MOAPPP July 2009 E-Monthly

No “Monkey Business” at MOAPPP

“I wouldn’t belong to a club that would have me as a member,” Groucho Marx famously remarked. Well, MOAPPP would love to have you as a member! We KNOW that our members are some of the greatest advocates for teens in Minnesota.

Are you a MOAPPP member yet? Though the cost is small, the value is large. MOAPPP membership is the critical link for learning, networking and information sharing across Minnesota.

Individuals can join for just $35 a year, and organizations for only $100, and become part of the only professional association in the state of Minnesota dedicated to promoting adolescent sexual health, preventing adolescent pregnancy and gaining support for adolescent parents.

We’ve set a goal of increasing membership by 10% this year, and want to add another 50 organizations or 150 individuals BY SEPTEMBER 30 to expand our reach.

Visit our Membership page to join the MOAPPP network today!

2010 MOAPPP Conference Planning Committee Seeks New Members

Planning for the 2010 MOAPPP Annual Conference is underway and we are recruiting new members for the planning committee. We look to the planning committee for their perspectives and advice on the conference theme, workshop and keynote presentations, and event logistics. Meetings are held once a month at the MOAPPP office and promise to be productive, stimulating…and fun! If you would like to be involved in planning this great event, please contact Charissa Osborn at 651-644-1447 x10 or [email protected].

Corrections to Our Printed Training Calendar July-December 2009

Dates and locations for the We Can Parent Together training series are incorrect in our current Training Calendar. Corrections are listed below. We apologize for any inconvenience our error might have caused you. A full description of this training is included in the MOAPPP Events section of this newsletter.

Thursday, September 24, 2009 in Fergus Falls
Friday, September 25, 2009 in Bemidji
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 in St. Paul
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 in Duluth
Thursday, October 22, 2009 in Owatonna
Tuesday October 27, 2009 in West St. Paul
Friday, October 30, 2009 in Little Falls
Thursday, November 5, 2009 in Redwood Falls

Other Announcements

Your Input Needed

The Maternal and Child Health Section of the Minnesota Department of Health seeks input regarding priority needs for three target populations:

Pregnant women, mothers and infants;
Children and adolescents; and
Children and youth with special health care needs.

Please take a few moments to complete their online survey—available until Friday, July 17—to inform what priority issues will be addressed through the federal Title V (MCH) Block Grant activities during 2011-2016. To learn more about the needs assessment process and to access the survey, visit www.health.state.mn.us and click on the “Take the 2010 Needs Assessment Survey” link. Please note: You will need to accept the security certificate to complete the survey.

For Youth

MTV Casting NOW!!!

MTV is once again casting for its series, “16 and Pregnant,” which airs on Thursdays at 9 p.m. (CST). This documentary series focuses on young women during their pregnancy. The show’s creators realize that this is a sensitive subject that many young women are experiencing, so the goal is to show what pregnant women, from varying backgrounds, are experiencing in their everyday lives.

From morning sickness to mood swings, and to even the day of the baby’s arrival, they would like you to let them document this exciting, life changing event. This show will allow young women to share their story in their own voice.

Please email ASAP with the city and state you live in, your contact details, a picture and why you would want to take part in this series.

Support Group for Teen Survivors of Sexual Violence

The eight-week support group, sponsored by the Sexual Violence Center, is for teen survivors of sexual violence. Group is FREE. For more information, call 612-871-5111 or visit www.sexualviolencecenter.org.

In the News

Comprehensive Sex Education Program Improves Knowledge of Safer-Sex Practices in Cleveland Schools

A recent evaluation of Cleveland Public Schools comprehensive sex ed program shows improved knowledge and attitudes toward safer-sex practices. Evaluation details are available in the full research report (PDF). To learn more, visit www.nationalpartnership.org.

Oregon Passes Sex Ed Legislation

Oregon’s Governor signed sex ed into law earlier this June. The new law requires school districts to provide students in all public elementary and secondary schools with medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education courses. Read more at www.nationalpartnership.org.

Chicago Public Schools to Launch New Program to Prevent and Treat Chlamydia and Gonorrhea

The Chicago public schools system will launch a pilot program to provide students in grades 11 and 12 with voluntary education, testing and treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea. 2007 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed Cook County had the second-highest number of reported chlamydia cases in the U.S. Read more at www.nationalpartnership.org.

Support for Fathers’ Involvement in their Teens’ Lives

A new study found that teenage girls with involved fathers were more likely to practice safer sex than those without. Specifically, teens with involved fathers tend to use condoms to protect against STIs more than other teens. According to the article in Men’s News Daily, both parents are important to teen sexual behavior, but father involvement has twice the effect.

New Resources

Power Source Parenting

A new book released by the Lionheart Foundation, Power Source Parenting: Growing Up Strong and Raising Healthy Kids, is a hands-on parenting guide to address the social and emotional issues of teen parents. It is currently being piloted in youth development centers and parenting classes in Massachusetts and distributed free of charge to professionals across the country who serve young parents.

Free copies of Power Source Parenting are available to professionals who are working with pregnant or parenting teens in a counseling capacity. For more information, visit www.lionheart.org.

Two New Resources from Healthy Teen Network

Issue in Brief: Youth Development & Teen Pregnancy, STI, and HIV Prevention
This report (PDF) highlights the role of Youth Development in prevention of teen pregnancy, STIs and HIV. The report shows that the health, safety and well-being of adolescents intersect with their family life, school environment and community stability. Disparate rates, as well as teens’ access to services and supports persist across race/ethnicity and socio-economic lines.

Preventing Teen Pregnancy Among Marginalized Youth
This report describes how to better meet the needs of marginalized youth and subsequently reduce their risk for early pregnancy and parenting. View the full report (PDF) and an executive summary (PDF).

New Male Involvement Resources from The National Campaign

Although there has been growing recognition that responsible fatherhood is an important part of promoting child well-being and healthy families, there is still relatively little focus on delaying early or unplanned fatherhood. In addition, data supports the premise that a father’s presence in the life of a teenager decreases the likelihood of a teen pregnancy. To that end, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy has designed a web portal on male involvement. Find resources, information and other helpful tools geared towards males and preventing teen and unplanned pregnancy.

Free Downloads of the F.L.A.S.H. Curriculum from Washington State

The Family Life and Sexual Health curriculum (F.L.A.S.H.) is a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum containing lesson plans for 4th-12th grades, including 28 lessons for special education. The curriculum has been adopted and widely used by school districts in King County, WA, as well as throughout the US and Canada. Developed by Seattle & King County Public Health, F.L.A.S.H. is considered a ‘promising’ rather than a ‘proven’ program, as the curriculum has yet to be rigorously evaluated, but meets most of the 17 characteristics of effective curriculum-based programs as outlined by Dr. Douglas Kirby.

New Research

Changing Behavioral Risk for Pregnancy Among High School Students in the United States

Researchers devised a study to identify patterns in teen behaviors that lead to pregnancy with the aim of explaining shifts in teen birth and pregnancy rates. Findings do not show significant change in sexual activity and may “suggest that contraceptive use was a key driver in changing teen pregnancy rates.”

Read the abstract recently published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Childbearing Outside of Marriage

A report by the Centers for Disease Control shows that teenagers accounted for just 23% of nonmarital births in 2007, down steeply from 50% in 1970. Much of the change has to do with the fact that more adults are choosing not to marry, so more children are born to single adult mothers.

Community-Based Sexual Health Intervention for Young Adult Men

Men’s reluctance to seek health care in general and sexual health care in particular negatively affects their sexual health outcomes as well as those of their partners. This study presents information on an educational intervention for men that resulted in more positive health care utilization attitudes and modestly improved use of sexual and reproductive health care services.

Building Systems-Level Partnerships

Partnerships among out-of-school time programs, schools and the communities have been recognized as a feature of high-performing programs. In addition, systems-level partnerships can play critical roles when programs decide to implement new evidence-based practices or activities. This brief (PDF) from ChildTrends links research findings to effective strategies for building systems-level partnerships in out-of-school time programs.

2009 Survey of Americans on HIV/AIDS: Summary of Findings on the Domestic Epidemic

This spring, the Kaiser Family Foundation released the 2009 Survey of Americans on HIV/AIDS, its seventh major survey of the American public’s attitudes, opinions, knowledge and experiences related to HIV/AIDS.

Adolescent Cognitions About Sexual Abstinence

This study describes developmental differences in cognitions about sexual abstinence among high-risk early adolescents. The researchers observed three distinct views of sexual abstinence, “That’s Nasty,” “Curious,” and Normative. All groups viewed abstinence as a starting point and sex as a transition to adulthood. The study concluded that the transition from viewing sex as distasteful to curiosity appears to be a time of both vulnerability and openness, and may provide an opportunity for intervention.

Criminal Behavior Prevention Program Also Effective In Reducing Adolescent Pregnancy

A program aimed at preventing criminal behavior in teenage girls has yielded an unexpected, positive side effect—it also reduces the teens’ pregnancy rates. Findings are consistent with the notion that programs that target delinquency by impacting general risk behavior pathways and contexts may more successfully prevent teen pregnancy than those that directly target sexual behaviors. Read the abstract.

It’s Better on TV: Does Television Set Teenagers Up for Regret Following Sexual Initiation?

Television portrayals of sexuality, which typically stress the positive aspects of sex rather than its potential problems and consequences, may build high expectations that are unlikely to be met by teenagers’ actual experience, according to researchers. To help young people make more carefully considered decisions about initiating sexual activity, the authors of this study recommend limiting teenagers’ exposure to sexual content on TV, ensuring balanced portrayals of sex in the media and helping teenagers think critically about what they see on TV.

Second Births to Teenage Mothers: Risk Factors For Low Birth Weight and Preterm Birth

According to researchers, the risk of poor outcomes of second births to adolescents is related to young mothers’ smoking during pregnancy, gaining too little weight while pregnant, having closely spaced pregnancies and receiving inadequate prenatal care—behaviors that may be modified with appropriate interventions. The authors of this study suggest that health care providers work to identify and address modifiable health risk behaviors during routine clinic visits. They also recommend that to ensure the long-term economic well-being of both adolescent mothers and their children, programs encourage and support young mothers in finishing high school and pursuing higher education.

Intrauterine Devices for Adolescents: A Systematic Review

This study sought to analyze the relevant evidence on whether IUDs are an appropriate and reliable method of contraception for adolescents. Researchers concluded that the literature on IUD use among adolescents is very small, and randomized controlled trials and cohort studies comparing contemporary IUDs with other methods are urgently needed. Nevertheless, published reports were generally positive.

Chlamydia Screening for Adolescent Girls During Pediatric Urgent Care

Since most Chlamydia infections have no symptoms, routine screening is the only way to detect the majority of cases. However, screening rates among adolescents and young adults under age 26 remains low. To increase screening rates, researchers developed a clinical practice improvement intervention that significantly increased screening of sexually active girls during regularly scheduled preventive health visits, as well as boys in the same setting. Read the abstract.

Family Mediators of Acculturation and Adolescent Sexual Behavior Among Latino Youth

This study (PDF) explored the relationship between intentions to have sexual intercourse and explanatory variables such as adolescent romantic relationship status and partner preferences, maternal approval of dating, adolescent perceptions of maternal approval of dating, and maternal and adolescent levels of familismo and acculturation. Findings revealed complex dynamics between acculturation and adolescent sexual behavior. Protective and risk-inducing associations were observed, with important gender differences operating for boys and girls.

Closely Supervised Foster Care Linked With Reduced Pregnancy Rates for Teens

Teenage girls with a history of delinquency who were placed in individualized foster care programs were less likely than their peers to become pregnant, according to this study in the June issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

MOAPPP Events

July 20–22, 2009
Making Proud Choices!: Training of Educators

July 20–21: 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
July 22: 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West, Roseville

Making Proud Choices! is an 8-module curriculum for use by school districts, faith communities and community organizations that provides adolescents with the knowledge, confidence and skills to reduce their risk of STI/HIV and pregnancy. This curriculum, designed for youth ages 11-13, emphasizes waiting to have sex or using condoms if young people choose to have sex. In addition to the 2 ½ days of highly interactive training, each participant receives a copy of the Making Proud Choices! curriculum, an activity set and video clips. For more information and to register, see the flyer and event registration form. Questions? Contact Jill Farris at 651-644-1447 x18 or [email protected].

July 27–29, 2009 (July 30 for graduate students)
2009 Summer Institute in Adolescent Health
Social and Emotional Health for All Young People: Expanding Approaches

Minnesota Department of Health, Snelling Office Park, St Paul

Cost: $250

At the 2009 Summer Institute in Adolescent Health, learn strategies for enhancing supportive environments and fostering skills for social and emotional health for all young people. Gather ideas for adding to what’s already working, whether in a community clinic or youth program, at school or after-school, within a residential center or a juvenile justice setting. Practice skills for selecting optimal approaches for reaching young people, all of whom we hope are on healthy social and emotional pathways to adulthood. For more information and to register, visit www.nursing.umn.edu.

Sponsored by the Center for Adolescent Nursing, University of MN, School of Nursing. Co-sponsored by Coordinated School Health, MN Department of Education; Healthy Youth Development-Prevention Research Center and Konopka Institute, Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of MN; Maternal and Child Health Section, MN Department of Health; and MOAPPP.

August 4-5, 2009
It’s That Easy: The Caring Adult’s Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Children

8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Worthington Travelodge
2015 Humiston Avenue, Worthington

If you work with parents/caregivers of children birth to 18, you are in a unique position to support them in their critical role as sexuality educators for their children. However, sexuality is not always easy to discuss. Come learn tools and techniques to engage parents/caregivers in developmentally appropriate approaches to raising sexually healthy children. Participants receive the It’s That Easy manual, a comprehensive guide designed to help you work with parents in your community.

For more information, see the flyer and registration form (PDF). Questions? Contact Jocelyn Broyles at 651-644-1447 x19, [email protected]. Scholarships are available.

Special acknowledgements to our partners for their dedication to this project: Healthy Youth Development–Prevention Research Center-U of MN, Health Start/West Side Community Health Services, Saint Paul-Ramsey County Department of Public Health, Sexual Violence Prevention Program-MN Department of Health, Teen Age Medical Service, West Suburban Teen Clinic, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota International Health Volunteers.

We Can Parent Together: Tools for Engaging Fathers, Mothers and Others

September 24-Fergus Falls
September 25-Bemidji
September 30-Twin Cities Metro Area
October 14-Duluth
October 22-Owatonna
October 27-Twin Cities Metro Area
October 30-Little Falls
November 5-Redwood Falls

All workshops from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

When parents are consistent and support each other in the task of parenting, children benefit. This workshop presents the basics and benefits of co-parenting, and offers strategies and best practices to utilize in supporting any family working to raise children in a healthy, safe environment. Specific focus will be given to the unique challenges of divorcing and never-married parents, adolescent parents, or those with substance-abuse / dependence-related concerns. This workshop is designed for professionals working with families.

Follow this link to register. View the event brochure.

Presented by Minnesota Fathers & Families Network, Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota, Minnesota Prevention Resource Center, Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting, University of Minnesota Extension and Department of Human Services Children’s Trust Fund.

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.

No Coalition events in July.

Other Events

July 13, 2009
All About Minds: Infants, Parents & Service Providers; Considering Multiple Perspectives in Early Intervention

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Maple Grove Community Center
12951 Weaver Lake Road, Maple Grove

Early childhood interventionists consider multiple perspectives when assessing and assisting parent-child interaction. Parents may have difficulty “seeing” the child as a developing person and may derive little pleasure from their daily activities. This workshop lays the foundation for the professional’s use of multiple perspectives in assessment and intervention and the “sharing of minds” that is essential to effective early intervention. For more information and to register, visit www.macmh.org.

July 23, 2009
Fathers to the Forefront: Public Policy Year-In-Review

10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Shriners Hospital
2025 East River Parkway, Minneapolis

Join this conversation about changes taking place in government policies around father-inclusion. The agenda will include 2009 legislative highlights, state and federal policies changes that affect dads and beginning a conversation around 2010 legislative priorities.

Sponsored by the Minnesota Fathers & Families Network with support from the McKnight Foundation. RSVP to Paul Masiarchin at [email protected] or 651-222-7432. This event is free, but RSVP required.

July 23-24, 2009
2009 MN Viral Hepatitis Symposium: Linking Prevention, Diagnosis and Care

Park Plaza
4460 West 78th Circle, Bloomington

This symposium will provide a forum for discussing the viral hepatitis prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment needs of Minnesotans. The agenda features nationally known hepatitis experts, epidemiologists, advocates from programs that have made significant inroads in addressing hepatitis and patients who will share their experiences. To register, visit www.liverfoundation.org. For more information, contact Cheri Booth, MPH at 651-201-4035 or [email protected].

Parenting With No Workshops

August 17-Moorhead
October 20-Minneapolis
November 6-St. Cloud

Parenting with No, a workshop from MediaWise with Dr. David Walsh, delivers practical, hands-on training based on key messages and strategies from the bestselling book, “No, Why Kids—of All Ages—Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It” which sparked a statewide movement, Say Yes to No. The workshop is designed for parents as well as teachers, early childhood professionals, social workers, parent educators and health care providers. Optional leader’s training is included and continuing education credits will be available. For more information or to register, visit www.sayyestono.org.

October 2009
Making the Connections: A Day of Discovery for Mothers and Daughters

October 3-Rochester
October 10-Twin Cities

8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Girls ages 10-12 and their mothers or female mentors are encouraged to connect and communicate. Through dialogue, activities and discussion, we bring an element of fun and lightheartedness to some important topics, including:

Puberty
Healthy sexuality
Family communication and connection

For more information, visit www.plannedparenthood.org.