National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Wednesday May 7, 2008
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Poster Contest
Deadline October 24, 2008
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Educational Resouces
For Educators
Sexuality Education
If you are a teacher or member of any organization dealing with teens, and are interested in educating them about sexuality issues, the CHART Teen Task Force offers a free sexuality education program by Laura Rupp, RN, BSN. Laura is a trained sexuality educator who can present programs tailored to your needs. This includes programs for boys and girls, abstinence-centered programs, and comprehensive sexuality education including pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted infections. Laura has received training from the TISHE national health conference. She is trained in the “Wise Guys” male sexual responsibility curriculum. Wise Guys was begun by the Family Life Council of Greensboro, NC, and has spread to 250 communities in 31 states. She is also trained in the “Making Smart Choices” middle school, abstinence curriculum.
To schedule a sexuality education program for your school or organization, please contact Laura Rupp, RN, BSN at 
(573) 221-3404
, or 1-800-606-3404 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. After hours a message can be left at extension 108.
Pregnancy/Empathy Belly
If you are a teacher or member of any organization dealing with teens and are interested in educating them about the responsibility of caring for a child or the effects of pregnancy, Leigh Ann Bergman, our community coordinator offers two different programs, Baby Think It Over and Empathy Belly Pregnancy Simulators, which can both be utilized by teens. The program is open to any school, church group, or youth group, in our seven county area, and is available at no charge. Our seven counties include: Marion, Ralls, Pike, Monroe, Shelby, Lewis, and Clark. Leigh Ann has been a member of the CHART Teen Task Force since 2001, and has been the coordinator of these two programs since 2005.
There are 20 Real Care Baby II infant simulators in the CHART Teen Task Force Baby Think It Over Program. The Coordinator is responsible for upkeep of the simulators, education of teachers, and students in their use, delivery to schools, and program evaluation. Each infant simulator is accompanied by a car seat and diaper bag; which includes a diaper, bottle, baby blanket, baby wipes, and a student information card. When requested by the teacher, the Community Coordinator goes into the school, trains teachers in their use, and demonstrates the use of the simulators to the students. During the 2007/2008 school 337 students and 12 schools participated in this program. Schools which utilized this program during the 2007/2008 school year include:
Mark Twain High School, Bowling Green High School, Paris High School, Paris Middle School, Foundation For Life Christian Academy, South Shelby High School, North Shelby High School, Marion County R-II, Palmyra High School, Palmyra Middle School, Highland High School, and Clark County High School.
The CHART Teen Task Force has three Pregnancy Simulators in the Empathy Belly Program. The pregnancy simulator gives the participant a 30-35 lb weight gain as well as other symptoms of pregnancy. Students normally wear the simulator for 15-20 minutes and participate in a series of activities, including; walking, sitting at a school desk, sitting on the floor, tying their shoe, etc… When requested by the teacher, or youth group leader, the community coordinator goes into the school, or group meeting, and demonstrates the simulator with the students, aiding the students as they participate using the simulator.
During the 2007/2008 school year approximately 171 students and 8 schools participated in this program. Schools which utilized this program during the 2007/2008 school year include:
If interested in either of these programs, please contact the community coordinator, Leigh Ann Bergman, at (573) 822-4271.
A REALity Experience, with REAL challenges, about Real choices, that are a part of a REAL teen’s life.
For Parents
Our children will grow up and our children will learn about their sexuality whether we want them to or not. Our only choice is in who they learn from. Do you want your child to learn from school, church, other children or worst of all, completely on their own? If not, then you must take action.
Talking about our sexuality is not easy for most of us, especially when talking with our children. It is something that is extremely important though. Studies have shown that kids who can talk with their parents or a trusted adult about their sexuality are less likely to become pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted disease.
We can provide you with a number of resources that will make this very important part of parenthood easier. These resources contain input from parents who have already been through this difficult stage as well as input from teenagers. This is a great way to learn what your child might be thinking or feeling and how you may be able help your child in their situation.
Please contact us for more info and check out our Links page it has more very helpful information online.
For Teens
Sex causes babies!
If you have sex, you or your partner will most likely someday become pregnant. A girl can become pregnant the first time she has sex or anytime she has sex. Properly used birth control methods can reduce but cannot eliminate the risk of pregnancy.
Babies require lots of time and effort.
Most teenagers don't have or want to give what it takes to care for a baby. Babies are lots of work, most mothers cannot care for their child and go to school, play sports, develop a career, date or do lots of other things they may have had plans for before pregnancy. If you are a boy don't get too comfortable yet, your responsibilities are also tremendous.
Babies require lots of money.
Boys here's where your responsibility only begins. Courts now can identify the father and when they do, fathers are required to pay for the care of their children usually until they are at least 18. This means at least 18 years of child support payments which can be 20% of the fathers pay. The child still needs a father in it's life, which will mean you probably will not be able to attend college, may not be able to finish High School.
Sex can transmit some diseases.
Sexually transmitted diseases STDs can range from inconvenient to fatal, easily cured to not curable, uncomfortable to deadly. They can be obvious or completely hidden, lots of people have an STD and don't even know it. They can appear soon after contact with an infected partner or they may not show up for years. Latex Condoms, when properly used can reduce the risk of contracting an STD but only abstinence can protect you from an STD. STDs affect both boys and girls, they can be passed by sex, kissing, intimate touching or rubbing, sharing needles for drug use, piercing or tattoos.