Parents Support Comprehensive Sex Education - Poll Shows
A nationwide poll recently conducted of lower-income parents and guardians released October 1 by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS) found that parents and guardians overwhelmingly support comprehensive sex education programs that teach young people all aspects of sexuality, including how to use birth control to prevent unintended pregnancy and how to protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Visit http://www.siecus.org/ to view the full results.

HHS Awards $33.9 Million for HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse Services in Minority Communities
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announced 72 grants totaling $33.9 million to provide substance abuse treatment and HIV/AIDS services to African-American, Hispanic and other minority communities that have been affected by substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. Around $12 million will go to fund 26 grants in metropolitan areas previously not served by SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment TCE/HIV, or HIV Outreach programs. The remaining $21.8 million will fund 46 grants in areas with high rates of HIV/AIDS. Visit www.samhsa.gov

What Parents Can Learn About Mental and Emotional Problems Among Teens
Washington, DC-based research organization, Child Trends, recently released a research brief entitled, “Promoting Positive Mental and Emotional Health in Teens: Some Lessons from Research.” They have also developed an interactive web-based component. Visit www.childtrends.org to learn more.

Teens' Closeness With Their Mothers Linked to Delay in Initiation of Sexual Activity, Study Says
Teenagers who have close relationships with their mothers are more likely to delay the onset of sexual intercourse than teens who are not close to their mothers, according to a report released yesterday and published in the September issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health. The findings come from two University of Minnesota studies involving data gathered from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. One study examined 3,322 boys and girls in eighth through 11th grades, while the second looked at a sample of 2,006 14- and 15-year-olds. To access this story and related links online visit www.kaisernetwork.org

Parenting Guide from the PTA
The Parent Teacher Association has developed a booklet to help parents talk to their children about sex. The free guide, entitled, "Talking With Kids: A Parent's Guide to Sex Education" can be ordered at http://www.pta.org/index.asp

Elementary-school Program Reduces Pregnancy, STDs, in Young Adults
An elementary-school program designed to promote social competency and academic success has had some unexpected long-term results: reduced rates of pregnancy, birth and STDs for participants by age 21. The program, developed by University of Washington (UW) researchers, had no sex-education component. Thje study leader is J. David Hawkins, social work professor and head of the UW Social Development Research Group. A report on the intervention program's impact is published in the May 14 issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (Vol.156; No.5:438-47).

The program, which involved about 350 kids at 18 Seattle schools in high-crime areas between 1981 and 1986, was part of a larger study of 808 children called the Seattle Social Development Project. By age 21, the pregnancy rate among young women who participated was 38 percent, compared to 56 percent for those in the control group. Increased condom use was particularly high among single black participants, with 50 percent of intervention-group participants reporting that they always used a condom, compared with 12 percent of the control group.

"What to me is so positive about this study is that the program doesn't require a whole bunch of specialists - just helping parents and teachers do a better job at what they're already trying to do," Hawkins said. The National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded the research.

NIH Parenting Guide
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has developed a parenting booklet. Order Adventures in Parenting for free by calling 1-800-370-2943 or online at www.nichd.nih.gov.

2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results
Check out the government's leading study on youth behavior. To view the 2001 results, click on the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs/info_results.htm

Multiple Choices After School: Findings from the Extended-Service Schools Initiative
In the summer of 2002, every state becomes eligible to receive federal funds to address the after-school needs of school-aged children. With this opportunity comes the need to make many decisions about the goals, design and content of the after-school programming, decisions that will influence which children and youth participate, what they experience and how they may benefit. This report aims to put policymakers and program operators on firmer ground as they make these decisions, by sharing lessons learned from the design and content of existing school-based after-school programs Use the link below to access the report. http://www.ppv.org/content/reports/ess-multi-full.html

2002 Add Health Study Results
The most recent results (April 2002) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) examine the relationship between school connectedness and student behavior. An earlier study established that when students feel connected to their school environment, they are less likely to engage in risk behaviors. To read the monograph, "Improving the Odds: The Untapped Power of Schools to Improve the Health of Teens," visit: http://allaboutkids.umn.edu/index.htm

New Planned Parenthood Web Resource
Planned Parenthood of New York City has developed a new website to inform the public about the benefits of comprehensive sex education. To learn more, visit www.getthefacts.org.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Resource
The NEA Health Information Network partnered with the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and several other organizations to produce Partners in Progress: The Education Community and Preventing Teen Pregnancy. This booklet gives practical tips on how educators can play a role in reducing teen pregnancy. Please contact the Campaign at 202-478-8500 or www.teenpregnancy.org to request copies.

Keeping Kids Drug-Free
A recently published guide from the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign aims to help parents, guardians and educators findthe right words and approaches to keeping young people drug-free. The National PTA and the American Academy of Pediatrics endorse the guide. Order your free copy at 1-800-788-2800, request publication PHD884.

Campaign Helps Men Talk to Boys about Violence
The Family Violence Prevention Fund and the Advertising Council have launched the Teach Early public education campaign. Through Public Service Announcements and other tools, the campaign encourages men to engage boys in dialogue around how to prevent violence against women. For more information about the campaign and copies of the PSAs, visit http://endabuse.org/programs/display.php3?DocID=9902.