Can We Talk? News

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/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Parenting Guide

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has

developed a parenting booklet. Order Adventures in Parenting

Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results

Check out the government’s leading study on youth behavior. To view

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

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

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.

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

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

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