MOAPPP’s March 2005 E-Monthly

MOAPPP Annual Conference
May 5-6 2005

Additional information about the Annual Conference is available on our website.

The Conference Brochure is available online.

Call for Exhibitors: The MOAPPP conference provides an excellent opportunity to promote your program, organization or business. Register now for exhibit space on May 5-6, 2005. The Registration Packet is available online.

MOAPPP Updates

MOAPPP Annual Awards

Each year, MOAPPP honors individuals, agencies, policy makers and programs that make outstanding contributions in the areas of adolescent pregnancy prevention and parenting in Minnesota. The awards are presented at the MOAPPP annual conference on May 6, 2005. MOAPPP currently seeks nominations for the award recipients. Please let us know about individuals, agencies, and programs you work with that deserve to be recognized by their peers. With your help, we can honor the remarkable efforts going on throughout the state. Please go to the MOAPPP website for a full description of the awards and the categories in which they are distributed, as well as a nomination formPlease send nominations to Brigid Riley at [email protected] or via fax at 651-644-1417 by April 8, 2005.

Adolescent Parent Provider Survey

MOAPPP, in collaboration with the Department of Education, will be conducting a survey of all adolescent parent services and programs around the state. Our goal is to develop a web-based, comprehensive list of adolescent parent providers to serve as a resource to anyone working with, or concerned about teen parents and their children. Service providers will be able to access this on-line resource from the MOAPPP and Department of Education websites. The survey will be administered in mid March. If you do not receive a survey and would like to have your program/services included in this valuable resource, please email Marilyn Colby Rivkin at [email protected].

Comprehensive Family Life and Sexuality Education Bill Introduced

A tripartisan group of state Senators and Representatives announced in February legislation to overhaul the state’s HIV/STD curriculum mandate. The Comprehensive Family Life and Sex Education Bill (SF 878 and HF 1301) includes language that:

  • Repeals and replaces the existing K-12 HIV/STD curriculum requirements [MN Statutes, Section 121A.23]
  • Establishes the rationale and definitions for “Comprehensive Family Life and Sex Education” that is age appropriate and medically accurate
  • Establishes the curriculum requirement only for grades 7 through 12
  • Allows school districts considerable authority to determine how to fulfill the requirement
  • Allows parents the choice of exempting their children to participate from all or part of a comprehensive sexuality education program

To read the legislative proposal in its entirety go to the Minnesota Senate Website and type sf878 in the “get bill” box.

Read the existing K-12 HIV/STD curriculum requirements [MN Statutes, Section 121A.23].

The Comprehensive Family Life and Sex Education Bill is backed by Sexuality Education for Life-MN, a coalition convened by MOAPPP and the Minnesota AIDS Project. For more information on the coalition: www.SexEdforLife.org.


In the News

Populations of Color in Minnesota Report

The Minnesota Department of Health has updated their “Populations of Color in Minnesota” report originally done in 1997. New in this update is trend data that indicates change and compares results from the previous edition. Download a copy of the report. (PDF)

Dare to Dream Mini-grants for Minnesota Girls in Grades 6-10

The Ann Bancroft Foundation is announcing its Spring 2005 round of Dare to Dream mini-grants for Minnesota girls in grades 6-10. Grants have been given for classes, camps or lessons to improve a skill; outdoor adventures or camps; honors programs; travel with approved schools or groups; choir trips or school activities and more. Teachers, mentors, others who work with young women are encouraged to visit the Ann Bancroft Foundation website at www.annbancroftfoundation.org or to call the Foundation at 763-541-9363 for more information.

Parents’ Attitudes Toward Minors’ Confidential Access to Contraception

This study looks at parents’ views on parental notification laws that would require health professionals to notify parents when their adolescent seeks to obtain prescription birth control methods. The study also examined parents’ beliefs about the expected consequences of and exceptions to such laws, and the relationship of such beliefs to parents’ global views on parental notification laws. Study participants included 1,069 parents in Minnesota or Wisconsin who had an adolescent ages 13-17.

Eisenberg ME, Swain C, Bearinger LH. 2005. Parental notification laws for minors’ access to contraception: What do parents say? Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 159(2):120-125. The abstract and link to full text are available online.

Playing Catch-Up: How Children Born to Teen Mothers Fare

New Report Released. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy has just released a new report called Playing Catch-Up: How Children Born to Teen Mothers Fare. View the full report on the Campaign’s website (PDF).

Preventing Teen Pregnancy: Why It Matters

“Preventing Teen Pregnancy: Why It Matters” is a new one-page fact sheet from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy that underscores the strong relationship between preventing teen pregnancy and improving other pressing social issues such as childhood poverty. Download a copy of the fact sheet (PDF).

“Safer Choices” Impacts Sexual Behaviors of Different Subgroups of High School Students

A recent study reports that the Safer Choices intervention reduced one or more measures of sexual risk taking over 31 months among all groups of youth, and was especially effective with males, Hispanics, and youth who engaged in unprotected sex and thus were at higher risk for HIV, other STD infections and pregnancy.

Kirby DB, Baumler E, Coyle KK, Basen-Engquist K, Parcel GS, Harrist R, Banspach SW. The “Safer Choices” intervention: its impact on the sexual behaviors of different subgroups of high school students. Journal of Adolescent Health. 35(6):442-52, 2004 Dec. The abstract is available online.

American Psychological Association Supports Comprehensive Sex Education

The American Psychological Association is recommending that comprehensive and empirically supported sex education and HIV prevention programs become widely available to teach youth how to abstain from risky sexual behaviors and learn how they can protect themselves against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Full text of the resolution is available online. (PDF)

Teen Pregnancy Funding Information

A new online resource from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) highlights national and state foundations that list teen pregnancy as a focus area. The latest issue of “Foundation Funding Guide” allows users to click on their state and find practical information on applications, deadlines, geographic focus, and limitations of each granting organization. NACCHO’s Foundation Funding Guide is available online.

The State of Latina Adolescents’ Health

In addition to the challenges all youth encounter during the transition to adulthood, social, cultural, economic, and biological factors influence the state of Latina adolescents’ health. Some of these factors may place Latinas at risk, while others may assist in protecting their health. The complex interaction of these factors can also affect Latina teens’ life choices, resiliency, and development. This report discusses how these factors influence teen pregnancy and other health risks. The report is available on Advocates for Youth’s website.

Report Examines Federally Funded Adolescent Health Programs

Towards Meeting the Needs of Adolescents: An Assessment of Federally Funded Adolescent Health Programs and Initiatives within the Department of Health and Human Services, reviews adolescent health programs in seven content areas, including health and well-being, family and peer, school environment and violence. The review is intended for use by policymakers and program managers in meeting the varied needs of adolescents, their families, and their communities. The report is available from the MCH Library Web site (PDF).

From the Journal of Early Adolescence, February 2005; Vol. 25, No. 1 – Positive Youth Development: A View of the Issues

  • Positive Youth Development, Participation in Community Youth Development Programs, and Community Contributions of Fifth-Grade Adolescents: Findings From the First Wave Of the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development
  • Thriving in Adolescence: The Voices of Youth-Serving Practitioners, Parents, and Early and Late Adolescents

SIECUS Releases 3rd Edition of Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Kindergarten Through 12th Grade

The basic structure and content remain the same. However, certain topics, messages, and age levels have been changed to reflect new information and the reality that today’s young people are facing. In addition, a section has been added on using the Guidelines that provides specific advice, ideas, and resources to help educators implement this framework into their efforts to provide high-quality sexuality education to young people in their schools and communities. You can view a copy of the Guidelines online (PDF), or order a copy by phone: (212) 819-9770 x 327.

New Tool Identifies Key Elements of Effective Treatment for Adolescents with Alcohol Problems

Nine Elements of Effective Alcohol Treatment for Adolescents identifies common themes among treatments that are most effective in helping adolescents with alcohol problems. The tool is intended for use by policy makers, employers, and others to help curb the avoidable health care and other costs associated with alcohol use and to improve access to treatment. The tool is available online.

Request a free Action Kit for the Turn Beauty Inside Out Campaign

Request a free Action Kit for the Turn Beauty Inside Out Campaign at www.mindonthemedia.com. TBIO Day is May 18, 2005, and encourages girls and boys to redefine beauty to focus on who they are and what they do, not on how they look.

Federal Bill Introduced That Would Provide $206M for Comprehensive Sex Education Programs

On February 10, 2005, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) introduced a bill that would provide $206 million for comprehensive sex education programs nationwide. The Responsible Education About Life Act, or REAL Act — which already has 65 co-sponsors — would provide federal funding to state sex education programs that provide “medically accurate” information about the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Read more about the REAL Act.


MOAPPP Events

March 8, 2005
MOAPPP on the Radio!

4:00 – 4:30 p.m
KFAI 90.3/106.7 FM

MOAPPP Executive Director, Brigid Riley, will be hosting a half-hour radio show on KFAI 90.3/106.7 FM as part of International Women’s Day. The program, Teen Moms in Minnesota, will highlight some of the statistics, challenges and success stories surrounding teen parents, with a special emphasis on what the broader community of women can do to support these young families. Listen on your computer at www.kfai.org.

May 12, 2005
An Evening of HOT Music – MOAPPP’s annual benefit event

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant
1010 Nicollet Minneapolis, MN

An Evening of HOT Music at the Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant.

This is MOAPPP’s annual benefit event, mark your calendars now. Details to follow.

Other Events

January 15 – March 27, 2005
Girl Culture Photography Exhibition by Lauren Greenfield

Free and open to the public.
Minnesota Center for Photography (MCP)
165 13th Avenue NE, Minneapolis 55413
612-824-5500

Girl Culture by internationally known photographer Lauren Greenfield features 58 intimate, revealing and thought-provoking photographs and narratives, which capture the tension associated with growing up female in a media-obsessed culture. This exhibit opens the door for conversation between adolescent girls, parents, teachers, clinicians and all practitioners that serve youth. The exhibit is co-hosted by the Junior League of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Center for Photography. For full details go to: www.jlminneapolis.org and www.mncp.org.

March – May, 2005
Presenting, Pondering and Planning with Minnesota Student Survey Data

There will be eight day-long regional workshops, late March through early May, to build your capacity to think about the Minnesota Student Survey, present data to your local community, and incorporate what you’ve learned into your prevention planning and needs assessment work. Workshop cost is $20, which covers lunch and all materials. To register, please visit http://www.emprc.org/springforums. For registration questions, please call Debra at the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center (763.427.5310 or 800.782.1878 extension 156). For content questions, please call Heather at the MN Dept. of Education (651.582.8452).

March 8, 2005
Conference Call – Players and Pledgers: The Sexual Behavior and Attitudes of Young Adolescents

2:00-3:30pm CST

Sarah Brown, Executive Director, National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, will moderate this call on the sexual behavior and attitudes of young teens and programs that target this population, which will feature: an overview of data on sexual trends and attitudes of young adolescents and a moderated discussion with program experts. To register, please visit the Campaign’s website.

March 25, 2005
¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina!

8:30 a.m.-4:00 pm
U of M Coffman Memorial Union in The Mississippi Room

¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! Es un evento que permita a las niñas de 9 a14 años, sentirse orgullosas de si mismas y de ser Latinas.

¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! Is an event that empowers Latinas ages 9-14, encouraging them to feel good about themselves and pride in being Latina.

Para mas información contactar/For more information contact: Migdalia M Loyola (612) 821-6123 ex 7 or email .

April 11-12, 2005
2005 MN Conference on Adolescent Females

Four Points Sheraton
St. Paul, MN

Girls Becoming Women: Igniting the Power Within. For more information, go to www.mngirls.org.

April 11-13, 2005
Responding to the Challenge: Meeting the Unique Needs of Younger Adolescents

Hotel Santa Fe
Sante Fe, New Mexico

For more information, go to http://www.cicatelli.org/TitleX/conferences.htm

May 20-21, 2005
Parent Education Institute V – Charting Our Future

Continuing Education Center
St. Paul Campus

This institute is designed for parent education professionals to advance their learning and to define strategies to strengthen the future of parent education. For more information: www.mcfr.net or 651-407-0950.