 |
Teen
pregnancy prevention
is focus of May 8 activities
By Denise Townsend
Chair
Gwinnett Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force
Special to GwinnettForum.com
MAY 3, 2002 -- The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy,
a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to improve
the well being of children, youth,
and families by reducing teen pregnancy, will launch the initial
National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on Wednesday, May 8.
The goal of the National Day is to mobilize teenagers across the
United States to stop, think, and make a plan to prevent teen pregnancy.
The primary activity for engaging teens in the National Day is an
interactive, internet-based teen quiz that will be posted on www.teenpregancy.org.
The quiz will highlight key issues, situations, and misconceptions
about teen pregnancy by using scenarios, fun facts, and storylines
that will make the issue of teen pregnancy real and personal.
Teens so often say, "It won't happen to me." This National
Day is an effort to begin breaking through that wall of denial.
This national event will encourage teens to make a prevention plan
while simultaneously providing them with the opportunity to become
part of a national movement.
The Campaign has recruited over 60 national partners for the National
Day, including founding partners Teen People and Teen People Online.
This diverse group includes the American Academy of Pediatrics,
the American Medical Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America,
City Year, the Candie's Foundation, Jack & Jill of America,
the Save the Children Foundation, the National Council of La Raza,
Girls Incorporated, Goodwill Industries, the National Fatherhood
Initiative, the National School Boards Association, Procter &
Gamble, Ricki Lake, Students Against Destructive Decisions, the
ASPIRA Association, and the WB Network.
The Campaign is asking state and local organizations to help spread
the word about the National Day by sponsoring events and activities
that direct teens to the online quiz. Examples include:
- Promote the event to colleagues, members, chapters,
customers, students, etc. through emails, radio public service
announcements, newsletter articles or other communication channels.
- Add information about the National Day to Prevent
Teen Pregnancy to the materials others develop for Teen Pregnancy
Prevention Month.
- Ask state health department to alert local public
health offices about the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
so they can get the word out in communities.
- Post information about the National Day to Prevent
Teen Pregnancy and the quiz on organization's website.
- Set up a chat event on websites to discuss teen
pregnancy prevention issues in conjunction with the National Day
to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
- Encourage schools and businesses to promote
the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
- Contact local media and let them know about
community activities.
- Write a letter to the editor.
- Approach civic leaders and local elected officials
to proclaim May 8 as the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
Check out www.teenpregnancy.org
for further information about the National Day or send an email
message to nationalday@teenpregnancy.org
to find out more about how people can get involved or to receive
email updates about the National Day.
Click
here to read other community commentaries...
|
|
Number
2.07, May 3, 2002
