MOAPPP May 2004 E-Monthly

May is Teen Pregnancy Awareness Month.

Visit the MOAPPP website for ideas on what you can do to raise awareness of teen pregnancy in your community: MOAPPP.org

Table of Contents

MOAPPP Search Committee Announces New Executive Director

The Search Committee is pleased to announce the selection of Brigid Riley as the new MOAPPP Executive Director effective June 1. Brigid comes to MOAPPP with in-depth knowledge and expertise in issues surrounding teen pregnancy prevention and youth development. She holds an undergraduate degree from the College of St. Catherine and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota. She comes to us from the Hennepin County Community Health Department where she has been the Senior Health Promotion Specialist leading several critical initiatives related to youth risk behavior, teen parents and teen pregnancy prevention. She was selected for the 2004 Emerging Leaders Network; she is on the Community Advisory Network for National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Research Center and is on the Minneapolis Public Health Advisory Committee. In addition, Brigid is an active community volunteer. Brigid is a talented, thoughtful and creative individual who is deeply committed to our mission and values.

Shoulder to Shoulder

To view the Shoulder to Shoulder flash email message, click here: http://69.56.194.122/creatives/weber/webtherapy/richmedia1.html

What’s Happening at the Legislature

Activity at the State Capitol has slowed down in recent weeks. Policy and budget bills are on hold until the tax bills are put together. Conference committees, which help to resolve the differences in House and Senate bills, have yet to be decided. We will keep you updated as things progress.

Legislation that Affects Sexuality Education

  • The Omnibus Education Policy bill (SF 1774), which includes the Comprehensive Family Life and Sexuality Education bill developed by the Sexuality Education for Life-Minnesota coalition, was scheduled for and then pulled again for the third time from the agenda of the Senate Finance committee on April 27. Fiscal concerns, not related to the comprehensive sexuality education legislation, are the cause for the delay. Once the Senate Finance committee hears, and hopefully passes, the Omnibus bill it will move to the Senate floor. For more updates on this bill: www.SexEdforLife.org.

Sexuality Education for Life Coalition E-Alerts

  • For legislative updates on comprehensive sexuality education and confidential health care for minors or for more information on these two issues, go to the Sexuality Education for Life-Minnesota coalition website: www.SexEdforLife.org.

What If: How Declines in Teen Births Have Reduced Poverty and Increased Child Well-Being

Years of research has closely linked teen pregnancy and early childbearing to a host of other critical social issues, including poverty and overall child well-being, out-of-wedlock births, workforce readiness, and responsible fatherhood. An important new report released by the U.S. Congress’ Ways and Means Committee based on data from the Joint Economic Committee provides compelling evidence that supports the link between declining teen birth rates and improving poverty rates and living arrangements of children, in particular. The report answers two questions: what would have happened to poverty rates and living arrangements of children if teen birth rates remained constant between 1991 and 2002, and to what extent the declining teen birth rates improvement in poverty statistics and child living arrangements during the same time period? The committee report finds that if teen birth rates had remained unchanged between 1991 and 2002, nearly 1.2 million additional children would have been born to teen mothers; 460,000 more children would have lived in poverty; and close to 700,000 more children would have lived in single mother households.

Read the full report or the summary of the report by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

New Publications from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

1) “Making the List: Understanding, Selecting, and Replicating Effective Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs.” This report describes how to use various lists of “programs that work” to choose a teen pregnancy prevention program.

You can access the PDF file of the publication or visit the National Campaign website at www.teenpregnancy.org.

2) “Another Chance: Preventing Additional Births to Teen Mothers”, by Lorraine Klerman, Dr.P.H., summarizes what is known about additional births to teen mothers, the dimensions of the problem, the factors that seem to increase the chances of such births occurring to teen mothers, their consequences, and the potential for prevention. The primary focus of the 49-page report (a summary pamphlet is also available) is a critical review and assessment of programs. The report closely examines what types of programs are most effective in preventing additional pregnancies and births to teen mothers.

Purchase or download this publication at a discounted rate.

STIs Among Young Americans Call for Realistic Approach

New estimates show that 15-24-year-olds, who represent one-quarter of sexually experienced Americans, accounted for half of newly diagnosed sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 2000. “Comprehensive Approach Needed to Combat Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Youth,” by Heather Boonstra, discusses the impact of STIs on people’s lives and examines the type of comprehensive national strategy needed to fully address this problem, including medically accurate information about condoms and other contraceptive methods, and guidance in how to access appropriate prevention, testing and treatment services.

NOAPPP’s 25th Anniversary Conference

After 25 Years: Looking Back to Move Forward
November 17-20, 2004
New Orleans, Louisiana

The National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention (NOAPPP) is pleased to announce its annual conference, November 17 -20, 2004 (Pre-conference Institute November 17, Conference November 18-20) at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.

NOAPPP has extended the deadline and is accepting proposals for workshop presentations until May 17th. Proposals are being accepted online. Please submit your proposal on NOAPPP’s website: www.noappp.org.

Conference objectives include describing successful strategies and interventions for involving parents in the decisions of their teens regarding reproductive health, reducing teen pregnancy, incorporating community values in addressing reproductive health issues, programs for increasing parenting skills of adolescents toward their own children, and strategies increasing male involvement in pregnancy prevention and parenting skills. Other objectives are to discuss various topics such as collaborative efforts with local, state and national decision makers to impact teen access to care and to discuss the latest research and evaluation methodology in adolescent reproductive health care.

Detailed information about submitting workshop proposals for the 2004 conference can be found at: www.noappp.org