Sydney Keiler, Author at Healthy Teen Network

Lisa’s Story, Part II

Sydney Keiler — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 23:08:00 +0000

She is doing everything right. She works, pays her taxes, and has opened a savings account for her daughter. Yet she has been forced to be a spectator in her community with few options for upward mobility.

If you missed Part I of Lisa’s story, you can read it here.

By Genevieve Martínez García, PhD

August 8, 2012

Lisa was sad to see Pablo walk out of her life and little Angela’s. He did exactly what his dad did to him and what he said he would never do. After multiple fights and marital counseling sessions, he left their tiny bedroom weeks before Angela’s first birthday. Since then, Lisa has been juggling several housing options. At first, she stayed with her parents but the relationship with her mother deteriorated and she needed to get out. She rented a room for herself and Angela in a two-bedroom apartment she could afford with her salary.

If Lisa were driving, the commute to drop Angela off would only take 20 minutes then just 10 minutes to her job. The extra two hours commuting by bus daily is really taking a toll on her life and the quality of the little time she has with her daughter.

Currently, her mother takes care of little Angela. This means that every morning at 6am, Lisa and Angela travel one hour by bus to Lisa’s mom’s house. Lisa then takes a 45-minute bus ride to her job where she works until 3pm. She takes the bus back to her mom’s house and they return to their home at 8pm. If Lisa were driving, the commute to drop Angela off would only take 20 minutes then just 10 minutes to her job. The extra two hours commuting by bus daily is really taking a toll on her life and the quality of the little time she has with her daughter. A few days a month she is in charge of closing the store at 9pm, but the last bus leaves at 8pm. Lisa relies on friends and taxis to get her to her mom’s house. With one taxi ride she spends the equivalent of one hour’s wages.

With only a high school education and no legal documentation, she is lucky to get a stable job at a clothing store with a salary slightly higher than the federal minimum wage. But Lisa is trapped. She lives in fear of being deported, she freezes and becomes anxious anytime she sees a policeman, and she doesn’t go out much. She would like to go back to school and become either a nurse or a teacher. She is smart, sharp and loves helping people. With the community college just steps from her home, one would think it should be easy for her to fulfill her dreams. But her fear of deportation keeps her away from campus. The community college recently changed their tuition policies so that any county resident with a county high school diploma pays in-county tuition, regardless of their documentation status. Still, the tuition is completely out of her reach. She is not able to work, AND go to school, AND support her daughter. But even if she is able to study, who would employ her afterwards? How would she get a driver’s license and a car to get to work? How would she be able to obtain a meaningful employment that will help her pave a secure future for her daughter?

The day President Obama announced the new policy that would allow Latino youth to study and work for two years without fear of deportation, Lisa texted me asking for help applying to the community college. Her fears were gone.

She crossed the border in her mother’s lap when she was one-year old. She was raised in the U.S.; she got a good U.S. education, and she has the same dreams and aspirations as her peers. She is doing everything right. She works, pays her taxes, and has opened a savings account for her daughter. Yet she has been forced to be a spectator in her community with few options for upward mobility. The day President Obama announced the new policy that would allow Latino youth to study and work for two years without fear of deportation, Lisa texted me asking for help applying to the community college. Her fears were gone.

But school is the least of her problems right now. After almost one year of having no contact with Pablo, Lisa received the package she has always feared, divorce papers petitioning sole custody of Angela. She is going crazy. First, she has very few legal resources and doesn’t know the system. Because Pablo is a U.S. citizen, she is afraid he will have more rights to the child than she does. And even if she gets shared custody, where would her daughter sleep, will she be safe, will she be loved and protected? He has been gone so long without even asking for her, what are his intentions? Fathers should be allowed to build strong bonds with their children and have meaningful interactions, but sometimes this fills young mothers with a lot of fear and unanswered questions.

Because she is not documented, she can get her employer in trouble, but if she states that she doesn’t work, she would be lying. Lisa doesn’t know the system, the terms, the standards of practice, her rights as a mother above all. One thing she does know is that when you are undocumented, any certainty of due process, any standards, and safety nets disappear.

To maintain custody—at least shared—she would need to prove she works and is able to support her daughter. She now faces the same problem she ran into when applying for child support. Because she is not documented, she can get her employer in trouble, but if she states that she doesn’t work, she would be lying. Lisa doesn’t know the system, the terms, the standards of practice, her rights as a mother above all. One thing she does know is that when you are undocumented, any certainty of due process, any standards, and safety nets disappear.

But Lisa, as well as thousands of young Latinos, are hopeful that the two years of amnesty Obama has offered will change her present and future. For many, the next two years will lift the veil of fear, will raise hopes, and may offer additional motivation to pursue an education.

What role do teen pregnancy prevention and teen parent supporters have in advocating for the rights of immigrants?

Genevieve Martínez-García, PhD, was previously employed with Healthy Teen Network as the Director of Innovation and Research.

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Lisa’s Story, Part I

Sydney Keiler — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 22:52:00 +0000

I want to tell you the story of a friend, of a mother, of a dreamer.

By Genevieve Martínez García, PhD

August 1, 2012

Iwant to tell you the story of a friend, of a mother, of a dreamer. Lisa* is the mother of a beautiful two- year old girl, Angela. Lisa’s husband selected the name. As if in the name, their lives would be blessed with the happiness, hope, and love they were looking for. Lisa was just a few weeks shy of her high school graduation when she learned she was pregnant. She received the news with a mixture of happiness and anxiety.

So starting a new family—her own family—sounded like a very good proposition. She loved him, she told me, and she believed in him and their future together.

She and her boyfriend, Pablo, a US-born Latino, had been talking about starting a family soon. He promised to provide for her, to treat her and their children right, and to never abandon them as his dad did to him and his brother. She was having problems with her mother. Her mother just could not understand her, she said. So starting a new family—her own family—sounded like a very good proposition. She loved him, she told me, and she believed in him and their future together.

She was afraid, however, of telling her family she was pregnant. She confided in her younger uncle who gave her his support and offered to be present when she told her parents. But her mother already knew something was not right. Lisa, an otherwise very active soccer player, was tired, sleepy, and with little appetite. It did not take long for her mother to realize Lisa was pregnant. Lisa recalls her mother being angry and upset, crying and shouting, and looking for answers. A few weeks later, Lisa and Pablo got married and started to search for their own little space where to grow their family.

Searching for housing in an expensive and crowded urban area is no easy task. Pablo was still finishing his last year of high school. They both worked in the evenings cleaning offices with her mom and dad. Lisa recalls wearing very large sweaters to hide her belly so that the manager would not ban her from cleaning bathrooms, carrying out the trash, and using harsh detergents. She desperately needed the money to pay for one bedroom in the two-bedroom apartment they shared with another family of three.

She courageously assumed her role of mother and sole provider to her family, and carried on with the gargantuan task of making things better for little Angela. She is resolute to provide her daughter the future she is still trying to carve out for herself.

The baby was born in February, healthy and happy. But her relationship with Pablo was far from being either healthy or happy. He graduated from high school and found a job as a bouncer in a night club. He was working late evenings, in a sketchy environment and was paid in cash—money Lisa barely saw. She got a job as a store clerk while her aunt looked after the baby. She was happy in her job, surrounded by young people, working in the mall and earning money to support her daughter. She sadly realized she couldn’t count on Pablo to pay rent, or buy diapers or food. Because her daughter was born in the U.S., she got WIC and food stamps benefits only for her daughter, but nothing for her. Her mother offered to bring food over, Lisa refused saying she was fine, but she was hungry. She courageously assumed her role of mother and sole provider to her family, and carried on with the gargantuan task of making things better for little Angela. She is resolute to provide her daughter the future she is still trying to carve out for herself.

Check back next week for Part II of Lisa’s Story.

*“Lisa”, “Angela” and “Pablo” are real people but their names are made up to protect their privacy. “Lisa” is a good friend of Genevieve and agreed to share her story in Under the Currents.

Genevieve Martínez-García, PhD, was previously employed with Healthy Teen Network as the Director of Innovation and Research.

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Bricks, Mortar, and Community: The Foundations of Supportive Housing for Pregnant & Parenting Teens

Sydney Keiler — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 01:30:00 +0000

With the support of the core components, built on top of and around the bricks and mortar of supportive housing, pregnant and parenting teens can thrive both as individuals and as parents.

By Gina Desiderio

June 19, 2012

H ealthy Teen Network and Child Trends developed two resources on the core components of supportive housing—a resource defining and detailing what the core components include and a report on findings from the field based on a national survey, phone interviews, and case studies. This blog post summarizes key points from these resources.

Supportive Housing is a highly integrated system of living arrangements and professional case management services that provides pregnant and/or parenting teens a safe place to live, 24-hour access to caring adults, and connections to community resources.

Supportive Housing is a highly integrated system of living arrangements and professional case management services that provides pregnant and/or parenting teens a safe place to live, 24-hour access to caring adults, and connections to community resources. This system helps young parents develop necessary skills and secure resources needed to maintain housing throughout adulthood. Supportive housing programs can be more effective when young parents shape and direct their future in partnership with case managers and other key staff.

Case managers play perhaps the most critical role in supportive housing, assessing youth as individuals so that their unique needs may be met most effectively. Flexibility, individualization, nurturing, guidance through positive role modeling, and consistent coordination by one caring adult professional are key elements of case management services. While not all supportive housing programs may provide direct services related to each core component (defined below), all supportive housing programs should provide referrals and support access to services and resources in the community, making use of collaborations and partnerships. The case manager oversees, when not personally providing, access to these direct services. The case manager is the professional primarily responsible for creating an equal partnership with the young parent, developing a life plan driven and owned by the youth to help him/her transition to independent living.

Core components are the critical elements—supports and resources—of supportive housing that provide a skills-building foundation to help young parents develop self-sufficiency so that they may be successful and engaged parents and productive members of society.

Core components are the critical elements—supports and resources—of supportive housing that provide a skills-building foundation to help young parents develop self-sufficiency so that they may be successful and engaged parents and productive members of society. The core components are what make supportive housing “supportive.” Programs that incorporate these core components are more likely to achieve desired outcomes. Each core component cannot stand alone to support independent living; rather the core components are complementary because each one builds upon the others, together making up the foundation of a supportive housing program.

Healthy Teen Network and Child Trends identified the following five Core Components of Supportive Housing for Pregnant and Parenting Teens:

Supports and Resources to Promote Self-Sufficiency: Help youth to develop basic self-sufficiency skills, so that s/he will be able to transition to independent living, accessing resources and services as needed without the assistance of a case manager.
Supports and Resources to Promote Housing Stability: Facilitate attainment of affordable housing in a safe neighborhood, and continued housing stability and independent living upon completion of the program.
Supports and Resources to Promote Financial Stability: Help youth to work toward financial stability by facilitating educational attainment and employment at a livable wage, as well as financial literacy.
Supports and Resources to Promote Successful and Engaged Parenting and Attachment: Facilitate successful and engaged parenting skills, fostering attachment between parent(s) and child.
Supports and Resources to Promote Healthy Relationships: Cultivate a sense of self-worth and right to healthy relationships with partners, peers, family, and the community, as well as the skills to resolve conflict, solve problems, and negotiate.

For more information on each of these five core components, see the resource, The Core Components of Supportive Housing for Pregnant & Parenting Teens.

For examples of supportive housing programs incorporating these five core components, as well as findings a survey conducted of supportive housing programs, see The Core Components of Supportive Housing for Pregnant & Parenting Teens: Findings from the Field.

Promoting self-sufficiency, housing stability, financial stability, successful and engaged parenting and attachment, and healthy relationships provides a well-rounded approach to meeting the diverse needs of pregnant and parenting teens, helping them to transition to independent living.

With the support of the core components, built on top of and around the bricks and mortar of supportive housing, pregnant and parenting teens can thrive both as individuals and as parents. The flexibility, individualization, and consistent coordination by case managers, working in equal partnerships with youth, establishes a positive and responsive environment in which youth may grow. While a single organization may not be able to address all of pregnant and parenting teens’ needs, collaborations and partnerships provide opportunities to leverage capacity and meet those needs. Promoting self-sufficiency, housing stability, financial stability, successful and engaged parenting and attachment, and healthy relationships provides a well-rounded approach to meeting the diverse needs of pregnant and parenting teens, helping them to transition to independent living.

What do you think about these core components? Have you found them to be integral to supporting pregnant and parenting teens?

Gina Desiderio, MA, is Director of Communications for Healthy Teen Network and oversees all of our communications and dissemination. Working here has only sometimes prepared Gina for spontaneous sex-positive conversations with her two young sons. Read more about Gina.

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Turning 40 and Still Dreaming Big!

Sydney Keiler — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:13:00 +0000

As we celebrate 40 years of Title IX, we can’t help but dream about future possibilities for continuing and expanding protections for pregnant and parenting teens!

By Patricia Paluzzi, CNM, DrPH

June 19, 2012

As we celebrate 40 years of Title IX, we can’t help but reflect on what this act has done for women and young girls, as well as dream about future possibilities. At Healthy Teen Network, we spend a lot of time thinking about ways to support positive outcomes for pregnant and parenting teens. While most people think of girls’ sports when they hear Title IX, it also contains relevant protections for pregnant and parenting teens, a rather thoughtful and auspicious addition to what is basically a gender equity act.

Under Title IX, schools are prohibited from discriminating against a student because of childbirth, false pregnancy, abortion, or recovery from these conditions, as well as marital status.

Under Title IX, schools are prohibited from discriminating against a student because of childbirth, false pregnancy, abortion, or recovery from these conditions, as well as marital status. Title IX contains basic nondiscrimination principles, including the fundamental requirement that schools treat pregnancy and all related conditions like any other temporary disability. In a 2009 policy brief by Healthy Teen Network and National Women’s Law Center, Keeping Pregnant and Parenting Students from Dropping Out: A Guide for Policymakers and Schools, we noted that, in spite of Title IX, pregnant and parenting students still face challenges to graduating from high school because of a lack of system-wide supports.

We celebrate the continued and consistent attention to supporting educational attainment among pregnant and parenting teens that Title IX has prompted, and dream of passage of the Pregnant and Parenting Access to Education Act (HR 5584), that was introduced to congress last year by Jared Polis (D-CO) and Judy Chu (D-CA). The legislation sought to strengthen these educational supports so that these young men and women—often extremely motivated—can achieve their dreams despite early parenthood. Healthy Teen Network is proud of the work we have done to help develop and support this legislation.

The report, released yesterday, shows how the vast majority of state education laws and policies fail to adequately support these students. This is unacceptable and we all play an important part in making sure this changes, if for no other reason than the economic well-being of our Nation, as this population represents lost work force opportunities.

We envision that NWLC’s new report, A Pregnancy Test for Schools: The Impact of Education Laws on Pregnant and Parenting Students, will inspire action and advocacy efforts on behalf of pregnant and parenting students. The report, released yesterday, shows how the vast majority of state education laws and policies fail to adequately support these students. This is unacceptable and we all play an important part in making sure this changes, if for no other reason than the economic well-being of our Nation, as this population represents lost work force opportunities.

Perhaps our most grandiose vision for the future, however, is that all teen moms and dads receive the support they need to graduate high school, go on to more education and training and take their place as productive and proud adults. This is possible if Title IX is seriously enforced, each and every school district commits to supporting this population of young people, and we professionals do our part to educate and advocate.

Patricia Paluzzi, CNM, DrPH, is the former President and CEO of Healthy Teen Network and has been active in the fields of reproductive, and maternal and child health for over 40 years, as a clinician, researcher, administrator, and advocate.

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A Few Words on Awards

Sydney Keiler — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:42:00 +0000

Healthy Teen Network’s annual award program is open for nominations!

By Kelly Connelly

May 17, 2012

“Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.” –Abraham Lincoln

In a field full of people working passionately to empower youth to make positive decisions and a world where young parents are often maligned rather than praised for their tireless efforts to be wonderful parents, it’s sometimes easy to feel like these types of work often go unrecognized. Gestures of appreciation—large, small, and everywhere in between—are always an encouraging way to let someone know his or her efforts are valued and that he or she is absolutely worthy of recognition.

Healthy Teen Network’s annual award program was started years ago to recognize programs, groups, and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to promote the health and well-being of youth through their personal or professional efforts.

Healthy Teen Network’s annual award program was started years ago to recognize programs, groups, and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to promote the health and well-being of youth through their personal or professional efforts. Each year at our national conference, award presentations are always touching, and an opportunity when we collectively give a public high-five to those making a difference in the lives of others through their valuable work. The presentation of the Outstanding Teen Parent Award in particular almost always ends with nary a dry eye in the house, and Todaé Charles’ acceptance speech last year was no exception.

Later, Todaé told us, “Receiving the award completed a milestone of accomplishments for myself and my children. I serve, volunteer, and work to make a difference. I am and was honored to accept the award and know that the work is just beginning. However, I am seeing the fruits of my own labor.”

“Receiving the award for the collaborative work I have contributed has propelled me to think about how this work needs to be amplified to diverse and underserved groups of young people.”

Hector Sánchez-Flores, recipient of the 2011 Carol Mendez Cassell Award for Excellence in Sexuality Education, called being bestowed with this award “a humbling experience.” “Dr. Cassell has contributed so much to field of positive sexual health education and being honored with this award reinvigorated my commitment to helping boys and girls create a positive vision for themselves and develop a healthy vision for who they ultimately wish to be,” he wrote. “Receiving the award for the collaborative work I have contributed has propelled me to think about how this work needs to be amplified to diverse and underserved groups of young people. I remain grateful to HTN for keeping this work alive for future generations.”

In 2010, BrdsNBz National Text Line System of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina was recognized with the Outstanding Emerging Innovation Award. BrdsNBz staff member Kennon Jackson later said, “The award catapulted the BrdsNBz Text Message Warm Line forward and cemented what we already knew in North Carolina: adolescents need our service.”

Healthy Teen Network has just opened our call for award nominations for 2012!

Healthy Teen Network has just opened our call for award nominations for 2012!

Do you know a former teen father or mother who has achieved extraordinary personal and professional success? How about a sexuality educator who exemplifies vision, innovation, and commitment to evidence-based sexuality education policy and programs? Know of a new and innovative program making a difference in the lives of teens and young families? Recognize their work with a nomination! Know others doing great things to empower teens and young adults? A simple thank you also goes a long way.

Kelly Connelly previously served as Healthy Teen Network Senior Marketing and Communications Manager. Kelly is a graphic designer, photographer, and videographer, and she is experienced at developing skills-building workshops and programs, for professionals as well as youth.

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Talking About a Revolution

Sydney Keiler — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:09:00 +0000

I want to start a revolution. I want young mothers to speak up and claim the honor, respect, and appreciation they deserve…and not just on Mother’s Day.

By Deborah Chilcoat, MEd

May 10, 2012

I want to start a revolution. Right here. Right now. It cannot wait another moment. And I don’t mean the kind of revolution that requires us to occupy our local parks for weeks on end, or the kind that fizzles out when it’s no longer fashionable, or one that pits women against one another.

I want to start a revolution. I want Mother’s Day to be as Anna Jarvis envisioned: a day of rest for mothers…ALL mothers, including mothers who had their children young. Young mothers deserve to be served breakfast in bed, forgiven their laundry duty for 24 hours, and treated like royalty when they arrives at Friendly’s for a hard-earned hot fudge sundae.

I want young moms to know that they will be supported, not scorned, for seeking help when their own well of patience runs dry.

I want to start a revolution. I want the greeting card mega-industry to include a selection of cards that gushes over the sacrifices young moms make; that celebrates their stamina and applauds their courage. I want the card to capture the reverence I feel when I think about the young women who tenderly kiss their child goodbye as they leave for school or work, spend sleepless nights soothing their child’s cries or bravely scare away the monsters under the bed, real or imagined. I want young moms to know that they will be supported, not scorned, for seeking help when their own well of patience runs dry.

I want to start a revolution. I want politicians to stop bickering. Specifically, I want them to stop bickering about who protects children and women more, Democrats or Republicans (which can be contradictory in the case of teen moms and their babies), which type of sexuality education works best (even though research proves that abstinence-only-until-marriage sex education is a complete failure), and which programs should get axed from government funding (without regard for their merits. Think, Title X Family Planning.). Young mothers are often too busy to worry about the political games played in Washington, D.C. But, we, the professionals who work with young parents must advocate on their behalf…with their involvement.

However, even after 40 years of Title IX, young women are still being discriminated against for being pregnant, giving birth, or parenting and are subsequently dropping out–no, cast out–of school.

I want to start a revolution. I want an education system that stands up for the rights of young mothers and enforces Title IX–The Equal Opportunity in Education Act. When Title IX was enacted in 1972, the birth rate among women 15-19 years old was at a then-historic low (61.7 out of 1,000). In 2012, CDC data show that teen birth rates have dropped to 34.3 per 1,000. However, even after 40 years of Title IX, young women are still being discriminated against for being pregnant, giving birth, or parenting and are subsequently dropping out–no, cast out–of school. Considering that education is directly linked to employment and economic security, young women and their children are often relegated to a life of poverty. Mothers, of any age, have a right to an education free of discrimination and the right to economic opportunity.

I want to start a revolution. I want more research conducted in the field of pregnant and parenting adolescents and young adults; the complexity of the issues surrounding young parenthood can be overwhelming, even for a seasoned practitioner like me. I want…no scratch that…WE ALL need more evidence-based programs that have been rigorously evaluated and proven to delay or prevent subsequent teen pregnancies. I want teen mothers to have the knowledge, skills, and ability to space their children’s birth greater than two years so that they and their family can be more successful in their educational and economic endeavors.

I want young mothers to speak up and claim the honor, respect, and appreciation they deserve…and not just on Mother’s Day. I admire young mothers because they, too, struggle with the daily grind of parenthood: long days, longer nights, and worrying if they are doing right by their children.

I want to start a revolution. I want young mothers to speak up and claim the honor, respect, and appreciation they deserve…and not just on Mother’s Day. I admire young mothers because they, too, struggle with the daily grind of parenthood: long days, longer nights, and worrying if they are doing right by their children. Every mom wonders if she’ll miss a momentous occasion, if she’s being too strict or too lax in her discipline, or if her kids will remember the times she caught their vomit in my, ah-hem, her hand. Young mothers are no different. Considering this, doesn’t it seem disingenuous NOT to celebrate young mothers on Mother’s Day…and everyday?

I feel the verve intensifying… Will you join the revolution?

Just for the record, THIS mother doesn’t expect breakfast in bed (There’s no time, I’ve got to shuttle my daughter to soccer tryouts and have to coach my son’s soccer game…all before noon!) or a reprieve from the laundry (Is it weird to experience nirvana while folding clean towels?). But I have already told my children that my Mother’s Day will be complete with them in my presence and a double-scoop of butter pecan ice cream in my tummy.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms reading this…no matter how old you are!

Deborah Chilcoat, MEd, is a Senior Manager for our Capacity Building and Evaluation Department at Healthy Teen Network and is nationally recognized as a seasoned trainer and adolescent sexual and reproductive health expert. When home, she is savoring every moment with her incredibly fun family and their lovable dogs. Read more about Deb.

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S-ex E-ducator X-travaganza!

Sydney Keiler — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:56:00 +0000

Today, April 6, 2012, I declare Sex- Educator Day! This is a thank you for all that you do to educate and eradicate all of those misconceptions around the most taboo topic: SEX!

By Vanessa Geffrard

April 6, 2012

The world needs you! The world revolves around you! The world depends on your extensive, strong, long, and ever-thirsty knowledge of SEX!

Today, April 6, 2012, I declare Sex- Educator Day! This is a thank you for all that you do to educate and eradicate all of those misconceptions around the most taboo topic: SEX!

That’s right, I’m talking to you, sex education teachers, peer educators, facilitators, and all sexual/reproductive health professionals! Today, April 6, 2012, I declare Sex- Educator Day! This is a thank you for all that you do to educate and eradicate all of those misconceptions around the most taboo topic: SEX!

I am thanking you because few others can gracefully withstand the stare of a young person when he or she asks you “How far can a woman ejaculate?” as Genevieve, Healthy Teen Network’s Senior Researcher, was once asked, or regain your composure while a student goes on a rant about her mother’s sex life in front of her 6th grade classmates, as yours truly experienced a little while back.

Your work, tact, and extensive knowledge of sexual health tidbits have withstood the test of time ever since you started giving condom demonstrations at lunch time when you were in high school. There, the journey began when you would lead the crusade to ensure that everyone around you knew how to put on a condom and remind your peers not to leave them in their wallets.

And look at you now—making a difference every day and using every ounce of your creativity to make sex education fun for our young people!

And look at you now—making a difference every day and using every ounce of your creativity to make sex education fun for our young people!

This blog and this day are dedicated to you and your work. The world is a better place because you have dispelled every myth, kept on your game face while you listened to every story and experience, and answered every potentially embarrassing question in hopes of keeping our young people safe from HIV/AIDS, unplanned pregnancy, STIs, and just plain misguided decisions.

Vanessa Geffrard, MPH, previously served as a Training and Technical Associate with Healthy Teen Network. Vanessa is a life affirming sex educator whose mission is to creating new generation of life affirming sex educators, consent and boundaries, body confidence, healthy sexuality, teen pregnancy and abortion stigma, healthy relationships, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion. She has gone on to found VagEsteem, a platform for sex education for folks looking to understand and build up the “esteem” of and in their vulvas.

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Cultural Norms When It Comes to “The Talk”

Sydney Keiler — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:23:00 +0000

Research shows that parent-adolescent communication about sex can protect against risky sexual behaviors in teens. So what happens to those who, by cultural nature, do not receive such warnings?

By Guest Author Saras Chung, MSW

February 16, 2012

Know a teen of Latino or Asian immigrant parents? Did you know that you might be the ONLY person who talks to them about sexual development? It’s true. As a child of Korean immigrants myself, it was culturally painful and taboo to discuss the already sensitive topic of sex out loud, let alone with my parents. Even as a 30-year old woman with two kids of my own, the thought of having this conversation with my parents still makes me cringe.

The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health found that Latina and Asian mothers were less likely to talk to their children about sex than other ethnicities.

Blame the parents? Partly, but really, it’s cultural. The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health found that Latina and Asian mothers were less likely to talk to their children about sex than other ethnicities. Although family relationships are vitally important to Asian Americans, ironically, dialogues on sensitive topics such as sexual feelings, intercourse, pregnancy, HIV, and drugs are rare in families. Instead, these types of messages may be conveyed in indirect, implicit, and nonverbal ways easily understood by their Asian American children. Of course, this research is not the case for every single Asian American or Latino you work with, as families may vary on levels of acculturation, but it is something to keep in mind as you work with young teens of this ethnic background.

My own enlightenment came from my mother in a passing comment…so passing that if I blinked my eyes, I might have missed it: “Don’t become pregnant… Stay away from boys.” As a young adolescent, this is about as far as the conversation went. For all logical purposes, I could have believed that just by being around a boy could get me pregnant. “Lucky” for me, the lack of pertinent education at home was fully supplemented by whispers amongst school friends and my seventh grade health class (think graphic slide shows of sexually transmitted infections given by the school nurse). However, even amongst the formalized education, none held as much weight as my own mother’s cautionary words to stay baby-free until marriage…“or else.”

Though it is imperative to provide formal sex education in our schools and communities, it is even more important to find ways to sensitively encourage and support all parents, especially those with ethnic minority backgrounds, to have “the talk” with their teen.

What can be done? How do we work within the cultural norms of ethnically diverse frameworks? The positive side of this story is that research finds that compared to whites, Asian American youth were more concerned about their parents’ opinions regarding dating and relationships. If you happen to be working with large numbers of immigrant populations, why work against the system? Though it is imperative to provide formal sex education in our schools and communities, it is even more important to find ways to sensitively encourage and support all parents, especially those with ethnic minority backgrounds, to have “the talk” with their teen.

Ways to encourage dialogue with parents and teens of ethnically diverse backgrounds:

Utilize existing frameworks. Meet parents where they are at. Champion individuals who can reach parents on a grassroots level to discuss the importance of such conversations. If this means finding advocates at local churches, community centers, or associations, do so. Many ethnic minorities have local newspapers that are dedicated to covering information to their community.
Engage schools to help you spread the importance of such messages. Bring fliers in the appropriate language for schools to disseminate to students.
Work with local church youth workers to work with parents on the importance of communication.

Understand that culturally, messages to parents must respect the sensitivity to the topic. Just because you might be comfortable discussing the topic of intercourse and protection does not mean that parents are as well. Enabling parents to feel prepared and supported is your best tool.

Saras Chung, MSW is a Research and Operations Manager at Wyman.

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Free Will for All?

Sydney Keiler — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:35:00 +0000

Under the Affordable Care Act, employers who object to providing contraception do not have to pay for it, instead, insurance companies will be required to reach out to these employees and cover the cost of contraceptives instead of the employer.

By Bob Reeg, MPA, CVA

February 13, 2012

Under the Affordable Care Act, employers are required to pay for preventative care services—including birth control. The administration announced late January that churches and houses of worship would be exempt from providing free birth control coverage to their employees. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects citizens from a government establishment of religion, and also guarantees our free exercise thereof. The exemption upset many members of the religious community, in large part because it required religious hospitals, universities, and charities to still comply with the mandate under the 2010 health care law.

On February 10, 2012, the Administration changed course and amended the regulation. Now, employers who object to providing contraception do not have to pay for it or be involved with it in any way. Instead, insurance companies will be required to reach out to women of these employers, and cover the cost of contraceptives instead of the employer.

Healthy Teen Network supports access to effective contraception for all and believes it is necessary to help people of all ages exercise control over their reproductive choices. We applaud President Obama for finding a compromise that allows for this access.

Healthy Teen Network supports access to effective contraception for all and believes it is necessary to help people of all ages exercise control over their reproductive choices. We applaud President Obama for finding a compromise that allows for this access. We embrace the faith community as important partners in promoting healthy sexual and reproductive behaviors and hope this compromise will promote partnership on their part as well. We recently met a long-time, progressive Black minister who justifies his pro-choice stance by saying that “the greatest gift God gave to us is the gift of free will.” Does this compromise support free will for all?

Bob Reeg, MPA, CVA, is a Program Development and Public Policy Consultant with Healthy Teen Network. With 30 years’ experience in public policy advocacy, he is always ready to give the rundown on what’s happening—or what’s not—on Capitol Hill. Read more about Bob.

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What’s in a Ribbon?

Sydney Keiler — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:49:00 +0000

Do we need a ribbon to help support the cause of teen pregnancy prevention and supporting pregnant and parenting teens? Will a pervasive symbol help motivate people to support our cause?

By Gina Desiderio

February 8, 2012

Last week, the Susan G. Komen Foundation announced Planned Parenthood would no longer be eligible to receive grants to provide breast cancer screenings to women. After a tremendous backlash against Komen, and an outpouring of support for Planned Parenthood, Komen reversed its decision, announcing that Planned Parenthood would again be eligible for grant applications. In the fallout ensuing from Komen’s decision, and a lack of clear or consistent reasoning behind the initial decision, we are left to conclude that the decision was made, not for the good of women and their health, but rather tied to political motivations and the issue of choice.

The controversy surrounding the pink ribbon, however, and what it means to support it, is not new. In September 2003, Ms. Magazine published an article, “Think Before You Pink,” suggesting we should be more discriminating in how we donate funds because the funding may not always go to the cause we expect. Komen has been under fire in the past for using its funds to sue other nonprofits who use its language, “for the cure,” as well as campaigns with questionable partners whose products do nothing for overall health, let alone breast cancer prevention or treatment. Critics call into question the value in pursuing treatment and detection as primary goals, rather than prevention. The ribbon, itself, with its pink color and ties to feminine stereotypes, is suspect, as Barbara Ehrenreich, a breast cancer survivor, analyzes as she is involuntarily inundated with pink while undergoing treatment.

As Komen backpedals from this decision, trying to regain its lost public support, both emotional and financial, and restore its image as a nonprofit foundation serving women, I’m stuck reflecting on the ribbon as a symbol, and its role in activism and raising awareness for a cause.

As Komen backpedals from this decision, trying to regain its lost public support, both emotional and financial, and restore its image as a nonprofit foundation serving women, I’m stuck reflecting on the ribbon as a symbol, and its role in activism and raising awareness for a cause.Komen wasn’t the first to use a ribbon, but the pink ribbon is arguably the omnipresent ribbon. Google any cause, however, and you’re likely to find a ribbon attached in an attempt to raise awareness and activism. The Komen fiasco made me wonder if there is a ribbon related to teen pregnancy prevention, or supporting pregnant and parenting teens. I’ve been working in the field of adolescent sexual and reproductive health for more than five years, and yet a ribbon didn’t immediately come to mind. A quick search revealed some links, buried halfway down the page, to a white ribbon for teen pregnancy prevention. Clearly, this symbol is nowhere near as successful as the pink ribbon.

And yet, what’s in a ribbon? Do we need a ribbon to help support the cause of teen pregnancy prevention and supporting pregnant and parenting teens? Will a pervasive symbol help motivate people to support our cause?

I don’t think so. Sure, the pink ribbon is a very successful symbol for Komen—you see a pink product, and you assume that if you buy it, you’ll be supporting women’s health. And who doesn’t want to support women’s health? Supporting the pink ribbon is a way to (at least appear to) support women without being controversial or addressing hot button topics like abortion or contraception. The Komen fiasco, last week, however, surfaced the fact that supporting Komen’s pink ribbon doesn’t necessarily mean supporting women’s health.

The ribbon is used as a symbol to promote awareness and activism, and yet many critics question this. We even have a new term emerging to indicate that wearing a ribbon may not necessarily do anything to help further a cause: slactivism.

The ribbon is used as a symbol to promote awareness and activism, and yet many critics question this. We even have a new term emerging to indicate that wearing a ribbon may not necessarily do anything to help further a cause: slactivism. Formed from the root words, “slacker” and “activism,” Wikipedia informs us that “The word is usually considered a pejorative term that describes “feel-good” measures, in support of an issue or social cause, that have little or no practical effect other than to make the person doing it feel satisfaction.”

Does teen pregnancy prevention and supporting pregnant/parenting teens need a ribbon? Probably not. But at Healthy Teen Network, we consistently hear from our members and colleagues that framing the issue continues to be a challenge. It’s difficult to advocate for our cause. And sex education is certainly a hot button topic.

Those of us in the field of adolescent sexual and reproductive health have no doubt why we work for our cause. On our part, Healthy Teen Network envisions a national community where all adolescents and young adults, including teen parents, are supported and empowered to lead healthy sexual, reproductive, and family lives. This is a vision that seems to be tied to human rights, equity…and yet, the question of HOW we accomplish this vision is what so often becomes the debate, the controversy.

The good news is that we are making strides toward positive health outcomes for youth. Today, the Guttmacher Institute released the latest data on teen pregnancy rates for 2008. Approximately 7% of US teens became pregnant in 2008, with a rate of 67.8 pregnancies per 1,000 women, aged 15-19. The teen pregnancy rate has declined 42% from its peak in 1990, when the pregnancy rate was 116.9 per 1,000 women, aged 15-19.

However, what we also learn from this report is that we still have much work to do. Although pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates have declined across racial and ethnic groups, we continue to see persistent health disparities. Teen pregnancy rates among black and Hispanic youth continue to be 2-3 times as high as that of their non-Hispanic white peers.

But true activism, true advocacy, will go much further in supporting adolescents’ health and well-being, so that we may continue to see declines not only in teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates, but also declines in health disparities for marginalized youth.

Our field doesn’t need a ribbon, or more slactivism. We need more awareness and more support (specifically, more funding) for youth and sexual and reproductive health services and education. A powerful symbol like the ribbon, marketed as effectively as Komen at least previously managed to do would be a great way to draw broader attention to our cause. But true activism, true advocacy, will go much further in supporting adolescents’ health and well-being, so that we may continue to see declines not only in teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates, but also declines in health disparities for marginalized youth.

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