MOAPPP February 2006 E-Monthly

by

Support MOAPPP and become a member today!

MOAPPP is a member-supported organization that relies in part on modest annual membership dues from individuals and organizations so that we may provide the many programs and services that you, and others who work with and care about youth, have come to depend on. Additionally, the larger MOAPPP’s membership, the louder our collective voice will be on behalf of Minnesota’s youth. To join online, go to www.charitybox.com/MOAPPP. To print a membership form that can be mailed or faxed back, go to MOAPPP.org. (PDF) Questions? [email protected].

MOAPPP Annual Awards Nominations

Each year, MOAPPP honors individuals, agencies, policy makers and programs that make outstanding contributions in the areas of adolescent pregnancy prevention and parenting in Minnesota. Please let us know about those that deserve to be recognized by their peers. With your help, we can honor the remarkable efforts going on throughout the state. Nominations are due on March 31, 2006. Please visit our nomination form online. (PDF)

Free screening of The Education of Shelby Knox

MOAPPP is very excited to welcome Shelby Knox to our 15th Annual Conference in May. Ms. Knox was the focus of the acclaimed film, “The Education of Shelby Knox,” developed as a segment for the PBS series “POV,” that aired on Twin Cities Public Television last fall. The documentary chronicles four years of her life as a smart, independent high school girl and proponent of comprehensive sex education in Lubbock, Texas.

If you missed the film on TPT, or if you’d like to see it again, MOAPPP will host three free screenings in the coming months. In February, the film will be shown on Thursday, February 23 at the Minnesota AIDS Project, 1400 Park Ave. S. Please contact Leah Sweet at [email protected] or 651-644-1447 x12 if you have questions.

May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

It’s not too soon to start planning how your organization can promote May as National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (NTPPM). Observed each May by states and communities throughout the country, NTPPM seeks to involve communities in promoting and supporting effective teen pregnancy prevention initiatives. Advocates for Youth recently updated its National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (NTPPM) Planning Guidebook. (PDF) The guidebook provides strategic tips and examples to help local communities plan and implement activities for NTPPM. It also includes fact sheets, guidance for involving youth and working with the media and sample forms. Watch MOAPPP’s website for more info about what is happening in Minnesota for NTPPM.

 

In the News

Bridging Two Worlds: How Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs Can Better Serve Latino Youth

This report from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy summarizes the research, provides guidance on effective programs for Latino youth, advice from those working with Latino teens and advice from Latino teens themselves. Read the report at www.teenpregnancy.org. (PDF)

SIECUS “Minibook” Helps Young People Learn About Sexuality

The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS) released a new minibook, Talk About Sex, intended to help young people learn about sex and sexuality. Talk About Sex addresses a number of issues young people deal with every day surrounding their sexuality including, anatomy, pregnancy prevention, STI and HIV/AIDS prevention, love, relationships, communication, sexual abuse and sexual orientation, among other important topics. The minibook is intended for young people ages 16-24. For more information, visit www.siecus.org. (PDF)

Abstinence Beneficial to Younger Teens; May Not be Appropriate for Older Teens

According to a federally funded study, teen couples ages 14-17 who do not have sex are more likely to report greater satisfaction and commitment in their relationships. However, couples ages 17-20 who had sexual intercourse reported higher levels of commitment. Nonetheless, there was no correlation between sex and reported relationship satisfaction in the older group. (Welsh, D., et al. (2005). For an abstract and a copy of the full article see “Kissing Is Good: A Developmental Investigation of Sexuality in Adolescent Romantic Couples”.

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Introduces New Periodical

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is introducing a new periodical, Campaign Comment, which will include observations on current topics of interest in the field of teen pregnancy prevention. Read the first Campaign Comment at www.teenpregnancy.org. (PDF)

Engaging Adolescents in Out-of-School Time Programs: Learning What Works

The Harvard Family Research Project report, “Engaging Adolescents in Out-of-School Time Programs: Learning What Works,” finds that participating in out-of-school time activities can help teens reconnect and improve academic proficiency.

Cuts to Child Support Enforcement in Budget Bill Will Cost Families $8.4 Billion or More in Uncollected Child Support

The National Women’s Law Center has released a report on the recent Budget Bill (S, 1932) on how it will effect child support. Read the report online at www.nwlc.org. (PDF)

What Does the Research Say About School-Based Child Care?

School-based child care programs are a positive way for educational institutions to encourage young mothers to return to or stay in school, prepare for employment and acquire accurate information about child development and appropriate parenting practices. This document summarizes the research about the role school-based child care plays in teen parent families. Read the document at www.principalpartnership.com. (PDF)

American Journal of Sexuality Education is online

We are delighted to tell you that volume 1, number 1 of the American Journal of Sexuality Education is online in its entirety! You can visit www.haworthpress.com and click “View A PDF Sample” to download it. Just hang around the printer for a while if you are going to print all 231 pages! For paid subscribers, the print version will be coming out later this month. If you are unsure about your subscription status, please send a note to .

For more information , EdD(c), MSW Co-Editors, American Journal of Sexuality Education

Young Women of Color and the HIV Epidemic

Advocates for Youth has a new report on Young Women of Color and the HIV Epidemic focusing on the problems many women have as members of the working poor and therefore have less access to healthcare.

 

MOAPPP Events

February 8, 2006
Making Sense of Abstinence Training (FULL)

Minnesota Department of Education
Conference Center B
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

This workshop introduces participants to Making Sense of Abstinence, a curriculum that takes abstinence beyond a one-dimensional scope of “just say no.” It utilizes positive and engaging activities to help young people think about abstinence in a way that values their ability to make decisions. Bill Taverner from the Center for Family Life Education will be the trainer for this workshop. For more information and registration, see the Making Sense of Abstinence flyer and registration form. (PDF)

Update: Registration for this training is now closed.

February 23, 2006
Screening of “The Education of Shelby Knox”

Minnesota AIDS Project
1400 Park Ave. S.
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Join us for a free screening of the acclaimed documentary featuring youth advocate, Shelby Knox. This film chronicles four years of her life as a smart, independent high school girl and proponent of comprehensive sex education in Lubbock, Texas.

March 6, 2006
Girls Rock the Capitol

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

This event is for girls age 13-18 and it will be held at the Minnesota Women’s Consortium. Space is limited so register early! For more information, contact Bonnie Watkins at .

March 17, 2006
Sexuality Education for Life Coalition – Minnesota
Capitol Lab

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Minnesota – it’s time to listen, learn and get active. Come for an interactive session on the legislative process, take a tour of the capitol and state office building and find out how you can make a difference. Parents and professionals are invited to attend. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. To register or for more information contact Leah Sweet, [email protected], 651-644-1447 x 12.

May 4-5, 2006
MOAPPPs 15th Annual Conference “15 Years of Bringing the Pieces Together”

Earle Brown Heritage Center
Brooklyn Center, MN

Join us for two days of dynamic speakers, challenging workshops and many opportunities to network with Minnesota professionals committed to teen pregnancy prevention and support for pregnant and parenting teens.

Keynote Speakers

  • Douglas Kirby, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist, ETR Associates
    “25 Years of Pregnancy Prevention: Reflections on Lessons Learned, Progress Made, and the Promise for the Future”
  • Sharon Cooper, M.D., FAAP, University of North Carolina
    “The Normalization of Sexual Violence and Its Impact on Prevention”
  • Shelby Knox, Student, University of Texas, and youth activist highlighted in the film The Education of Shelby Knox
    “Youth Activism and Engagement: The Fight for Comprehensive Sexuality Education”

For more information, please contact [email protected].

May 5, 2006
Advocacy Lessons from Shelby Knox

Youth Only
3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center, MN

This dynamic session follows the MOAPPP conference and is open to all teens interested in learning more about advocacy for comprehensive sexuality education. This interactive program will be led by Shelby Knox and Rebecca Fox of SIECUS. For more information and to register for this event, contact Leah Sweet, MOAPPP at [email protected] or (651) 644-1447 x12.

May 11, 2006
MOAPPP’s Annual Benefit Event

6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

MOAPPP will be recognizing its 15-year history as Minnesota’s resource for teen pregnancy information This is a MOAPPP event you will not want to miss! Watch for more information at MOAPPP’s web site or contact [email protected]

 

Other Events

January – February 14, 2006
Respect Yourself. Protect Yourself. Condom Campaign Contest

To get the word out that condoms do protect against HIV and many other sexually transmitted infections, Advocates for Youth and Sex Etc. have created a Condom Campaign Contest with awards up to $500 and have developed an online creative tool that young people can use in the contest. Contest entrants must be between the ages of 15 and 24. For more information, visit www.advocatesforyouth.org.

February 7, 2006
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

February 7th is recognized annually as the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) – a nation-wide community mobilization initiative that leads to capacity building to increase awareness, participation and support for HIV prevention among African Americans. To register and order supplies for event(s) visit www.blackaidsday.org.

February 7, 2006
“Dating and Violence Should Never Be a Couple” – Preventing Teen Dating Violence

2:00pm-4:00pm EST
Online at the Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Please join us for the next Health Resources and Services Administration / Maternal and Child Health Bureau Webcast!

This webcast will provide an overview about teen dating violence issues and highlight U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) funded programs that target teen dating violence.

Participation in this webcast takes place exclusively through the internet. Register for the event at www.mchcom.com.

If you cannot join the program on February 7th, please note that this presentation will be archived by February 14, 2006 and available for viewing at any time by linking to the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

February 9, 2006
Childrens’ Issues Briefing

9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Neighborhood House

This briefing on childrens’ issues will highlight key legislative and advocacy efforts geared at protecting the futures of Minnesota’s youngest citizens. Legislators and childrens’ advocates will discuss how services to children and families have been impacted since 2003 as well as anticipated initiatives for the 2006 legislative session. For more information, download the registration form www.mncn.org.

February 9, 2006
University of Minnesota 1st Annual Family Policy Forum: Why Do Poor Women Put Motherhood Before Marriage?

1:00 – 2:30 pm
Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Institute (West Bank, U of MN)

In this first Family Policy Forum presentation, Dr. Edin will discuss her ethnographic research with poor and low-income parents. Edin and her collaborators have talked in depth with hundreds of low-income single mothers and fathers over many years to learn how they think about marriage and family. Her work offers an intimate look at what marriage and parenthood mean to these young people and provides the most extensive on-the-ground study to date of why some put children before marriage, despite the daunting challenges they know lie ahead.

February 14, 2006
Boston Legal on Emergency Contraception Viewing Partys

10pm EST on ABC
Main Party: Philadelphia, PA (location TBA)

The TV show Boston Legal will air an episode about a woman who was denied emergency contraception (the “morning-after pill) after she was raped. Please join us and other activists around the country by hosting a viewing party for the episode!

RaisingHerVoice.org needs your help to increase awareness about emergency contraception (EC) and how important it is, especially after a sexual assault. A sample invitation (word document), and host toolkit containing an episode guide, talking points and information on Emergency Contraception & Sexual Assault are both available with additional information on RaisingHerVoice.org.

March 7, 2006
Precinct Caucuses

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is hosting nonpartisan trainings for more information go to www.mncn.org.

March 27-28, 2006
Minnesota Conference on Adolescent Females (MCAF)

Save the date for the 16th Annual Minnesota Conference on Adolescent Females, hosted by the Girls Coalition of Minnesota. For more details, visit www.mngirls.org.

May 3, 2006
5th Annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Sponsored by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and National Day founding partners Teen People magazine and TeenPeople.com, the National Day is designed to focus the attention of teens on the importance of avoiding teen pregnancy and other consequences of sex. For more information, visit www.teenpregnancy.org.