2012 Scholarships Available!

TeenNow California is pleased to announce that our 2012 scholarships for pregnant and parenting teens and teen leaders are now available! Every year we give out scholarships to eight California teen parents and one California teen student leader to help them go on to secondary education—college or vocational school—after they graduate from high school. These scholarships are vital to help young people achieve their goals. Deadline: March 30, 2012. All information regarding eligibility requirements and application forms can be found on our website here. Examples of past winners can also be found on the site.

Scholarships for expectant and parenting students are awarded by region.  A $300 Regional Scholarship Award will be given to a senior in each of the 8 TeenNow regions. Each regional applicant will then compete for the state scholarship of an additional $500. One $500 scholarship is available for teens in leadership roles in adolescent health. EACH APPLICANT MUST BE SPONSORED BY A CURRENT TEENNOW CALIFORNIA MEMBER. If a sponsor is not sure whether they are a current member, please contact tnca@teennowcalifornia.org to check our membership records. Any applicant who does not have a current member as a sponsor will be disqualified. To find a potential sponsor in your area, contact us at tnca@teennowcalifornia.org. To become a member click here. And take advantage of our New Year’s membership special: 20% savings on membership until January 31, 2012!

Please see our website for complete information and an application. GOOD LUCK!

Holiday membership special! 20% off 2012

Holiday membership special! 20% off 2012 TeenNow California membership! http://ow.ly/7ZqNj

“Let’s Talk About Sex!”–Film Review

Let’s Talk About Sex

Film reviewed by Lena Schmidt

Sex is part of our culture, especially youth culture. Sexual imagery is inescapable:  billboards, magazine covers, movies, and Internet ads inundate us with it. But we’re still not supposed to talk about it. The new documentary, “Let’s Talk About Sex” by James Houston addresses this conundrum with the central question, “if sex is everywhere, but it is taboo to talk about, what effect is it having on young people?” Houston uses interesting interviews, engaging graphics, and alarming data to show that teens are paying a terrible price for this confusion, fear, and silence around sex and sexuality in US culture: increasing rates of unintended pregnancy, STDs, and HIV. And American taxpayers are paying billions of dollars to treat these preventable problems.

According to the film, 70% of Americans have had sex by the time they’re 19.  95% of Americans have sex before they’re married. The US government has spent $1.5 billion on abstinence-only education and yet the US has the highest teen birth rate in the industrialized world. 85% of parents in America want comprehensive sex education for their children; it is a small but vocal minority that is deeply opposed. Houston talks to teens, parents, teachers, doctors, faith leaders, linguists, researchers, and college students who agree that withholding information from young people does not protect them. As the film states, in the US, “teens are thought of as accidents waiting to happen—driven by raging hormones—[and] in some ways it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.” One concerned parent says, “We teach our kids math, reading, science, but we don’t teach them about their body and how to be responsible…sex is as much a part of life as algebra or English.” Houston advocates starting conversations to change outdated attitudes about sex.

These conversations may need to take place in surprising venues. African-American contributors in the documentary explain that in the same way that the church was involved with abolishing slavery, the end of segregation, and the civil rights movement, it needs to continue to address the needs of the time, which means talking about sex in church. African-American communities often demonstrate high rates of teen pregnancy, and although African Americans make up only 15% of the US, they make up 50% of all new HIV infections. The film makes it difficult to argue with the fact that talking about sex will save lives.

The film brilliantly compares European and American attitudes about sexuality and sex education. In Holland/the Netherlands sex is discussed as a natural part of a relationship and as a way to express love. One mom in Holland says, “Kids have sex. If they don’t have sex in the bedroom they’ll probably have sex in the street or in the park.” This mom even offers her own condoms to her son to use. This and other examples (and the statistics presented about teen pregnancy rates) demonstrate that abstinence-only education is insufficient in protecting our teens. Some highlights of the film include: a classroom of expectant teens being taught abstinence-only education despite the clear evidence that it wasn’t relevant to their lives, a teacher putting a condom over her hand all the way to her elbow to rebut the myth that size matters, and the disparate attitudes teens have in the US and the Netherlands about young women and men who carry condoms in their wallets.

This film is recommended and appropriate for parents, teens, and educators. It is a great conversation starter—watch it today and start talking. Let’s talk about sex! To learn more about the film and resources, check out the film’s website: http://www.letstalkaboutsexthefilm.com/ The film was made in collaboration with http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/  To talk about sex and sex education in California, become a member of TeenNow California: http://teennowcalifornia.org/Join.php

Interesting post about Myths vs. Realities

I just read something today that made me think about some of the tools we use in this field to educate teens and adults about reproductive health. How many times have you seen, or used, a “Myths versus Realities” worksheet that tries to break down common misconceptions about sex? I know I’ve used them, and even created some of my own. If you’re like me, you need to read this post from Katya’s Non-Profit Marketing Blog, which always includes some really good, thought-provoking material. I know that I won’t be using Myths Vs. Realities any more–how about you?

http://feeds.feedblitz.com/KatyasNon-ProfitMarketingBlog

 

 

Want to Give Back for the Holidays? Help Us Send a Teen to College!

…or vocational school. TeenNow California awards scholarships to nine teenagers each year to help them go on to college or a trade school after they graduate. Scholarships are for teen parents, and/or teens who have taken a leadership role in adolescent health, such as peer educators, participants in adolescent health programs, or another type of leadership roles. By providing partial funds for post-secondary education, we’re helping to ensure opportunities for California teens so they can be successful and lead fulfilling, independent lives.

Won’t you help us? Even a small donation can make a difference in the life of a teen parent or a teen leader. You could be providing youth with opportunities they would not otherwise have for further education. To contribute to our Scholarship Drive, please visit www.teennowcalifornia.org/Fundraising.php.

Give Yourself the Gift of Education: 2 Upcoming Webinars!

As the holiday season approaches, we often think about what to give to others. But what about a gift for yourself? TeenNow California has two exciting webinars coming up! Both are designed to continue your education and help you effectively serve young people. Both are online so you can get trainings without traveling. Member discounts!

On December 13, 2011 we are hosting the webinar: “Sex Isn’t ‘Dirty’: Being Sex Positive When Teaching Teens.” This workshop is designed to provide educators and others who interact with teens the tools necessary to discuss sex and sexuality from a positive perspective. Being sex-positive incorporates the understanding that sex is a normal and healthy part of human development. Approaching sex education from this perspective can teach teens how to make healthy life-long choices. Tuesday December 13, 2011 from 12pm-1pm. Register here

On January 19, 2012 we are hosting the webinar, “Providing Excellent Services: What Every Adolescent Sexual Health Provider Should Know.” Whether you’re new to field of sexual health education or are a manager of health educators, this workshop provides vital information. To provide the best services you need to understand youth development issues and be skilled at communicating and relating to young people. The Adolescent Sexual Health Workshop (ASHWG) has created a set of criteria for hiring and evaluating adolescent sexual health providers that details all the skills and knowledge needed to make sure your programs and services are the best they can be. This material will be shared in the training. Thursday January 19, 2012 from 2pm-3pm. Register here

If you have a “wish list” of trainings you want to see offered, please contact us at tnca@teennowcalifornia.org–and remember, as a member you get discounts on all our trainings and services!  Get updated info on all events on our website

Register for our Sex Positive Webinar on

Register for our Sex Positive Webinar on December 13th! http://www.teennowcalifornia.org/events.php.

Help TeenNow California Win Funding from Chase Community Giving!

TeenNow California is participating in this next round of competition for Chase Community Giving funds. We could win between $25,000 and $250,000 for our programs and services, but we need your help!

To vote for us, simply “like” Chase Community Giving on Facebook (http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/), then vote for TeenNow California between November 8th and November 22nd (http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/510155986-teennow-california?src=twitter). Visit our web site for a direct link to the CHASE Community Giving page where  you can vote for us. And, once you’ve voted for TeenNow California, ask your friends to vote for us too! We thank you in advance for your support!

TeenNow California Welcomes the New President and CEO of the California Wellness Foundation!

Renowned health care executive Dr. Diana M. Bontá will lead The California Wellness Foundation as its next president and CEO, effective January 2012, announced David S. Barlow, chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Dr. Bontá, a nurse with a doctorate in public health, is currently vice president of public affairs for Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California Region, where she has served there since October 2004.

Click here to go directly to the full news release:

http://www.calwellness.org/news_archive/nov_02_2011_ceo_bonta.htm

Remember to participate in our Virtual f

Remember to participate in our Virtual focus group: Tuesday Oct. 11th 2-4 http://ow.ly/6QLyz