MOAPPP March 2006 E-Monthly

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”

Conference brochures are in the mail and can be dowloaded from the MOAPPP website.


Call for Exhibitors for MOAPPP Conference

Please join us as an exhibitor for the 15th Annual MOAPPP Conference. Exhibit information and registration forms are now available online. (PDF) The conference convenes approximately 400 social service and health care providers, educators, advocates, program directors, and youth who work to prevent adolescent pregnancy and support pregnant and parenting teens. Don’t miss this excellent opportunity to promote your program, organization or business! Exhibit space is limited+as so register TODAY!


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)


Become a MOAPPP member today!

MOAPPP is a member-supported organization that relies on 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. To join online, please visit www.charitybox.com/MOAPPP. To print a membership form that can be mailed or faxed back, go to MOAPPP.org. Questions? [email protected].


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,” which was aired on Twin Cities Public Television last fall as part of P.O.V., PBS’s acclaimed independent nonfiction film series. 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 would like to see it again, MOAPPP will host free screenings in the coming months on March 22 and April 24. Please see our announcement below for times and locations. Please contact Leah Sweet, [email protected] or (651) 644-1447 x12 to RSVP. An additional screening will take place on Friday, April 7 at the University of Minnesota’s Mayo Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. as part of the National Public Health Week Film Festival, hosted by the School of Public Health and the Minnesota Public Health Association.

 

Other Announcements

National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Releases Guide for Replicating Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs

As more research emerges on effective teen pregnancy prevention programs, practitioners in states and communities are often urged to “replicate programs with fidelity,” but actually doing so can be difficult. Copy That: Guidelines for Replicating Programs to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (PDF) is being released to help address this important topic. Copy That stresses that a key step to lowering teen pregnancy rates further is to extend the reach of teen pregnancy prevention programs that have been shown to have positive results. Although the nation has succeeded in decreasing teen pregnancies and births, these rates remain very high compared to other industrialized nations. Moreover, large disparities remain between the various racial and ethnic groups. Replicating programs proven to work is an important strategy in continuing recent progress. To purchase hard copies of Copy That, please visit the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy’s online store at www.teenpregnancy.org.


Eighth Annual European Study Tour

Advocates for Youth and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte are sponsoring the eighth European study tour, October 20-November 6, 2006. Apply now to travel to Netherlands, France and Germany to identify the strategies, programs and policies that have positively influenced adolescent sexual behavior and outcomes in these countries. For more information and to download the application, please visit www.advocatesforyouth.org


April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The national theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2006 is: “Speak Out: It’s About Time to Prevent Sexual Violence.” April 6 has been designated A Day To End Sexual Violence. In keeping with the “Speak Out” theme, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) is urging programs across the country to organize poetry slams featuring youth. The Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA) is also developing a Sexual Assault Awareness Month manual that will contain information about poetry slams and a lot more! For more information and ideas for programs and activities to highlight Sexual Assault Awareness month, please visit www.mncasa.org.


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) This 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 information about events during NTPPM.


May 3, 2006
National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Hundreds of thousands of teens nationwide are expected to participate in the fifth annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 3, 2006. The National Day is organized by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy to reach teens directly through an innovative, online quiz that reflects on the best course of action tough and realistic sexual situations. For ideas on how you can help promote the National Day, please visit www.teenpregnancy.org.

 

In the News

President Requests $27 Million Budget Boost for Failed Abstinence-Only Programs Amidst Deep Cuts

The President proposed increasing abstinence-only-until-marriage programs to $204 million in 2007. This includes increasing the Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) account by $27 million to $141 million, which includes a continuation of $4.5 million for the national evaluation of abstinence-only programs and up to $10 million, which will be available to fund a national abstinence-only awareness campaign. As in past years, the President’s request includes flat funding of $50 million for Title V (authorized under welfare reform) and $13 million within the Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) that is explicitly tied to the same definition of “abstinence education” as the other two programs. The budget also expresses support for increasing funding for abstinence-only programs to $270 million by 2009 and continuing to provide $4.5 million for abstinence program evaluations each year. For more information on the President’s budget, please visit www.advocatesforyouth.org.


Kansas DA Testifies in Favor of Broad Application of Law That Requires Reporting of Sexual Activity Among Minors

In Kansas, a district attorney favors requiring health care providers to report teens’ sexual activity. Under the DA’s opinion, physicians who fail to comply could face misdemeanor charges carrying up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine and face disciplinary action from the licensing board. For more information, please visit www.kaisernetwork.org.


Silver Ring Thing Abstinence Education Program To Lose Federal Funding Under Settlement

The abstinence only program, “Silver Ring Thing” is losing federal funding because of its emphasis on Christianity. The ACLU filed the suit claiming the program violated the separation of church and state. For more information, please visit www.kaisernetwork.org.


Massachusetts Pharmacy Board Orders Wal-Mart To Fill EC Prescriptions; Company Says It Will Comply, Review Nationwide Policy

The Massachusetts Pharmacy Board ordered Wal-Mart to fill emergency contraception prescriptions. Three women were denied emergency contraception and filed complaints with the Pharmacy Board. For more information, please visit www.kaisernetwork.org.


Girl Scouts Publish Study Findings on “New Normal” for Adolescent Health

The New Normal? What Girls Say About Healthy Living, combines focus group research with a nationally representative online survey of more than 2000 eight to 17-year-old girls from different racial, ethnic, geographic, and socio-economic backgrounds. For more information visit www.girlscouts.org.


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, and provides advice from those working with Latino teens, as well as the advice of Latino teens themselves. Read the report at www.teenpregnancy.org. (PDF)


“It’s A Guy Thing” – A New Report from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Although girls have traditionally been the major focus of efforts to prevent teen pregnancy, the importance of targeting teen boys and young men is increasingly apparent to researchers, practitioners, parents and others who work with youth. One of the many reasons for this new focus is that the substantial reductions in teen pregnancy and birth rates in recent years can be attributed, in part, to dramatic shifts in the sexual behavior of boys. This new report from the National Campaign addresses the role of boys and young men in teen pregnancy. To download a summary of the report, please visit the National Campaign’s website

MOAPPP Events

March 6, 2006
Girls Rock the Capitol

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

This event is for girls age 13-18 and 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) 644-1447×12.


March 22, April 24, 2006
Screening of “The Education of Shelby Knox”

March 22:
Hamline Midway Library
1558 W Minnehaha, St. Paul
2:30 – 4:00 p.m.

April 24:
Lutheran Social Services
2414 Park Ave, Minneapolis
3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

April 7:
Hosted by the School of Public Health and the Minnesota Public Health Association
National Public Health Week Film Festival
University of Minnesota’s Mayo Auditorium, East Bank
5:30 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.

Please contact Leah Sweet, [email protected] or (651) 644-1447×12 to RSVP, seating is limited.

An additional screening will take place on Friday, April 7 at the University of Minnesota’s Mayo Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. as part of the National Public Health Week Film Festival, hosted by the School of Public Health and the Minnesota Public Health Association.


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

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”

Conference brochures are in the mail and can be dowloaded from the MOAPPP website.


May 5, 2006
Advocacy Lessons from Shelby Knox

Youth Only
3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center, MN
Cost: $15

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. To register for this event download the registration form online. If you need additional information or have questions please contact Leah Sweet, [email protected] or (651) 644-1447×12.


May 11, 2006
MOAPPP’s Annual Benefit Event

MOAPPPs 15th Annual Benefit Event

6:00 – 9:30 p.m.
The Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant

MOAPPP will be recognizing its 15-year history as Minnesota’s resource for teen pregnancy information. There will be dinner and musical entertainment and the evening emcees will be Lori and Julia, “Drivetime Divas” of FM 107. You can now purchase your tickets online now. Please contact Lisa [email protected] or (651) 644-1447×16 with any questions.

 

Other Events

March 7, 2006
Precinct Caucuses in Your Community

7:00 p.m.

Precinct caucuses are where community members gather together to build an agenda of the issues most important to each community, and to support candidates to run for elected office.

At your precinct caucus, you can introduce a resolution to be added to your party’s platform. For a resolution on comprehensive sex education, see www.sexedforlife.org. Many coalition members have introduced this resolution in the past and it helps raise awareness among community members.

If you have questions about precinct caucuses, you can visit the League of Women Voters website, or call the Secretary of State’s Office at (651) 296-2803.


March 16, April 20, May 18, and June 15, 2006
Attention Adolescent Parent Providers: Monthly Reflective Practice Group for Professionals Working with Infant, Toddlers and Families

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
St. David’s Child Development & Family Services
Cost: $80

Working with infants, toddlers and their parents is both rewarding and challenging, evoking powerful feelings in the professionals who deliver these relationship-based services. Co-sponsored by CEED and the Center of Excellence in Children’s Mental Health, these meetings will encourage the thoughtful observation of oneself and others. The content for each group will emerge from the practice experiences of the participants. The size of the group will be limited, and participants will be asked to commit to the entire series of four sessions. A flier with more information and registration forms is available online. (PDF)


March 23, 2006
Dual Protection 2: A Promising Approach to Preventing Unintended Pregnancies and STIs

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $30

This audio conference is part of a series that offers front line, clinical staff and health educators up-to-date information on promoting dual protection. Please visit www.hcet.org (PDF) for more information.


March 23, 2006
BREAKING THE ICE: Strategies for Intervention and Treatment of METH Use Among Youth

12:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Children’s Home Society & Family Services
1605 Eustis Street, St Paul, MN
Costs: Non-YIPA member: $45
YIPA member: $30

Sponsored by YIPA (Youth Intervention Programs Association), this workshop addresses signs and symptoms of meth use and addiction, strategies for intervention, what to expect in early stages of recovery, principles of successful meth treatment, long term impact of meth addiction, supporting youth in recovery, working with families of youth addicts. For more information or to register, please visit www.mnyipa.org. Questions? Call 1-888-945-YIPA


March 27-28, 2006
Minnesota Conference on Adolescent Females: Rejuvenating the Optimism, Energy, and Personal Power of Working with Girls

Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Plymouth

The Girls Coalition of Minnesota proudly presents its 16th Annual Conference offering a variety of educational and creative learning opportunities for adults who work with girls–including workshops, panels featuring girls speaking for themselves, creative arts performances, and a book and resource fair. The conference is designed to enlighten, support and inspire all professionals who are concerned about the future of girls. For more details, please visit www.mngirls.org.


March 30, 2006
High-Risk Children and Parents With Depressive Disorders

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
A.I. Johnson Room of the McNamara Alumni Center
U of M Twin Cities campus

The Center of Excellence in Children’s Mental Health (CECMH) hosts Dante Cicchetti, a world-renowned figure in the field of developmental psychopathology, for a talk about his research related to high-risk children and parents with depressive disorders, and translating this research into effective prevention and early intervention for children and families. The event is free but an RSVP is requested. Please RSVP (with your name, phone, email address, organization, and mailing address) by Tuesday, March 21 to Ellen Lepinski () at the Center of Excellence in Children’s Mental Health. Contact CECMH at 612-625-6527 with any questions.


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, please visit www.teenpregnancy.org.