MOAPPP September 2010 E-Monthly

Disappointment in Minnesota

MOAPPP was disheartened to learn that Minnesota is one of just two states turning back federal funds for evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs (see Star Tribune article here). As a result of this decision, Minnesota youth lose out on five years’ of programming worth more than $4.3 million dollars.

On the same day, MOAPPP learned that Minnesota is one of a handful of states that will accept $505,000 in federal “abstinence-only-until-marriage” funds that require a 75 percent state match. Many programs supported by this funding have shown no positive effects on teenager’s sexual behavior in the past.

Stay tuned as MOAPPP and other organizations across the state attempt to fill in the programming gaps created by such a short-sighted action by Minnesota’s Governor.

Join MOAPPP’s Advocacy Network to get timely updates about this and other issues affecting the young people of the state.

MOAPPP Staff Transitions

MOAPPP’s Training Coordinator, Sally Mandler, left this month to pursue other career opportunities. Sally has been with MOAPPP for a year, and led conference planning as well as training coordination. We will miss her warmth and attention to detail! Please join us in wishing her well.

You are Invited to Become a 2010 Let’s Talk Month Partner!

Let's Talk Month Let’s Talk Month is less than a month away! We encourage you to promote LTM’s key message that parents are their children’s primary sexual health educators. For more information about what it means to be a LTM partner, as well as how to sign up, visit the updated LTM page of the MOAPPP website. Become a partner and MOAPPP will promote your organization’s LTM event in the LTM calendar. Register today!

Time is Running Out!

MOAPPP operates on a fiscal year that ends this month on September 30. If you’ve intended to show your support for MOAPPP’s work on behalf of Minnesota’s teens, now is the time! Thank you.

Has MOAPPP Benefitted You in Your Work?

If it has, than please become a member at one of three levels:

Organizational: $100 per year
Individual: $35 per year
Student (Full Time): $15 per year

Membership dues are a small but important part of MOAPPP’s operating dollars. But they can make a big difference to your costs for MOAPPP’s annual conference and year-round workshops. Joining MOAPPP is the smart thing to do if you are a professional, student or volunteer working to prevent adolescent pregnancy or support adolescent parents in Minnesota. Thanks.

Other Announcements

Status of Women and Girls in Minnesota

The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota recently released a comprehensive data report focused on many important markers of women and girls’ health, safety, leadership and economic status. The report was a collaborative effort between the foundation and the Center on Women & Public Policy at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute. A brief overview (PDF) summarizes the findings shared in the full report (PDF). The Women’s Foundation invests in social change to achieve equality for all women and girls in Minnesota.

National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, September 27, 2010

Sponsored by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), the National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a new idea designed to refocus attention on a community with high infection rates at time of heightened complacency about HIV among men who have sex with men. Read more at www.napwa.org.

Mark Your Calendars!

10,000 March and Rally for Children
October 10, 2010, 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Minnesota State Capitol

The Young Leaders of Children’s Defense Fund – MN are organizing a march and rally to speak out for the children of Minnesota to put their needs on the election campaign agenda as a priority. Gubernatorial candidates will be invited and given a few short minutes to say how they would address one of the 10 focus issues. The rally will end with a challenge for change to give ALL Minnesota children a fair start in life. MOAPPP will be exhibiting at the Health Care tent. The young adult organizers hope to get 10,000 people to march and rally for children’s issues! Be there if you can!

National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), October 15, 2010

The national sponsor for the observance, Latino Commission on AIDS, has announced the theme for NLAAD 2010: Save a Life, It May be your Own. Get Tested for HIV. It speaks to the critical role HIV testing and prevention education plays due to the late testing realities faced by Hispanic/Latino communities. For more information about the national activities and resources, contact Melissa Faith Ramírez, Latino Commission on AIDS, 212.584.9315, [email protected], or visit the NLAAD website at www.nlaad.com.

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina Seeking Conference Presenters

The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina is seeking presenters for its 2011 annual conference. They seek presenters for a broad range of topics related to adolescent pregnancy prevention and adolescent parenting. Participants will be interested in workshops that offer concrete ideas, methods and resources that they can incorporate into their own programs. Science-based practices and evaluated programs will be a particular focus.

Conference Location: Joseph S. Koury Convention Center Greensboro, NC
Conference Dates: May 18, 2011 (pre-conference), May 19 – May 20, 2011 (conference)
Deadline for Submission: Friday, October 8, 2010

Submission Process: Please email your proposal to Melinda DeJongh at [email protected]. Call 919.226.1880, x 108 with questions.

In the News

School-Based Clinics in Minnesota

This article in the September edition of Minnesota Medicine, the journal of the Minnesota Medical Association, provides an historical overview of school-based clinics in the state, a great description of their current work and the ongoing challenges they face.

Sex Among Adolescents Less Harmful Than Believed

A new study has found that teens in committed relationships do no better or worse than their peers who are not having sex. Researchers examined the relationship between adolescent sexual intercourse and academic outcomes found that youth who have sex within romantic relationships are not at a higher risk of negative educational outcomes compared with youth who are abstinent.

Minnesota has Eighth Lowest Adolescent Birth Rate

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the final report (PDF) detailing final teen birth date for the country. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy lists state by state comparisons here.

New Resources

Minnesota Family Planning and STD Hotline Announces New Website and Services!

The Minnesota Family Planning and STD Hotline has a new and improved website and has begun providing updated services including web chat and text messaging, in addition to the toll-free hotline 1-800-78FACTS. The website is www.sexualhealthmn.org. You can also visit the Hotline on Facebook and Twitter!

For more information about the MN Family Planning and STD Hotline, including the promotional items that are available, please contact Erin Wilkins at [email protected] or 651.645.0478 x 230.

ETR Associates and Answer Launch New Line of Living Pamphlets

ETR Associates and Answer recently launched three new Living Pamphlets that combine educational print pamphlets with free online videos, discussion guides and activity sheets. Focused on teen health issues, the pamphlet series was developed in partnership with teen writers from Answer’s Sex, Etc., project and ETR Associates’ award-winning product development group. To view any of the free online videos or to purchase the Living Pamphlets, visit etr.org.

New Research

Examining the Link between PTSD Symptoms and Dating Violence

This study examined the role of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms with respect to dating aggression perpetration among a sample of 199 undergraduates. Almost one-third of the overall sample reported physical dating aggression perpetration in the past year, and approximately 80 percent reported engaging in psychological dating aggression.

Childhood Sexual Abuse and Early Adolescent HIV/AIDS Risk Behaviors

This study examined 844 boys and girls found a relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and HIV/AIDS risk behavior at age 14 (i.e., sexual intercourse and alcohol use). In addition, trajectories for physical and emotional abuse, but not neglect or witnessed violence, contributed to risky behavior over and above the role of CSA. Child gender did not moderate the findings.

Hook-Up Sexual Experiences and Problem Behaviors Among Adolescents

This study focuses on the sexual phenomenon of “hooking up.” A hook-up is defined as a single sexual encounter that may or may not include sexual intercourse with someone who is a stranger, brief acquaintance or friend. The aim of this study was to document the prevalence of hook-ups in a sample of 1,011 urban middle and high school students and to examine the relationship between hooking up and a variety of problem behaviors, including, alcohol, cigarette and/or illicit drug use, truancy, and school suspensions. The results revealed that 28 percent of the sample had engaged in at least one hook-up experience, and this percentage increased with age. Hook-ups were correlated moderately with all problem behaviors examined.

Using Daily Text-Message Reminders to Improve Adherence with Oral Contraceptives: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study was conducted to determine whether women receiving daily text-message reminders had increased oral contraceptive pill adherence compared with women not receiving reminders. Researchers concluded that daily text-message reminders did not improve oral contraceptive pill adherence. Although the lack of benefit may be attributed to the frequent use of alternative reminder systems in the control group, the rate of missed pills when measured objectively was still very high in both groups.

Pregnancy Intentions and Teenage Pregnancy Among Latinas

The extent to which pregnancy intentions mediate the relationship between individual, familial and cultural characteristics and adolescent pregnancy is not well understood. The role of intentions may be particularly important among Latina teenagers, whose attitudes toward pregnancy are more favorable than those of other groups and whose pregnancy rates are high. Researchers found that having a strong family orientation was associated with happiness but unrelated to pregnancy. Low power in a sexual relationship with a main partner was associated with an elevated risk of pregnancy. The authors of this study conclude that interventions and research should focus on identifying and targeting factors that hinder effective contraceptive use among teenagers who want to avoid pregnancy.

Sexual Intercourse and Oral Sex Among Middle School Students

Early sexual initiation is associated with elevated teenage pregnancy and STD risk, yet little is known about the prevalence and correlates of sexual behavior among young adolescents. The authors of this study analyzed data from a 2005 survey of 4,557 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students to identify correlates of oral sex, intercourse and both. Overall, 9 percent of youth had ever had sexual intercourse, and 8 percent had had oral sex. Among those who reported intercourse, 69 percent had used a condom at last intercourse, and 43 percent had had multiple partners. Intercourse and oral sex were highly correlated. The authors conclude that interventions addressing oral sex, intercourse and multiple partners should begin before sixth grade and continue throughout the middle school years. Health professionals should target adolescent risk reduction counseling toward males, African American youth, youth with a boyfriend or girlfriend, and those with a friend who has been involved in a pregnancy.

Condom Negotiation Strategies and Actual Condom Use Among Latino Youth

Study authors attempted to examine which condom negotiation strategies are effective in obtaining or avoiding condom use among Latino youth. Almost 60 percent of participants reported wanting to use condoms, and nearly all of these used some strategy to obtain condom use. This research identified condom negotiation strategies that are effective among Latino youth, even when they believe their partners do not want to use condoms. Authors recommend that health care providers encourage Latino youth to use such condom negotiation strategies.

Health Professionals’ Responses to Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse History: Female Child Sexual Abuse Survivors’ Experiences

This study reports on a postal questionnaire, conducted in 2004, with female survivors of historic child sexual abuse. The questionnaire explored their experiences of health professionals’ responsiveness to disclosure of child sexual abuse history. Of 61 participants, aged between 22 and 65, 69 percent had disclosed to health professionals. Those who had not disclosed reported that they would have liked to but were not asked about child sexual abuse. 35 percent of participants suggested routine questioning about child sexual abuse. Most participants related a fear of common medical examination procedures to their experience of child sexual abuse, and 64 percent said this stopped them from attending regular health checks. The current study suggests the development of guidelines for dealing with possible child sexual abuse survivors would be useful for health professionals.

Navajo Adolescent Mothers’ Intimate Relationships: A 15-year Study

In this study, data were collected from Navajo Native American adolescent mothers over a period of 15 years. Guided by feminist family theory, this investigation sought to (a) examine Navajo adolescent mothers’ intimate partner relationships during the transition to parenthood, (b) identify themes in the young mothers’ intimate partnerships across time, and (c) assess participants’ psychosocial well-being in adulthood. Four themes emerged in the women’s long-term intimate relationships: limited support, substance abuse, infidelity and intimate partner violence. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

MOAPPP Events

September 14, 2010
Minnesota Reproductive Health Update

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
University of Minnesota Continuing Education and Conference Center
1890 Buford Ave, St Paul

There is still time to register for the Minnesota Reproductive Health Update, and now there’s one more reason. We’re pleased to announce that Elaine Tyler May, author of America and the Pill: A History of Promise, Peril, and Liberation will be joining the line-up of great speakers to help us celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pill.

This training provides the latest information in reproductive health practice, research and technology. Specialists in the field will address contraceptive technologies, updates on STI/HIV and emergency contraception, serving people on the transgender spectrum, a political update and more. This workshop is designed for nurses, clinicians, health educators, and anyone interested in current information on reproductive health issues. Nursing and CHES continuing education contact hours will be offered for this training. A pre-conference male exam training is planned for September 13. For more information, visit www.hcet.org. Registration information for both the pre-conference male exam and the Reproductive Health Update can be found here (PDF).

Sponsored by the Region V Training Project of Health Care Education & Training. Co-sponsored by the Cincinnati STD/HIV Prevention Training Center, MOAPPP and the Healthy Youth Development Prevention Research Center – Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Minnesota.

September 23, 2010
Teen Pregnancy Prevention 101

9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Community Room at Snell Motors
1900 Madison Avenue, Mankato
This training is offered twice a year at various locations across Minnesota.

This training is intended for professionals new to the field of adolescent pregnancy prevention. Participants review the basics of adolescent pregnancy prevention including pregnancy, birth and STI statistics; trends in adolescent pregnancy and sexual behaviors; basics of adolescent growth and development; risk and protective factors associated with adolescent pregnancy; and prevention strategies that work. Each participant will leave with a basic understanding of current research and resources, what to do to promote adolescent sexual health and where to go for more information and support.

For more information and to register, see the flyer and registration form (PDF). Click here to register online. Questions? Contact Jocelyn at 651-644-1447 x 19, [email protected].

September 27-28, 2010
It’s That Easy! Parent Educator Training

8:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Center for Families
3333 North Fourth Street, Minneapolis

If you work with parents/caregivers of children aged 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! resource manual, a comprehensive guide designed to help you work with parents in your community. For more information and to register, see the flyer and registration form (PDF). Click here to register online. Questions? Contact Jocelyn at 651-644-1447 x 19, [email protected].

This training is designed to equip professionals working directly with parents/caregiver, with information and strategies to assist parents/caregiver in raising sexually healthy children. This is not a training of trainers’ event.

September 30, 2010
Access to Education for Pregnant and Parenting Teens

8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
MN Department of Education
1500 West Highway 36, Roseville

This forum will delve into the meaning and scope of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 with respect to the prevention of discrimination against students who are pregnant and/or parenting. Forum objectives include:

How the law protects access to education for pregnant and parenting students: Title IX is not just about sports!
The unique needs of pregnant and parenting students.
What do pregnant and parenting students need to stay in school, graduate and move on to post-secondary schools and/or job opportunities?
How can districts provide programming to meet those needs and help students graduate?

There will be content for both administrators and those who work directly with students. Plenary session by Lara Kaufmann of the National Women’s Law Center.

There will be two tracks offered at this training: one designed for those working directly with students and one designed for those who develop and implement school policies. For more information and to register manually, see the flyer and registration form (PDF).

Click here to register if you work directly with students and are interested in how to talk with and counsel pregnant and parenting students in ways that do not violate their Title IX rights.
Click here to register if you are an administrator, board member or interested in the ‘policy-making’ aspects of Title IX for pregnant and parenting students.

Questions? Contact Sue at 651-644-1447 x 15, [email protected].

October 5-7, 2010
¡Cuídate!: Training of Educators

Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West, Roseville

¡Cuídate!—which means “take care of yourself”—is a six-session curriculum for use by school districts, faith communities and community organizations that helps youth develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills to reduce their risk for HIV. This evidence-based curriculum, designed for Latino youth ages 13-18, emphasizes risk reduction strategies such as waiting to have sex and condom use while highlighting cultural values that support safer sex, and reframing cultural values that are perceived as barriers to safer sex. In addition to the two and a half days of highly interactive training, each participant receives a copy of the ¡Cuídate! Curriculum. For more information and to register, see the flyer and registration form. Click here to register online. Questions? Contact Jill at 651.644.1447 x 18 or [email protected].

November 8-10
Teen Outreach Program (TOP) – Facilitator Training

Minnesota Department of Health
1645 Energy Park Drive, Saint Paul

The Teen Outreach Program (TOP) is a nationally acclaimed, science-based program that has been shown to prevent adolescent pregnancy and help youth succeed in school. Designed for youth ages 12-19, TOP incorporates a strong service-learning component based on principles of youth development. TOP has been successfully implemented in a variety of settings and with diverse populations. In addition to the two and a half days of highly interactive training, one participant from each agency receives a copy of the TOP curriculum. For more information and to register, contact Jocelyn at 651.644.1447 x 19, [email protected].

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 2010. For additional information, visit www.coalitionforsexed.org.

No Coalition events in September.

Other Events

September – December 1, 2010
Online Workshop: Understanding Teen Risk-Taking – Online Research Update for Professionals

This short term professional development opportunity is designed to: define risk-taking, present a multi-dimensional framework for understanding risk-taking, introduce a model of adolescent decision making, reframe risk-taking, and offer a systems approach to risk-taking with an emphasis on family influences. To register or learn more, visit www.parenting.umn.edu. Questions? Contact Colleen Gengler, Extension Family Relations Educator, at [email protected], 888.241.4635 or 507.372.3907, or Jodi Dworkin, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, at [email protected] or 612.624.3732.

September 20, 2010
7th Annual Women’s Health Research Conference – Registration Available

9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
McNamara Alumni Center, University of Minnesota

The Powell Center proudly invites you to its seventh Annual Women’s Health Research Conference: A Focus on Health Disparities and Domestic Violence. The Irving C. Bernstein Memorial Lecture on Psychiatric Aspects of Obstetrics and Gynecology keynote is Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell, renowned leader in research and advocacy in domestic and intimate partner violence from the School of Nursing at John Hopkins University, with opening remarks by Franni Franken. MOAPPP will be presenting a poster at the conference. Register and find more information about the conference at www.wmhealth.umn.edu or call 612.626.1125.

September 24, October 1, 12, 13, 14, 19, 29 & November 9, 2010
How the Economy is Changing Fathers, Families and Future Expectations

September 24-St. Paul
October 1-Redwood Falls
October 12-Fergus Falls
October 13-Minneapolis
October 14-Owatonna
October 19-Cloquet
October 29-Crookston
November 9-Brainerd

Register today for one of eight training seminars on the topic of “Navigating the New Normal: How the Economy is Changing Fathers, Families, and Future Expectations.” Sessions will address research and practice related to the ways that married, unmarried and noncustodial families can access government services, how the economy is changing family format and father involvement, and how family service/ educational professionals are impacted in our daily work.

Full details and registration are available at www.mnfathers.org. Questions? Call 651.222.7432 or email [email protected].

October 1, 9 & November 6, 2010
Mother-Daughter Retreat, Making Connections, A Day of Discovery for Mothers and Daughters

October 1-Rochester
October 9-Twin Cities
November 6-Twin Cities

Planned Parenthood offers annual one-day retreats for mothers (or grandmother, aunt, female mentor, etc.) and their 10-12 year old daughters. Each retreat day focuses on enhancing connection and communication while learning more about puberty, adolescence and emerging sexuality.

In addition, Planned Parenthood is also accepting registration for our next, Mother-Son Retreat, Building Foundations, A Day of Connection for Mothers and Sons on Saturday April 9, 2011.

For more information and to register, email [email protected] or call 612.821.6198.

October 4 & 5, 2010
Issues in Working with Teen Parents

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

Sponsored by Parents as Teachers, this two-day session is for all professionals who work with teen parents. It offers constructive insights into teen parents, their children and the issues they all face.

Topics include:

Adolescent brain development and the developmental characteristics unique to adolescents
Parallel developmental needs of both teen parent and child
Techniques to enhance teen parents’ feelings of confidence and competence and strategies to help them transition into adulthood
Strategies to address the special family dynamics and multigenerational issues teen parents face
Strategies to facilitate father involvement
Parent group meetings and personal visits

Registration fee includes Parents as Teachers Issues in Working with Teen Parents 800+ page curriculum (valued at $165) and parent handouts for use in teen programs.

For more information and to register, download the flyer (PDF) and registration form (PDF). Questions? Contact Jennifer Barshack at 612.332.7563 x 305, [email protected].

October 7, 2010
Advancing Our Care for the Sexual Assault Patient

7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
1430 Maryland Avenue East, St. Paul

This one-day skills-building training will provide relevant information for medical professionals who treat sexual assault patients, whether those patients present hours, days or months post-assault. Medical professionals of all skill levels and disciplines are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, see the event flyer (PDF). To register, click here.

iWhat? Webinar Series

Answer at Rutgers University, has announced a new training initiative that will be running from October 2010-April 2011. The iWhat? Webinar Series provides busy professionals with the most up-to-date information on youth and technology trends. The webinar will explain how technology is changing the face of adolescent sexuality, and each one hour session will cover a different topic including: social networking, internet safety, cyber-bullying and integrating technology when teaching sex ed. Click here for more information.

Youth Development “Brown Bag” Webinar Series

2010-2011 Dates and Topics:
October 13: Sexting: What Every Caring Adult Should Know
November 10: Underage Drinking: Implications for Communities
December 8: Understanding Youth Development: A Guide to Program Design
January 12: Being an Ally to LGBTQ Youth
March 9: The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development: What Have We Learned?
May 11: Communicating with the “Net Generation”

NDSU and U of M Extension are partnering to offer a series of six webinars in 2010-2011. The Youth Development Webinar Series provides live, interactive learning experiences that you can participate in at your own computer over the lunch hour. Participants are able to ask the instructor questions and get answers in real time while the presenter conducts interactive discussions, questions and polls. For more information and to register, visit www.ndsu.edu.

October 26-29, 2010
Healthy Teen Network 31st Annual Conference

The theme of HTN’s 31st Annual National Conference is A Time of Opportunity: Engaging Communities in Supporting Healthy Youth and Young Families. For more information about the conference, held this year in Austin, TX, click here.