensive risk reduction (CRR) delivered to adolescents to promote behaviors that prevent or reduce the risk of pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The recommendation is based on sufficient evidence of effectiveness in: reducing a number of self-reported risk behaviors, including (1) engagement in any sexual activity, (2) frequency of sexual activity, (3) number of partners, and (4) frequency of unprotected sexual activity; (5) increasing the self-reported use of protection against pregnancy and STIs; and (6) reducing the incidence of self-reported or clinically-documented sexually transmitted infections. There is limited direct evidence of effectiveness, however, for reducing pregnancy and HIV.

Click here to read more

Telling It Like It Is: Teen Perspectives on Romantic Relationships

The majority of teens have been involved in a romantic relationship. A new Child Trends brief, Telling It Like It Is: Teen Perspectives on Romantic Relationships, summarizes findings from focus groups that explored what teens themselves have to say about these relationships.

Among the findings:

Teens view respect, trust, and love as essential to healthy relationships.
Teens have a clear understanding and expectation of what defines a healthy romantic relationship.
Teens' relationships typically fall short of their own standards of healthy romantic relationships.
Infidelity, relationship violence, and few role models contribute to teens' low expectations for healthy relationships.

Click here to read more

Workshops and Events
Dealing with Divorce: Effects on Adolescents & Coping Strategies for Families
Your ability to communicate with your child, meet their needs for safety and support, take care of yourself, and maintain a civil relationship with your ex will have a positive effect on your child. Join us during this
ParenTeen session to discuss the effects of divorce and what you can do as a parent or trusted adult to help our kids feel safe and loved.

Date:November 18, 2009

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm

Location: Palmetto Health Baptist
             1501 Sumter St., Ground Floor, Classroom A
                 Columbia, SC

Lunch will be provided and registration is free. To register call 803-296-CARE.

Computer Love 101: Sexting and Social Networking - Dangers and Consequences for Adolescents
Recent research has shown that 20 percent of teens report sending a sexually suggestive image or message. Join us during this ParenTeen session to discuss the potential life consequences of sexting and social
networking and what you can do to keep our kids safe.

Date: November 23, 2009

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm

Location: Palmetto Health Richland
             9 Medical Park, Room 130
             Columbia, SC

Lunch will be provided and registration is free. To register call 803-296-CARE.

In the News
Kershner, Lindley: We could use more work on campus sexual health
The State - "USC moves into the top spot."

It's fall in Columbia, and those six words are sure to get the attention of anyone with a pulse. When they appeared recently in The State, however, the topic wasn't football; it was sex. A national sexual health report card that annually ranks nearly 150 colleges on such things as student opinions of health centers and availability and cost of contraception ranked the University of South Carolina No. 1.

Click here to read more

Study: Options are key in sex education curriculum
The Washington Post - Sex education programs that encourage teens to delay sexual activity but also teach them how to reduce their chances of getting pregnant or a sexually transmitted disease cut risky sexual behavior, increase condom use and lower the chances of getting the AIDS virus and other infections, an independent expert panel concluded in a report released Friday.

Click here to read more

Obama signs hate crimes bill into law
CNN - President Obama on Wednesday signed a law that makes it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.

The expanded federal hate crimes law, hailed by supporters as the first major federal gay rights legislation, was added to a $680 billion defense authorization bill that Obama signed at a packed White House ceremony.

Click here to read more

Alexandria Teen Pregnancies Drop
Washington Examiner - The rate of adolescent pregnancies in Alexandria has fallen by 21 percent over the last decade, according to new city statistics. The level has dropped from more than 54 pregnancies per 1,000 families in 1999 to 43 pregnancies per thousand in 2008. "On a national level there's been a lot of attention brought to issue, and I think people [are more able] to talk about sex nowadays than they were 15 years ago," said Lisa Baker, director of Alexandria's Office on Women.

Click here to read more

Grants Available

National Women's Health Week
The purpose of NWHW is to empower women across the country to get healthy by taking action. The nationwide initiative, coordinated by HHS Office on Women's Health (OWH), encourages women to make health a top priority and take simple steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life. Region IV will fund 10 projects. The maximum award is $1,562.50. Applications must be received by December 8, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time.

Do Something Awards to Honor Young Social Change Activists

The Do Something Award is for individuals. The applicant must be 25 or under, and must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen.

Award winners will have identified a problem and have devised clear and measurable methods for addressing the problem; made a significant long-term commitment to improving the lives of others; cultivated long-term and respectful relationships within their community; demonstrated that they have directly and individually fueled the success of their work; extensively and tangibly improved the lives of others; created great awareness about their issues or causes; serve as program founders and/or leading activist/advocates; have a clear growth plan for their work that ensures sustainability and continued impact; and already be recognized as top leaders within their issue or cause.

The 2010 awards program will present four winners with $10,000 each, and one grand-prize winner with $100,000 toward their organization or cause. Application deadline is December 15, 2009.

Youth Service Projects Supported in the U.S. and Canada
Pay It Forward Foundation Mini-Grant Program
The Pay It Forward Foundation was established to inspire students to realize that they can change the world, and to provide them with opportunities to do so. Pay It Forward Mini-Grants are designed to fund one-time service-oriented projects that are identified by youth as activities they would like to perform to benefit their school, neighborhood, or greater community, and that include learning goals for the youth participants. Projects must contain a "pay it forward" focus - that is, they must be based on the concept of one person doing a favor for others, who in turn do favors for others, with the results growing exponentially. Schools, churches, and community youth groups (with an adult sponsor) in the U.S. and Canada may apply for funding. The application deadlines are September 15 and February 15 of each year; however, requests may be submitted at any time. Visit the Foundation's website to download the Mini-Grant guideline

Powered by Service Offers Funding to Seed Youth-Led Service Projects
Usher's New Look, a nonprofit organization founded by entertainer Usher Raymond IV that supports underprivileged youth in using their talents to become community leaders, has announced the launch of Powered By Service, a new initiative to encourage young people around the world to become involved in addressing the most pressing problems facing their communities - from preventing malaria and stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS to ending gang violence and increasing access to clean water.

Website of the Week:
Seriously Sexuality
Seriously Sexuality is SIECUS's website designed for teens to talk about sex, relationships and communication. It addresses sexuality and sexual rights, contraceptives, gender identity and sexual orientation, communication skills, STDs/HIV, etc., all in a teen friendly manner.

Click here to visit the website

DHEC WORKSHOPS & INFO

The STD/HIV Division is now accepting registration for the following training opportunities:

Understanding Sexual Addiction - December 3-4, 2009

HIV 201: An Advanced Knowledge-Based Course (In-Person and via Live Broadcast from Peeples Auditorium Simms/Accock Building) - December 14, 2009

Location Information: All training(s) are currently scheduled to be held in Columbia. Site locations will be provided in the confirmation letter with directions

For More Information: All communications regarding training should be directed to James Harris, Jr. STD/HIV Division Training Coordinator, at 803-898-0480 or by e-mail at harrisj@dhec.sc.gov