MOAPPP's December 2003 E-Monthly

Together we can prevent teen pregnancy!

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Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting, a nonprofit organization, is composed of individuals and organizations in Minnesota that work to strengthen policies and programs related to adolescent pregnancy prevention, adolescent pregnancy care and adolescent parenting.
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Meet with your State Legislator this Month

Currently, the MN State Legislature is adjourned until Monday, February 2, 2004. Now is the perfect time to meet with State Representatives and Senators and talk with them about preventing adolescent pregnancy and supporting adolescent mothers and fathers. Discuss with your legislators one or two topics on adolescent pregnancy and adolescent parents, such as, comprehensive sexuality education in the classroom, upholding the minors' consent law, funding youth development programs, access to affordable family planning, and coordinated school services for adolescent mothers and fathers. Also, legislators are more likely to be reading the letters to the editor in the local papers, so write a letter and make your voice heard! To find out your legislators, click on this link: District Finder. For talking points on adolescent pregnancy prevention, adolescent parents, and meeting legislators go to www.moappp.org or contact Joy R. Miciano at joy@moappp.org or 651.644.1447x14.

Call for Presentations for the 2004 MOAPPP Annual Conference

MOAPPP seeks proposals for workshop presentations for our annual conference, "Building Hope, Building Lives," May 6-7, 2004. For more information go to www.moappp.org. Proposals are due at the MOAPPP office by Friday, December 12, 2003. Questions? Please contact Marilyn Colby Rivkin, marilyn@moappp.org or 651-644-1447 ext. 15.

Attention 2003 MOAPPP Conference Attendees

MOAPPP is conducting a follow-up survey of participants at last year's conference to see how you are doing in your work and to learn how the conference had an impact on how you do your job. If you attended the conference and have not yet completed the survey, please take a moment to give us your feedback. You can access the survey by clicking on Survey Monkey. This links you directly to the survey instrument. Questions? Please contact Marilyn Colby Rivkin, marilyn@moappp.org or 651-644-1447 ext. 15. Thank you very much.

Minnesota's Teen Birth Rate Continues to Decline

Minnesota's teen birth rate declined from 37 births per 1,000 15-19 year olds in 1991 to 28 births per 1,000 15-19 year olds in 2001, a 24% decline. The national teen birth rate continued its dramatic decline in 2002, falling 31 percent between 1991 (61.8 births per 1,000 15-19-year-olds) and 2002 (42.9 births per 1,000 15-19-year-olds). These and other statistics on teen childbearing, sexual activity, and contraceptive use appear in the 2003 Facts At A Glance, Child Trends' annual newsletter on teen childbearing and related issues, available at www.childtrends.org/HomePg.asp#FAAG.

Measuring MFIP Performance for Racial/Ethnic and Immigrant Groups

The MN Department of Human Services has just released "Measuring Minnesota Family Investment Program Performance for Racial/Ethnic and Immigrant Groups". The analyses show disparities in MFIP outcomes by racial/ethnic and immigrant status. African American, American Indian, Somali, and other black immigrant participant outcomes, based on the "Self-support Index", were lower than expected even after taking into account other factors. As with the other reports in this series, it is produced to inform policymakers, agencies, and organizations so they can better assist participants on MFIP toward self-sufficiency. The revised report can be found on the Minnesota Department of Human Services' web site. Paper versions of this report are not available. If you experience any problems accessing the report on the web site, you can send an e-mail to connie.freed@state.mn.us.

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Upcoming Events

December 1, World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day serves as a "kick-off" for programs and messages for the upcoming year. Therefore, events need not take place exactly on December 1st. The calendar will be placed online on the MN Department of Health's web site at www.health.state.mn.us and provided to the MAP AIDSLine and the STD Hotline. If you have events to share, FAX them to (612) 676-5739 or e-mail roy.nelson@health.state.mn.us.

December 4, 2003, Adult Capitol Lab

Thursday, 3:00-5:00 PM, State Capitol. Sponsored by the Sexuality Education for Life Coalition. The Capitol Lab will include an overview of the legislative process and tours of the State Capitol and State Office Building. The lab will start in the basement hearing room of the State Office Building (across the street from the State Capitol). The Capitol Lab is geared towards adults-professionals, parents and other adults who care about youth. Limited space is available. Contact Kelly Wolfe, MOAPPP Public Policy Intern, for more information or to reserve a spot 651-644-1447, ext 12.

December 17, Cultivating the Future

"Cultivating the Future: Advocating for the Health of Adolescents in Times of Drought" will be hosted by The University of Minnesota's Prevention Research Center, in conjunction with Research!America. For more information about this prevention research conference, please email sheax011@umn.edu or call Glynis Shea at 612-624-3772.

January 29, 2004, Legislative Preparation

Legislative Preparation for Adult & Youth Advocates, Thursday, 3:00-5:30 PM. Sponsored by the Sexuality Education for Life Coalition. Youth advocates and interested adults are invited to come learn about the legislative process and tour the State Capitol and State Office Building. Come discuss and learn about what will happen around sexuality education and the minors' consent law in the 2004 Legislative Session. Hear from legislators and other advocates. Location: State Office Building, room: TBA. Youth groups and peer education groups are encouraged to attend. Contact Joy R. Miciano at MOAPPP for more information 651.644.1447x14, joy@moappp.org.

May 6 - 7, 2004, MOAPPP Annual Conference

"Building Hope: Building Lives" will be held at the Earle Brown Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, MN. Registration materials will be sent in February 2004. For more information, contact marilyn@moappp.org. Watch for more information on the MOAPPP website, www.moappp.org.

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