MOAPPP December 2008 E-Monthly

MOAPPP Staff Transition

Since 2002, Marilyn Colby Rivkin has been an integral part of the MOAPPP staff. Most of you know her as our Annual Conference Coordinator, but she also transformed our Adolescent Parent Program in recent years. Marilyn’s positive outlook, enthusiasm for this work, as well as her dedication to quality prompted all of us to work smarter.

Marilyn is leaving MOAPPP this month to explore new career paths. Please join the MOAPPP staff and Board in wishing her the very best.


Amazon.com and Holiday Gift Giving

MOAPPP December 2008 E-MonthlyWhy not give holiday gifts this year that also give back? Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this season at Amazon.com Gift Central. Link to amazon.com by way of MOAPPP’s website and MOAPPP will receive a percentage of the sale. A link to amazon.com appears on the left-side navigation bar on every page of MOAPPP’s website for your convenience. Remember to make all of your amazon.com purchases through MOAPPP!


Call for Exhibitors for MOAPPP’s 18th Annual Conference, May 7-8, 2009

Please join us as an exhibitor for the 18th Annual MOAPPP Conference, May 7-8, 2009 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. The MOAPPP Conference convenes approximately 400 social service and health care providers, educators, advocates, program directors and youth who work to prevent adolescent pregnancy and support pregnant and parenting teens in Minnesota. Visit the conference page of the MOAPPP website for more information and an application.


MOAPPP Needs Your Feedback—Adolescent Parent Provider Survey

If you work with adolescent parents and their children, please complete this brief survey about MOAPPP’s programs and resources. Your feedback helps us evaluate our work and set priorities for the coming year. If you complete your survey by December 15th, you will be entered into a drawing to win a free registration to MOAPPP’s 18th Annual Conference, May 7-8, 2009.


MOAPPP Seeks Project Coordinator

MOAPPP is hiring a part-time, temporary Project Coordinator to facilitate and coordinate a project focused on the implementation of evidence based sex education in schools. For more information, visit our job opportunities page.


MOAPPP Seeks Public Policy Intern

MOAPPP is hiring a Public Policy Intern for the 2009 legislative session (January-May). The primary function of this internship is to support the public policy initiatives of MOAPPP and the Coalition for Responsible Sex Ed in the upcoming session. For more information, link to our job opportunities page.


Join the MOAPPP Advocacy Network

The 2009 Minnesota Legislature convenes on January 6, 2009. To receive updates on what’s happening at the Capitol, and to advocate for funding and programs for Minnesota youth, sign up today for the MOAPPP Advocacy Network.


Spotlight on Community Connections

Be sure to visit the new Community Connections section of the MOAPPP website to discover the community-specific resources we’ve put together. This month, we’d like to shine a spotlight on the Division of Indian Work. Since 1952, DIW has advocated for the American Indian population living in the Minneapolis area. Programs focus on parenting, housing for young families, and youth mentoring and tutoring, including a focus on teen pregnancy prevention.

Other Announcements

Parenting Program for Latino Parents

Latino parents are invited to participate in the new parenting program, “Padres Informados, Jóvenes Preparados” (Informed Parents, Prepared Youth), sponsored by the program in Health Disparities Research at the University of Minnesota and Aquí Para Ti/Here For You at Hennepin Family Care East Lake Clinic.

To participate, parents must be immigrants, Spanish-speaking and have an adolescent child between the ages of 10-14. For more information, visit the Aquí Para Ti website or contact Ali Hurtado at 612-626-3173 or [email protected].

New Resources

Promising Practices for Helping Pregnant and Parenting Students Succeed

The National Women’s Law Center hosted a web-based seminar on November 12, 2008 for educators, service providers and advocates, that focused on two high school programs focused on helping pregnant and parenting students stay in school. Watch a recording of the session or download the webinar slides.


Funding Sources for State and Local Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy recently released a fact sheet, “Funding Sources for State and Local Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs,” highlighting the resourceful and sometimes unique ways in which some organizations and communities are funding teen pregnancy prevention efforts. MOAPPP’s strategic partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health is featured on page four of this report (PDF).


Understanding Disparities in the HIV Epidemic: How Social and Cultural Forces Lead to Unequal Risk for African Americans/Blacks

African Americans suffer from disproportionately negative sexual health outcomes. This publication (PDF), from Advocates for Youth, examines how racism, poverty, incarceration, and other social factors have contributed to heightened risk among young African Americans.


Too Young Educational Video Now Available Online

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy recently made the Too Young educational video available to be viewed online. In Too Young, teen parents from a variety of backgrounds share their stories, and in their own words offer their candid views about the difficulties they have faced.

New Research

Condom Use and Consistency among Adolescent Males

A new Child Trends report finds that adolescent males who have received formal sex education have higher levels of condom use and consistency. The authors examine multiple risk and protective factors associated with condom use and consistency among young men. This fact sheet is based on a larger study. Read the abstract at www.jahonline.org. Read the fact sheet at www.childtrends.org (PDF).


Making the Case for Contraceptive Convenience

A new Guttmacher report indicates a growing number of women’s health advocates are urging bolder and potentially transformative steps toward greater contraceptive convenience, with the aim of making contraceptive use easier and more sustainable for women.


Study Finds HPV Vaccine Gardasil Effective at Preventing Male Genital Lesions

Recent research found the Gardasil vaccine approximately 90% effective in preventing external lesions—mostly gential warts—caused by the four HPV strains it targets and 45% effective in preventing HPV infection. Currently approved for use in girls and women ages 9-26, this new finding may lead to future efforts to market the vaccine to boys and men.

MOAPPP Events

December 19, 2008
A Cultural Understanding of Skills-Based Sexuality Instruction

9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Richfield High School
7001 Harriet Avenue South, Richfield

Panelists with experience working with the Hispanic, Asian, African American, Somali, Native American and GLBTQ communities will share their perspectives about teaching youth skills to prevent teen pregnancy, HIV and STIs. Participants will also practice essential skills used in most science-based sexuality curricula. Panelists will respond to the skills practice, and offer suggestions for adaptations if necessary. Sponsored by Hennepin County Research, Planning and Development Department, MN Department of Education and MOAPPP.

For more information, see the flyer and event registration form. Questions? Contact Jill Farris at 651-644-1447 x18 or [email protected].


January 21, 2009
Youth Engagement: The Power of Service Learning (formerly Service Learning 101)

9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
1667 Snelling Avenue North, St. Paul

What is Service Learning? Why is it a beneficial strategy? How can organizations implement this strategy with young people in their organizations? Who should participate in Service Learning? If you or anyone in your organization are interested in learning more about Service Learning, this workshop is for you!

Service learning is gaining recognition as a powerful approach to adolescent pregnancy prevention. Come learn from the National Youth Leadership Council about the principles of service learning and how to implement with excellence.

For more information, see the flyer and event registration form. Questions? Contact Jocelyn Broyles at 651-644-1447 x19 or [email protected]Scholarships are available.


January 27-28, 2009
It’s That Easy: Helping Parents Raise Sexually Healthy Children
(Formerly called PASE – Parents Are Sexuality Educators)

8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Center for Families
3333 North 4th Street, Minneapolis

If you work with parents/caregivers of children birth to 18, you are in a unique position to support them in their critical role as sexuality educators for their children. However, sexuality is not always easy to discuss. Come learn tools and techniques to engage parents/caregivers in developmentally appropriate approaches to raising sexually healthy children. Participants receive the It’s That Easy manual, a comprehensive guide designed to help you work with parents in your community.

For more information, see the event flyer and registration form. Questions? Contact Jocelyn Broyles at 651-644-1447 x19, [email protected]Scholarships are available.

Special acknowledgements to our partners for their dedication to this project: Healthy Youth Development–Prevention Research Center-U of MN, Health Start/West Side Community Health Services, Saint Paul-Ramsey County Department of Public Health, Sexual Violence Prevention Program-MN Dept. of Health, Teen Age Medical Service, West Suburban Teen Clinic, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota International Health Volunteers.


May 7-8, 2009
MOAPPP’s 18th Annual Conference

Earle Brown Heritage Center
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

Save the date for MOAPPP’s 18th annual conference! Join more than 400 colleagues for two days of dynamic speakers, challenging workshops and countless opportunities for networking and conversation. Conference brochures will be mailed in mid-February.

Coalition for Responsible Sex Ed Events

 MOAPPP is a founding member of the Coalition for Responsible Sex Ed. The Coalition advocates for policies on sexuality education and access to confidential health care for minors. Here is a list of Coalition events for 2008. For additional information, visit www.coalitionforsexed.org.

No Coalition events in December 2008.

Other Events

January 12–13, 2009
Minnesota Fatherhood Summit

St. Cloud Civic Center, St. Cloud

Join MFFN for their 6th annual winter conference for professionals working in fatherhood programs, early childhood settings, public health, government agencies and related family/social service organizations. For more information, visit www.mnfathers.org or call 651-222-7432.


January 30-31, 2009
February 27-28, 2009
Our Whole Lives Curriculum Training

Metro Area

These trainings, offered by the Minnesota Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, are for adults who want to teach the Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality curriculum in their congregations or other settings. The January training will focus on the curriculum for young adults (ages 18-35) and adults (ages 35+). The February training will focus on using the OWL curriculum with elementary school students (Kindergarten-1st grade and 4th-6th grade). For more information and registration, email [email protected].


February 7, 2009
Planned Parenthood Mother/Daughter Retreat
Making the Connections, A Day of Discovery for Mothers and Daughters

Duluth

This one-day retreat is for mothers (or female mentors) and their 10-12 year old daughters. The retreat day focuses on enhancing connection and communication while learning more about puberty, adolescence and emerging sexuality. For more information, see the Mother/Daughter retreat brochure or call the Planned Parenthood information line at 612-821-6198.


April 2-3, 2009
Wise Guys®: A Male Responsibility Program National Training

Myrtle Beach, SC

The Wise Guys® program is an award-winning adolescent pregnancy prevention program for young men between the ages of 11 and 17. This training is designed for those who would like to develop and implement prevention programs for males on adolescent pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and STIs and/or dating violence. For more information, visit www.wiseguysnc.org.

Funding Opportunities

21st Century Community Learning Centers—Cohort 4 Grant Competition

Approximately $3 million is available to establish or expand high-quality afterschool programs that offer a broad array of services and activities designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students before and after school, on school release days, weekends and school vacation periods. For more information, visit www.education.state.mn.us.

Deadline: December 23, 2008.