Did you know that there were 1,294 babies born to Polk County teens in 2008? This places Polk County 21st highest in Florida for births to teens under age 18.
For Teens For Parents For Faith Leaders
About Polk Teen Pregnancy Prevention Alliance (TPPA) :
TPPA was formally established in 1994 as an action group of the Healthy Start Coalition of Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties. TPPA is comprised of members from sectors of the community including, but not limited to : private business, public health, social services, law enforcement, schools and the faith community.
TPPA meets the first Thursday of every month. Call 863-534-9224 for locations of meetings.
TPPA funders include : Polk County Health Department, Heartland for Children, Polk Board of County Commissioners and Polk County's Voter approved ½ sales tax for indigent health care.
Teen pregnancy affects every citizen, parent, senior citizen, pastor, child, teacher and leader in Polk County. The cost of society are about twice the cost to tax payers-an estimated $15 billion a year due to childbearing itself.
According to the 2008 Department of Health, Polk is 23rd highest out of 67 Florida counties in birth to teens 10-14, and 21st for birth to teens 15-19.
The goal of TPPA is to identify ways in which the community can work together to reduce the Polk County birth rate by 10% over a 5 year period for teens under the age of 18 by the end of the year 2013, using 2008 data.
Alliance Structure :
TPPA is divided into five committees :
- Steering - provides direction and determines Alliance's activities
- Community Awareness - operates to raise the awareness of impact of teen pregnancy
- Effective Programs & Research - studies effective programs for implementation
- Religion & Public Values - encourages faith leaders to take action against teen pregnancy
- Youth Task Force - works with teens to prevent teen pregnancies
- Youth Leadership Team - comprised of youths under 18 who are either practicing abstinence or a sexually responsible lifestyle and to give a voice to the unique perspectives and opinions of teens throughout the county
Did you know that 70% of teen mothers are more likely to never finish high school or obtain a GED?
Wanna know what your peers think about sex? Check it out here...
TALK TO YOUR PARENTS OR AN ADULT YOU TRUST
Teen pregnancy can have serious consequences for girls & guys, including decreased chances of finishing school, rocky financial future, and health risks for both mother & child. If you're thinking about having sex, it is important to know that the effects can last a lifetime.
- 3 out of 10 teenage girls in the US get pregnant at least once before age 20.
- Almost 50% of teens NEVER considered how teen pregnancy would affect their lives.
- Parenthood is the leading reason why teen girlsdrop out of school.
- 8 out of 10 fathers do not marry the mother of their child.
- Sons of teen mothers are twice as likely to end up in prison.
Are you between the ages of 10-19 years of age & want to make a difference?
Join the Youth Leadership Team (YLT). This group helps educate, promote & support teen prevention efforts in Polk County through the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Alliance (TPPA).
YLT members : Participate in fundraising efforts, participate & plan local events, gain community service hours, are role models for other teens, are active leaders, facilitators, & advocates in the community.
Tell us why you think Polk has such a serious problem with teen pregnancy!! Call (863) 534-9224 or click here to register.
Did you know that recent studies suggest teens want their parents to talk to them about their family's values & morals?
DON'T FEEL HOPELESS...TALK TO YOUR KIDS!
Start now...It's never too late!
Here are Ten Tips For Parents To Help Their Children Avoid Teen Pregnancy developed by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (for more details go to www.teenpregnancy.org):
1. Be clear about your own sexual values and attitudes.
2. Talk to your children early and often about sex, and be specific.
3. Supervise and monitor your children.
4. Know your children's friends and their families.
5. Discourage early, frequent, and steady dating.
6. Take a strong stand against your daughter dating a boy significantly older than she is. Don't allow your son to develop an intense relationship with a girl much younger than he is.
7. Help your teenagers to have options for the future that are more attractive than early pregnancy and parenthood.
8. Let your kids know that you value education highly.
9. Know what your kids are watching, reading, and listening to.
10. These first nine tips for helping your children avoid teen pregnancy work best when they occur as part of strong, close relationships with your children that are built from an early age; but it is never too late to improve relationships with your children.
Other resources for parents :
| National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy | http://www.teenpregnancy.org |
Did you know that every three weeks, one 10-14-year-old girl gives birth in Polk County?
People who have worked with youths have long believed that religious faith and a strong moral sense are critical in protecting them from premature sexual activity and pregnancy. The role of faith is vital in preventing adolescent pregnancy.
TPPA has drafted the Faith Community Commitment. This Commitment seeks the faith community's participation to do at least one thing for its youth that might minimize the potential for teen pregnancy. Examples include a human sexuality class for the seventh graders or a seminar to teach parents how to talk to their children about sexuality. To date, nearly 100 faith-based organizations have signed the commitment.
Wondering what you can do as a faith leader?
Here are Nine Tips to Help Faith Leaders and Their Communities Address Teen Pregnancy developed by the Religion and Public Values Task Force of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (for more detailed tips go to www.teenpregnancy.org) :
1. Address the need teens have for spiritual fulfillment and help them find answers to the many challenging problems they face.
2. Encourage parents to talk with their children about sex and morality within the context of your faith tradition.
3. Enlist adults in your faith community to help young people.
4. Make sure the children and teenagers in your faith community understand what your faith tradition says about sex, love, and marriage in general and teen pregnancy, in particular. Use clear and unambiguous language.
5. Learn about contemporary youth culture - what your young people are reading, listening to, watching, and doing.
6. Organize supervised group activities for teenagers in your faith community.
7. Reach out to teenagers who are not involved in any faith community.
8. Celebrate achievement and excellence.
9. Reach out to other faith communities, neighborhood organizations, and institutions that work with young people.
We have a variety of teen pregnancy prevention materials that your organization can use. Give us a call at (863)534-9224 for more information.