Today is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, so it's time to think about what we as adults can do to try to curb the epidemic of teen pregnancy in our communities.
One thing going on in my community is the Wellness Educators program. It's a program that teaches teens about various wellness issues (birth control, substance abuse, nutrition, suicide prevent, etc.) and then tasks them with mentoring the peers about what they've learned. There's also a service learning component in which they have to work for various community organizations.
There used to be a similar program (although it was just for boys) called "Wize Guyz" that was run by the local Planned Parenthood office. That one was seen by the community as a ploy by PPH to get their evil claws into our children for the purpose of teaching them how to have rampant orgies and abortions. Wellness Educators is run through Sexual Assault Services, so it's seen as more acceptable by the community. I guess sexual assault is better than planning parenthood.
I'll be heading over to the WE session tonight to help them make buttons. What will you do today to help engage the youth in your community?
Our daughter's boyfriend was in the Wize Guyz program. And he has grown in to a wonderful mature man.
ReplyDeleteIndeed he has ;-)
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