MOAPPP December 2009 E-Monthly

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Proposed Federal Funding for Teen Pregnancy Prevention

The Federal Appropriations Conference Committee approved $114 million for teen pregnancy prevention this week. Funding has been directed to the newly established Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The House and Senate will now debate the bill, potentially offer amendments, and vote on whether or not to approve the budget. There is no timeline yet for when funds will be made available, but it expected that $88 million will be targeted to local and faith-based organizations through competitive grants.

An additional $50 million is included in health care reform legislation for states, tribes and territories. No decisions have been made about how this funding would be directed.

All the information MOAPPP has received indicates that funding will be for evidence-based programming. You can find more information about what kinds of programs are considered evidence-based on our website.

MOAPPP will regularly post developments about funding opportunities, and will host information sessions in the upcoming months. Stay tuned!

Amazon.com and Holiday Gift Giving

Why not give holiday gifts this year that also give back? Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this season at Amazon.com Gift Central. Link to amazon.com by way of MOAPPP’s website and MOAPPP will receive a percentage of the sale. A link to amazon.com appears on the left-side navigation bar on every page of MOAPPP’s website for your convenience. Remember to make all of your amazon.com purchases through MOAPPP!

MOAPPP December 2009 E-MonthlyCheck Out MOAPPP’s New Advocacy Network Action Site!

MOAPPP is pleased to announce the addition of advanced software to increase the sophistication of our grassroots advocacy. This will make taking action on issues you care about quick and easy. If you’re already a member, the first time we send you an alert you’ll want to click the Update Profile link and set up a password for your account. This password will allow you to log into your action profile whenever you like. If you are new to the Advocacy Network, please sign up at the Network web page.

Call for Exhibitors for MOAPPP’s 19th Annual Conference, May 6 – 7, 2010

Please join us as an exhibitor for the 19th Annual MOAPPP Conference, May 6-7, 2010 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. The MOAPPP Conference convenes approximately 400 social service and health care providers, educators, advocates, program directors and youth who work to promote adolescent sexual health, prevent adolescent pregnancy, HIV and STIs, and support pregnant and parenting teens in Minnesota. Visit the conference page of the MOAPPP website for more information and an application.

MOAPPP Annual Awards

MOAPPP will confer awards in the following categories at its annual conference:

  • Advocate of the Year
  • Outstanding Individual of the Year
  • Program of the Year
  • Teen of the Year

To nominate a person or organization in any of these categories, please submit a complete nomination (PDF) to Brigid Riley, MOAPPP Executive Director at [email protected]. For more information about the conference, please contact Sally Mandler, Conference Coordinator at [email protected], 651-644-1447 x13.

Other Announcements

National Black HIV/ADS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) – February 7, 2010

“HIV/AIDS Prevention – A Choice and a Lifestyle” will be the theme for NBHAAD 2010. Downloadable materials are available online on the NBHAAD websites at www.blackaidsday.org and www.hbc-inc.org. For more information, contact Lamont Evans, 1-404-454-5469, [email protected]. Watch the MDH website for local updates and activities.

In the News

Inclusion of Abstinence-Only Funding in Senate Health Reform Bill Surprises Advocates on Both Sides

www.nationalpartnership.org

Revere, Massachusetts Keeps School Contraception Policy

A recent controversial ballot initiative in Revere, Massachusetts attempted to end the practice of allowing high school students to get contraception at the school’s health clinic. The policy was approved last February in response to increasing rates of sexual activity and pregnancy among local teens. The initiative failed when put to voters in December. To learn more, visit www.boston.com.

New Resources

Supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Children

Helping Families Support Their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Children (PDF) provides information about sexual orientation and gender identity to help friends, family, and other adults support LGBT children and adolescents. Contents include basic information to help families support their LGBT children; research on the impact of families on their LGBT children’s health, mental health and well-being; and ways ethnically, religiously and socially diverse families, parents and caregivers can support their LGBT children. Guidance for providers who work with LGBT children, adolescents and families is also included.

CDC Reports Rise in STDs in 2008

Rates of the three most common sexually transmitted infections in the U.S. (chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis) continue to increase. Adolescents across the United States continue to be disproportionately affected. To view the annual CDC report of statistics and trends for sexually transmitted diseases in the United States through 2008, visit www.cdc.gov.

Tool to Assess the Characteristics of Effective Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs (TAC) now available in Spanish

The TAC (PDF), based on Dr. Douglas Kirby’s research on common characteristics of rigorously evaluated HIV, STD and teen pregnancy prevention curricula, is now available in Spanish. This tool is especially useful to guide assessments of programs that have not been evaluated and could be considered “promising” if program components align with the TAC.

Data, Charts and Research from the National Campaign

The DCR Report (Data, Charts, Research) provides in depth answers to some critical questions about teen and unplanned pregnancy. The report is divided into nine sections, eight on unplanned pregnancy and one on teen pregnancy. The teen pregnancy focus is Section E, The Changing Portrait of Teen Childbearing Over Time. New sections will be added to the DCR Report from time to time and readers are encouraged to check back often on this ever evolving set of data. Check out the DCR report webpage for more information.

Let’s Talk Tablemats

In an effort continue to promote family communication and connection all year long, Planned Parenthood offers the Let’s Talk Tablemat—a conversation-starter tool for families at meal time. You may download the English or Spanish version of the tablemat here at www.ppmns.org. Spice up dinner tonight with Planned Parenthood’s Let’s Talk Tablemat! It’s a fun, simple way to get everybody talking. Let’s Eat, Let’s Talk…Let’s See Where It Takes Us!

New Research

Romantic Relationships at Age 15

Using a longitudinal sample of 957 youth monitored from infancy through age 15, this study examined the depth of engagement in and quality of romantic relationships in association with early and contemporaneous parent-child interactive quality (maternal sensitivity) and peer social competence. Results indicate that adolescents were not engaging in high levels of romantic involvement at age 15 and that their longest relationships averaged approximately 7 months.

Perceptions and Satisfaction with Father Involvement and Adolescent Mothers’ Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

This study examined the associations between adolescent mothers’ postpartum depressive symptoms and their perceptions of amount of father care giving and satisfaction with father involvement with the baby.

Telling It Like It Is: Teen Perspectives on Romantic Relationships

A new Child Trends brief (PDF) summarizes findings from focus groups that explored what teens themselves have to say about these relationships. The report found that teens view respect, trust and love as essential to healthy relationships, and they have a clear understanding and expectation of what defines a healthy romantic relationship. In addition, teens’ relationships typically fall short of their own standards of healthy romantic relationships, and infidelity, relationship violence, and few role models contribute to teens’ low expectations for healthy relationships.

Preventing Latina Teen Pregnancy: Challenges and Solutions for Practitioners

This report from the Frances McClelland Institute at the University of Arizona addresses Latina teenage pregnancy prevention from the perspective of professionals who work in Latina teen pregnancy programs. Practitioners discuss the importance of differentiating between U.S. mainstream culture and the culture and experiences of Latino youth and their families. They also stress the need for program staff to be culturally sensitive and to include male partners in pregnancy prevention strategies.

Parents Matter: The Role of Parents in Teens’ Decisions About Sex

This new research brief (PDF) from Child Trends examines whether parental involvement in adolescence reduces the chances of adolescents being sexually active at a young age. The brief explores how parenting practices that occur before adolescents become sexually active are associated with the probability of having had sexual experience by age 16. The authors highlight several dimensions of parental involvement in adolescents’ lives, including parent-adolescent relationship quality, parental awareness and monitoring of whom their adolescents spend time with, and frequency of eating dinner together as a family.

Integrating HIV, STI, and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Education and Service

An integrated approach means that youth receive information on a full range of sexual health issues and protective behaviors, including abstinence and the use of condoms and contraception. The integration of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STI), and teen pregnancy prevention offers many advantages for both youth and youth-serving organizations. Read the article (PDF) from Healthy Teen Network.

Helping Teens Stay Healthy & Safe: Health Care, Contraception, and Confidential Services

Confidential contraceptive services are an essential part of comprehensive health care and pregnancy prevention for teens. Numerous laws at the state and federal level help ensure adolescents’ access to contraceptive services and provide confidentiality protections. Read the article (PDF) from Healthy Teen Network.

Parenting Predicts Adolescent Sexual Risk Behaviors

This study analyzes growth trajectories of sexual risk behaviors and parenting processes among adolescents and their parents. Increases in regular family activities predicted declines in adolescents’ risky sexual activities. In contrast, increases in risky sexual activities predicted heightened father knowledge. Results highlight the importance of family activities as a protective force for adolescents and suggest that fathers may react differently than mothers in the face of youth problem behaviors. Read the abstract from the Child Development journal here.

Can You Hear Me Now? Evaluating Your Technical Assistance

This new report (PDF) from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, examines the provision of technical assistance (TA) and training to encourage the adoption of science-based approaches to preventing adolescent pregnancy. The report discusses challenges to evaluating TA, outcomes of TA, using logic models in evaluating TA and measurement and data collection.

Guttmacher Institute “State Policies in Brief”

Review these current brief for updated information around Minors’ Consent Laws and Minors’ Access.

Economic Evaluation of a Comprehensive Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Program

This study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medecine developed a cost–benefit estimate of the Pathways/Senderos Center, a comprehensive neighborhood-based program to prevent unintended pregnancies and promote positive development for adolescents. Benefits to society exceed costs by $10,474 per adolescent per year by age 30 years on average, with social benefits outweighing total social costs by age 20.1 years.

MOAPPP Events

December 15, 2009 (Rescheduled training – originally scheduled Nov. 4)
Two Trainings: Meeting the Unique Needs of Adolescent Mothers & Fathers and Practical Tips for Working with Teen Moms & Dads

Both trainings on Tuesday, December 15 in Redwood Falls.


Meeting the Unique Needs of Adolescent Mothers & Fathers
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Pizza Ranch
1360 East Bridge Street, Redwood Falls
Includes light continental breakfast and lunch

Three common goals of adolescent parent programs are to facilitate long-term self-sufficiency, build parenting capacity and ensure the healthy growth and development of the children born to young parents. This workshop, for professionals new to adolescent parent work, examines national and state data related to adolescent parents; systems that impact adolescent parents; the strengths and opportunities, as well as the challenges young parents bring to their new role; current research on best practices for working with adolescent parents; and the role every provider can play in enhancing the lives of these young families.


Practical Tips for Working with Teen Moms & Dads
2:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Pizza Ranch
1360 East Bridge Street, Redwood Falls

Working with adolescent parents can be both rewarding and challenging. Adults may find themselves unclear how to communicate concepts to young parents in a way that is meaningful and produces results. This workshop provides guidelines for how to develop activities and communicate with youth along with several specific take-away ideas and activities.


Cost for both trainings: $50 MOAPPP members/$85 non-members
Cost for Meeting the Unique Needs training: $35 MOAPPP members/$70 non-members
Cost for Practical Tips: $25 MOAPPP members/$60 non-members

For more information and to register for one or both of these trainings, see the flyer and registration form. Registration scholarships are available. Questions? Contact Sue at 651 644-1447 x15 or [email protected].

February 9, 2010
Teen Pregnancy Prevention 101

9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Eastside Community Center
1526 East 6th Street, St. Paul

This training is offered twice a year at various locations across Minnesota.

This training is intended for professionals new to the field of adolescent pregnancy prevention. Participants review the basics of adolescent pregnancy prevention including pregnancy, birth and STI statistics; trends in adolescent pregnancy and sexual behaviors; basics of adolescent growth and development; risk and protective factors associated with adolescent pregnancy; and prevention strategies that work. Each participant will leave with a basic understanding of current research and resources, what to do to promote adolescent sexual health and where to go for more information and support. For more information and to register, see the flyer and registration form (PDF). Click here to register online. Registration scholarships are available. Questions? Contact Jill at 651-644-1447 x18, [email protected]

February 19, 2010
Safer Choices: Training of School Teams

Webster Open Elementary School
425 NE 5th Street, Minneapolis

Join MOAPPP for a free learning session about this unique, school-wide approach to adolescent pregnancy prevention. The Safer Choices curriculum is designed for school settings and features five components: School Organization, Curriculum and Staff Development, Peer Resources and School Environment, Parent Education, and School-Community Linkages. Whether you work for a school, community-based agency, faith institution or other youth-serving organization, come find out if Safer Choices might be the program for you! For more information and to register, see the flyer and registration form (PDF). Click here to register online. Questions? Contact Jill at 651-644-1447 x18, [email protected].

Coalition for Responsible Sex Ed Events

MOAPPP is a founding member of the Coalition for Responsible Sex Ed. The Coalition advocates for policies on sexuality education and access to confidential health care for minors. Here is a list of Coalition events for 2009. For additional information, visit www.coalitionforsexed.org.

March 24, 2010
Youth Lobby Day

Minnesota State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul

This FREE event for youth will focus on being an effective advocate in the legislative process and issues surrounding responsible sex ed and minors’ access to confidential care in Minnesota. Minnesota youth will gather at the Capitol to send a message to legislators about the urgent need for a sex ed statute in Minnesota. More detailed information coming soon!

Learn more about the Coalition at www.coalitionforsexed.org. Find organizational members here. Join as an individual or as an organization here.

Other Events

Online Educator Trainings from Answer

Answer is now offering two online trainings for sex educators: Sexuality ABCs and STD Basics. For course descriptions and to register, visit Answer’s website.

December 14, 2009
National Campaign Conference Call on Reducing Teen Pregnancy Among Youth in Foster Care

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. (Central time)

This national conference call will feature three state team leaders who will highlight their work and answer questions about their successes, the challenges that they have met, and the strategies they are pursuing to tackle this issue. Click here for more information and registration details.

December 15, 2009
Attachment, Brain Development & Behaviors – An evening for parents

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Snell Motors Indoor Auto Center, Community Room
1900 E. Madison Avenue, Mankato

This workshop will focus on attachment-stressed children and their stressed out families! Workshop participants will learn how early developmental insults impair the child’s attachment relationships and prevent accomplishment of the typical developmental milestones. Attachment is viewed as a developmental process, rather than a mental health diagnosis. How the brain compensates and accommodates the child’s early experiences will be discussed, and an interpretation of the behaviors that typically accompany children with attachment wounds will be given. For more information or to register, click here.

January 2010
Sexuality Education Residency Workshop

Minneapolis

The Birds & Bees Project will be holding the nation’s only Sexuality Education Residency for pre-service teachers in Minneapolis, MN in January. The residency is a skills-based experience designed to prepare future educators with tools and knowledge that promote adolescent sexual health. The next Sexuality Education Residency will occur in January – May 2010 and includes four components:

  1. A 35-hour training held on January 7-8, and 15-16, 2010
  2. A 20-hour field experience paired with a health educator
  3. Participation in 3 half-day seminars
  4. Optional conference attendance

More information and the application can be found at www.birdsandbees.org.

January 13-15, 2010
Engaging Fathers; Strengthening Families

Arrowwood Resort
2100 Arrowwood Lane NW, Alexandria

The Minnesota Fathers & Families Network and the Strong Foundations Conference are coming together to offer a joint conference, “Strong Foundations & Fatherhood Summit.” The joint conference is designed for professionals in public health, health care, social work/mental health, child care, early childhood education, ECFE, ECSE, School Readiness, Early Head Start, child abuse prevention, home visiting, parenting education, family law, child support, and those who work with refugee and immigrant communities, the field of fatherhood, and other helping professions. Visit www.mnfathers.org for more information.

Various Dates
Cultural Proficiency Workshops

St. Paul

For over 110 years, Neighborhood House has been helping people, families and organizations develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive in diverse communities. We share what we have learned in our Cultural Proficiency Workshops. Our presenters are deeply immersed in their native and American cultures and share their personal experiences and the experiences of their community. Learn about Somali, Latino and Hmong cultures. For more information, visit the Neighborhood House website.