MOAPPP March 2009 E-Monthly

The 2009 conference brochure is here! The MOAPPP Annual Conference is the most comprehensive training event for Minnesota practitioners on current research, educational resources, policy initiatives and emerging issues related to adolescent sexual health, pregnancy prevention and support for adolescent parents. Join more than 400 colleagues for two days of dynamic speakers, challenging workshops and countless opportunities for networking and conversation. Early Registration deadline is April 17, 2009. For more information, visit the MOAPPP Conference page.


Call for Exhibitors for MOAPPP’s 18th Annual Conference, May 7-8, 2009

Join us as an exhibitor for the 18th Annual MOAPPP Conference! Visit the conference page of the MOAPPP website for more information and an application.


Pregnancy Prevention Partnership Opportunity

MOAPPP is seeking three to five youth-serving agencies to participate in a training and technical assistance (TA) partnership through September 2010. During this period, MOAPPP will provide support for partner agencies to prevent adolescent pregnancy and STI/HIV through implementation of science-based approaches.

Using a process called Getting to Outcomes, MOAPPP will support selected sites to conduct a community needs assessment, create goals and objectives to steer program implementation, receive curriculum training, develop an evaluation plan and surveys, assist in program start-up, and create a strategy for program sustainability.

Applications are due Friday, March 20, 2009!

If you are interested, download the application form or contact Shari Plowman at .


Save the Date! Wednesday, June 10, 2009 for MOAPPP’s Annual Benefit

Join other MOAPPP supporters at the Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant for amazing food by premier chef Jack Reibel, and musical entertainment by Ronn Easton’s All Star Soul Revue, featuring the music of legends like The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Four Tops, The O’Jays, Brothers Johnson, and many, many more all-time magic Motown favorites.

Invitations and more information to follow in late April. We’re already tapping our toes in anticipation!


Spotlight on Community Connections

Be sure to visit the Community Connections section of the MOAPPP website to discover the community-specific resources we’ve put together. This month, we’d like to shine a spotlight on Hmong American Partnership. Hmong American Partnership has grown from a small organization focused on basic refugee resettlement issues to an established provider of comprehensive, culturally appropriate social services.

Other Announcements

March 9, 2009
World Premiere of Goddess Menses and the Menstrual Show
New DVD produced by Minnesota’s Youth Performance Company

5:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:00 p.m.)
Riverview Theater
3800 42nd Ave South, Minneapolis

Join Youth Performance Company for the premiere screening of “Goddess Menses and the Menstrual Show,” a film that demystifies menstruation and the related physical and emotional changes of girlhood. Segments are factual (what is “normal” menstruation anyway), funny (beware the tampon-stealing Tamburglar) and astonishingly frank, as girls reflect on the journey from self-consciousness to self-acceptance during adolescence. Call 612-623-9080 to reserve your complimentary VIP ticket and see the flyer (PDF) for more information.


Gender Inclusive Sexuality Education Survey

The Gender Inclusive Sexuality Education (GISE) workgroup wants to know what you think! This group plans to offer workshops and trainings to youth-serving professionals, and your input will help them tailor training opportunities more specifically towards your needs. The survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Thank you for your participation!


National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

March 10, 2009 marks the fourth annual National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which seeks to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of women and girls. For more information about the 2009 observance or to download posters and other resources, visit the HHS website. Watch the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) website for local fact sheets, updates and activities.


National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

March 20, 2009 marks the third annual National Native (American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian) HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. See the HHS website for more information about National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and for downloadable resources This day is an opportunity to increase awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS on American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. Watch the MDH website for local fact sheets, updates and activities.


National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

Have you started planning how your organization will 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. Visit the MOAPPP website—National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month page for resources and ideas.


May 6, 2009
The National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Hundreds of thousands of teens nationwide are expected to participate in the eighth annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 6, 2009. For ideas on how you can help promote the National Day, please visit the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy website.

In the News

The Myth of Rampant Teenage Promiscuity

The National Center for Health Statistics, which reported in January that births to 15-19 year olds had risen for the first time in more than a decade, has some adults worried. The news is troubling, but this figure alone is also misleading. While some young people are clearly engaging in risky sexual behavior, a vast majority are not. The reality is that in many ways, today’s teenagers are more conservative about sex than previous generations. Read the full New York Times article.


Governor’s Proposed Budget Impacts Family Planning Funding

The Governor’s proposed budget, released January 27, would cut grants for low-income family planning by $2 million. Family Planning Special Projects is a critical state funding stream that supports 42 grantees, avoiding substantial state spending on unplanned pregnancies. View more coverage at Reality Check. To learn more about this grant program, visit www.health.state.mn.us.


Minnesota Legislative Committee Approves Sex Education Measure

The Minnesota Legislature’s Health, Housing and Family Security Committee last week approved by voice vote a measure that includes comprehensive sexual health, including sex education, STI/HIV prevention funding and funding for family planning. Sex education bills have also been introduced in both the Minnesota House and Senate HF906/SF965. To learn more visit, www.nationalpartnership.org.


Syphilis Rates Rise in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting a 40% rise in syphilis cases in 2008 compared to 2007 year-end reports. Ninety-seven percent (97%) of the reported 159 early syphilis cases occurred among men, particularly men who have sex with men. Read the full news release.

New Resources

What Works 2009

This updated pamphlet from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, presents a succinct overview of what is known about carefully evaluated interventions that help prevent adolescent pregnancy, including a list of effective programs, selected program effects, contact information, as well as direct links to resources providing additional program and evaluation information.


ThatsNotCool.com

That’s Not Cool is a multimedia campaign that includes an interactive website, mobile component, television, radio, posters in schools and malls, and Web ads all designed to help teens recognize digital dating abuse and give them the platform to initiate conversations about it. Visit www.thatsnotcool.com and pass this tool along to the young people you work with.

New Research

CDC Reports Rise in STIs

The CDC recently reported increased rates of chlamydia and syphilis in the U.S. in 2007, with chlamydia rates reaching a record high. STIs continue to disproportionately affect adolescents, particularly youth of color. Read more at www.nationalpartnership.org.


Viewing of Sexual Content on Television Linked to Subsequent Teen Pregnancy

This new study, published in the journal Pediatrics is the first to demonstrate an association between the viewing of sexual content and subsequent teen pregnancy. Data analyzed from a national longitudinal survey of adolescents demonstrated that teens exposed to the highest levels of television sexual content were twice as likely to experience a pregnancy in the subsequent three years compared to those exposed to the lowest levels of content.


An HIV Risk Reduction Intervention for Incarcerated Youth

This randomized controlled trial, published in the February 2009 Journal of Adolescent Health, aimed to evaluate the impact of a HIV risk reduction intervention for incarcerated youth. The intervention led to gender-specific improvements in knowledge, attitudes and condom use, and the authors identified predictors of success to inform future HIV education interventions. Read the abstract.


Journal of Adolescence, Volume 31, Issue 6, December 2008

This journal devoted an entire issue to romantic relationships in adolescents.


Does the Adolescent Brain Make Risk Taking Inevitable?

Michael Males presents a critical piece on adolescent risk-taking in the Journal of Adolescent Research.


Dating and Sexual Attitudes in Asian-American Adolescents

A new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Research explores the dating and sexual attitudes among Asian-American teens.

MOAPPP Events

March 10, 2009
Meeting the Unique Needs of Adolescent Parents

9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Temple Israel
2324 Emerson Avenue South, Minneapolis

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 is for professionals new to adolescent parent work; examines national and state data related to 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. For more information and to register for this training, see the flyer and registration form. Questions? Contact Sue Fust at 651-644-1447 x15 or [email protected].


April 2, 2009
Service Learning Standards for Quality Practice – Part 2

10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.

Join us for the second installment of Service Learning Standards for Quality Practice. As MOAPPP continues to promote the benefits of service learning as an effective strategy for adolescent pregnancy prevention, we are offering a two part web-based series examining the service learning standards for quality practice. This webinar is offered in partnership with the National Youth Leadership Council. Log in and take an in-depth look at the eight distinct evidence-based standards and accompanying indicators that practitioners can use to ensure high-quality service-learning practice. There is NO CHARGE for this training. For more information and to link to the webinar, contact Jocelyn Broyles at 651-644-1447 x19, [email protected].


What About the Baby? Nurturing Healthy Attachment in Young Families

April 30, 2009-St. Cloud State University, Atwood Memorial Center, 720 South 4th Avenue, St. Cloud
June 19, 2009-Rochester Community and Technical College, Coffman Hall 206/208, 851 SE 30th Avenue, Rochester

9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Early learning happens in the context of relationships. This workshop focuses on the importance of relationship between adolescent parents and their children and between young families and the professionals who work with them. It offers insight into the strengths and challenges faced by young parents, the competing developmental agendas of adolescent parents and their children, and strategies for promoting relationships that lead to the healthy development of both parent and child. (This workshop has been offered in the past under the title: Relationship Matters). For more information and to register for this training, see the flyer and registration form. Questions? Contact Sue Fust at 651-644-1447 x15 or [email protected].


The 2009 conference brochure is here! The MOAPPP Annual Conference is the most comprehensive training event for Minnesota practitioners on current research, educational resources, policy initiatives and emerging issues related to adolescent sexual health, pregnancy prevention and support for adolescent parents. Join more than 400 colleagues for two days of dynamic speakers, challenging workshops and countless opportunities for networking and conversation. Early Registration deadline is April 17, 2009. For more information, visit the MOAPPP Conference page.

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 2008. For additional information, visit www.coalitionforsexed.org.

No Coalition events in March.

Other Events

March 10, 2009
Networking Event for Men Working in Health Promotion

10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Annex Teen Clinic
4915 North 42nd Avenue, Robbinsdale

This networking event is for men who work to improve the health and wellness of adolescent males. For more information, contact Cesar Atienzo at 612-598-9398 or see the flyer.


Parenting With No Workshop

March 10-St. Paul
April 20-Duluth
May 9-Rochester
August 17-Moorhead
October 20-Minneapolis
November 6-St. Cloud

Parenting with No, a new workshop from MediaWise with featured speaker, 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.


March 12, 2009
AIDS Action Day

10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. *Rally at Noon!
Minnesota State Capitol

The state is facing a huge budget deficit and HIV services and prevention could be on the chopping block so elected officials need to hear your concerns more than ever. Register for AIDS Action Day TODAY! Come and meet with your elected officials, share your story and your concerns with the people who make decisions.

This event is coordinated by Minnesota AIDS Project. For more information and to register online, visit www.mnaidsproject.org.


April 2-3, 2009
Wise Guys®: A Male Responsibility Program National Training

Myrtle Beach, SC

The Wise Guys® program is an award-winning adolescent pregnancy prevention program for young men between the ages of 11 and 17. This training is designed for those who would like to develop and implement prevention programs for males on adolescent pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and STIs, and/or dating violence. For more information, visit www.wiseguysnc.org.


April 6-11, 2009
National Public Health Week Film Festival

Mayo Memorial Auditorium
East Bank, University of Minnesota

The National Public Health Week Film Festival, sponsored by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, will explore topics including how war impacts children and their families, mental health issues that arise from public health issues and sexuality education through the ages and cultures. Experts will be on hand to explore and discuss the topic of each film. A special line-up of films and activities for children takes center stage on Saturday during a family day—a new addition to the film festival.

For more information, visit www.sph.umn.edu.


April 20, 2009
Building Cultural Competency with African-Born Youth, Young Adults and Families

9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Federal Hiway Credit Union Administration Building, St. Paul

This training will integrate the skills of mediators, educators and direct service providers with the context of youth, young adults and families with African heritage living in Minnesota. It is offered with insight from a Muslim faith leader, a youth panel and conversations with others serving refugee/immigrant families.

For more information or to register, visit the Minnesota Youth Intervention Programs Association website.


April 21, 2009
From Dr. Seuss to Porn: Countering Normalization of Sexual Harm

12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Schwan’s Center at National Sports Center
1700 NE 105th Avenue, Blaine

Living in a sexually toxic society means we’re all affected and desensitized, to varying degrees, in both our personal and professional lives. To be effective, prevention requires recognition of these problems, as both a public health and public safety concern, as well as engaging others who care about children’s and society’s health. This session presented by Cordelia Anderson, includes activities for discussion and action planning. Attend this workshop and learn:

  • To understand the normalization of sexual harm and its relevance to prevention
  • To identify four factors that normalize sexual harm
  • To identify three actions for prevention

Cost is $25. Certificates of attendance are available. For more information, contact Donna McDonald, Violence Prevention Coordinator, Anoka County Community Health Department 763-422-7047, . This workshop sponsored by the Anoka County Child Abuse Prevention Council and Connexus Energy.


April 21, 2009
Girls Coalition of Minnesota 19th Annual Conference

Earle Brown Heritage Center
6155 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center

The Girls Coalition of Minnesota seeks to build the leadership capacity of professionals, create opportunities for increased collaboration among organizations and individuals and to highlight emerging issues and research of importance to young women across Minnesota. The 2009 conference will offer workshops on a broad range of topics related to young women and girls. For more information, email or visit www.mngirls.org.

Funding Opportunities

Family Planning Funding – Minnesota Department of Health

The Community and Family Health Division of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announces that the Request for Proposal documents for the Family Planning Special Projects (grant program for the next grant cycle, July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011 are now available on the MDH Family Planning web page. The deadline for submission of all application materials is Wednesday, March 18, 2009.